Caitlin McKevitt EFRT 449 Greek Mythology Lesson Plan Day 1 Discuss with the students Aphrodite, Apollo and Ares. Aphrodite o Family: As one of the twelve main gods, Aphrodite’s relatives and offspring appear in many well-known myths. Below are the beginnings of a chart of Aphrodite's family, including her children by various mortals and gods. Students can then use this chart to learn about Aphrodite and her family and to create a family tree for the goddess. Family Member Relation Uranus Father Zeus Father Dione Mother Erinyes Sisters Giants Brother/Sister Aeneas by Anchises Son Lyrus by Anchises Son Eros Son Priapus Son Harmonia by Ares Daughter o The Many Faces of Aphrodite: As the goddess of Love, Aphrodite has a reputation in ancient Greek texts as both a positive and a negative force. The anthropomorphic version of Aphrodite possesses all manner of allurements that can be both good and bad. Aphrodite could represent purity and what the Greeks considered the common act of sexual intercourse. Students should look at following primary text entries for Aphrodite and investigate the many aspects of Aphrodite’s “personality.” o Associated Items & Beings: A god or goddess alone is inadequately defined since the people, beings, animals and things associate with a god or goddess say a lot about them. Through visual aids and texts, students can learn about the whole god or goddess by the items, people, beings, animals, and things that accompany them or that are used in their exploits. o Epithets: The names of gods and goddesses are often accompanied by a finite number of traditional epithets that describe the personality or associations of the divinity. Below is a list of epithets associated with Aphrodite. Students should investigate for the epitaphs for Aphrodite and then check their findings against this chart. Additions should be made to the chart as necessary. Epithet Text Laughter Loving Homer, Iliad & Odyssey Rich in Gold Homer, Iliad & Odyssey Homer, Iliad & Odyssey; Aristotle, Rhetoric Golden 1413a Fair Homer, Iliad & Odyssey Dark-Eyed Pindar, Pythian Ode 6 Silver Footed Pindar, Pythian Ode 9 Deceptive Bacchylides, Ode 17 line 115 Garland-loving Homeric Hymn 2, line 103 Rich-crowned Homeric Hymn 5, line 287 Apollo o Family: As one of the twelve main gods, Aphrodite’s relatives and offspring appear in many well-known myths. Below are the beginnings of a chart of Aphrodite's family, including her children by various mortals and gods. Students can then use this chart to learn about Aphrodite and her family and to create a family tree for the goddess. Family Member Relation Zeus Father Leto Mother Apis Son Corybantes by Thalia Brother/Sister Linus by Psamathe Son Corax by Chrysorthe Son Lamedon by Chrysorthe Son Zeuxippus by Syllis Son Asculapius by Arsinoe Son Mopsus by Manto Son Ion by Creusa Son Orpheus Son o Unlucky in Love: Apollo was no Casanova or Don Juan, he simply did not have “a way with women.” Apollo attempted to love many women by only succeeded in “loving” a few. Fits of jealousy, unrequited love, and bad luck plagued Apollo’s love life. Students should look at the love interests and affairs of Apollo along with their results. o Associated Items & Beings: A god or goddess alone is inadequately defined since the people, beings, animals and things associate with a god or goddess say a lot about them. Through visual aids and texts, students can learn about the whole god or goddess by the items, people, beings, animals, and things that accompany them or that are used in their exploits. o The God of Prophecy: Apollo’s oracle at Delphi was the most famous in the Greek world. Students should investigate Apollo as the god of prophecy. They should look at the duties of the Pythia, how at oracle was given, and the site of Apollo’s oracle, Mt. Parnassus. Ares o Family: As one of the twelve main gods, Aphrodite’s relatives and offspring appear in many well-known myths. Below are the beginnings of a chart of Aphrodite's family, including her children by various mortals and gods. Students can then use this chart to learn about Aphrodite and her family and to create a family tree for the goddess. Family Member Relation Zeus Father Hera Mother Panic by Cytherea Son/Daughter Evenus by Demonice Son/Daughter Molus by Demonice Son/Daughter Pylus by Demonice Son/Daughter Parthenopalus by Atlanta Son/Daughter Penthesilia by Otrene Son/Daughter Harmonia by Aphrodite Son/Daughter Thestius by Demonice Son/Daughter Pleuron Son o Positive & Negative Force: As the god of war, Ares has a reputation in ancient Greek text for begin both a positive force and a negative one. Students should look that following primary text entries for Ares that deal with his personality. The anthropomorphic version of Ares aids soldiers as they prepare for battle and cuts them down when they are weak. Ares as a negative force “pollutes reverence” as he deteriorates the behavior of men so that it equals that of unthinking animals. o Ares & Aphrodite: Ares and Aphrodite had an adulterous affair that resulted in offspring described by Homer and Hesiod. The goddess of love and the god of war joined in an affair that is not only documented in the ancient Greek myths but appears on vases and sculptures as well. Students should look at the relationship between the god and goddess for clues to how the Greeks considered adultery, the bonds of love and war, and whether they accepted the union between Aphrodite and Ares. o Associated Rituals: An important part of the nature of a god or goddess may be discerned from the rituals performed for the favor of that god or goddess. Students should look at the rituals performed in favor of Ares. After looking at Ares as a personality they should investigate whether Ares’ rituals are as violent as what the god himself represents. Students will also want to look at where the rituals are performed, who performs the rituals, and whether the societies that include these rituals in their religious practices worship only Ares or Ares along with other gods and goddesses. Day 2 Discuss with the students Artemis, Athena and Demeter Artemis o Family: As one of the twelve main gods, Aphrodite’s relatives and offspring appear in many well-known myths. Below are the beginnings of a chart of Aphrodite's family, including her children by various mortals and gods. Students can then use this chart to learn about Aphrodite and her family and to create a family tree for the goddess. Family Member Relation Zeus Father Latona/Leto Mother Apollo Brother Dionysos (in Egyptian Father mythology) Isis (in Egyptian Mother mythology) o Epithets: As an alternative to investigating the epithets of Artemis, student can look for the surnames that the goddess has earned in different areas of Greece and in different countries. Students should try to discern why a given surname is given to Artemis. Below is a through list of Artemis’ surnames. Pausanias' Guide to Greece is essential when looking for alternative surnames for any god or goddess. An explanation for the use of a particular surname is often provided. Epithet Artemis Agrotera (the Huntress) Brauronian Artemis Tauric Artemis Artemis Leucophryne Artemis Ariste (Best) Artemis Calliste (Fairest) Artemis Light-bearer Artemis Amarysia Artemis of the Portal Artemis Saviour Artemis Ephesian Artemis Patroa (Paternal) Artemis Pheraea Artemis Persuasion Artemis Orthia (of the Steep) Artemis Coryphaea (of the Peak) Artemis Lycea (Wolfish) Artemis Iphigenia Artemis Caryatis (Walnut tree) Artemis Aiginaea (Goat-goddess?) Artemis Issori Artemis Leader Artemis Orthia (Upright) Artemis Anaeitis Artemis Cnagia Artemis Dereatis Artemis Limnatis (Of the Lake) Artemis called Daphnaea (of the laurel) Artemis Dictynna Artemis Astrateia Artemis Bringer of Light Artemis “Nurse of Children” Artemis Coccoca Artemis Alpheiaea Artemis Elaphiaea Artemis Philomeirax Artemis Laphria Artemis Triclaria Artemis Hymnia Artemis Horse-finder Artemis Pyronia (Fire-goddess) Artemis Cnacalesia o Alter Egos: Artemis became associated with the moon in Classical times, the opposite of her brother, Apollo, the sun god. In turn the identification of Artemis with the moon linked her to the goddesses Hecate and Selene. Hecate and Selene do not represent the moon’s pure, white nature. Selene, the moon goddess, fell in love with Endymion and preserved him in perpetual sleep for her own. Hecate is the goddess of fertility who lives in the Underworld. She is closely linked to witchcraft, black magic and darkness. Artemis as Hecate or Selene no longer represents a virginal figure. Students should investigate the stories of Hecate and Selene. They should recognize their classical association with Artemis and their independence as divine entities. o Associated Rituals: The nature of a god or goddess may be discerned from the rituals performed for the favor of that god or goddess. Students should look at the rituals performed in favor of Artemis. Students will also want to look at where the rituals are performed, who performs the rituals, and whether the societies that include these rituals in their religious practices worship only Artemis or Artemis along with other gods and goddesses. o The Avenging Goddess: Artemis was not one to allow a misdeed to go unpunished. She sought revenge in its deadliest form in answer to a boast or a mistake. Students should investigate the vengeance Artemis takes on Niobe, Actaeon and others. They should decide whether the punishments Artemis exacted were fair or extreme to the ancient mind. Athena o Epithets and Surnames: As an alternative to investigating the epithets of Athena, student can look for the surnames that the goddess has earned in different areas of Greece and in different countries.