The Spartan Saga Gaia (Earth) Uranus (Heaven) Oceanus = Tethys Iapetus (Titan) = Clymene Themis Pluto Epimetheus Prometheus Atlas = Pleione The Pleiades Atlas = Pleione Alcyone Merope Celaeno Electra Sterope Taygete Maia = Zeus Hermes • When the sisters died, they were placed amongst the stars • Visible in Greece from May to November • Signal the farming and sailing seasons Atlas = Pleione Eurotas Taygete = Zeus Sparta = Lacedaemon • Eurotas, grandson of Lelex, an autochthon. – Without a male heir, he was the last of his line. • Lacedaemon – Founded Sparta (named for his wife) • The people are called Lacedaemonians • The lambda Λ is always on their shields Sparta Sparta Sparta = Lacedaemon Diomede = Amylcas Eurydice = Acrisius Hyacinthus Cynortas • Amylcas was second king of Sparta • Hyacinthus was loved by Apollo • Apollo killed him accidentally • Turned him into a flower • Hyacinthus • Merry Joseph Blondel • (1781 – 1853) • la muerte de jacinto Sparta = Lacedaemon Diomede = Amylcas Eurydice = Acrisius Hyacinthus Cynortas Perseus Oebalus = Gorgophone Perieres = Gorgophone Leucippus Arsinoe = Apollo Aesculapius • Gorgophone was first married to Perieres, a son of Aeolus and Enarete. • This is an alternative genealogy! Asclepius (Aesculapius) • Alternative: Son of Apollo and Coronis • Raised by Cheiron, the centaur – Taught the art of healing • A snake, wound on a staff, brought Asclepius healing herbs • Zeus killed him so that humans would not escape death Asclepius Seeking a cure in the temple of Asclepius Oebalus = Gorgophone Tyndarius = Leda = Zeus Clytemnestra Castor Pollux Helen • Althernative: • Zeus raped Nemesis and she lay an egg • Leda found the egg and when Helen hatched Leda raised her as her own daughter • Helen and Theseus The Dioscuri • Rape of Helen: – Theseus abducted Helen when she was underage. – Castor and Pollux attacked Athens – Found Helen at Aphidnae – Revealed by Academus • His land was a mile north of Athens • A shrine to Academus was called the Academy • Plato built his school there. Dioscuri • Calydonian Boar Hunt • Voyage of the Argo – Stars over the heads of the Dioscuri • The Aphareidae – Idas and Lyncaeus: cheated the Dioscuri – In the war Castor was killed – Pollux asked Zeus that he might die with his brother. – Both elevated to the heavens Castor and Pollux Temple of the Dioscuri in Rome Gemini Gemini Agamemnon Rhea = Cronos = ? Zeus = Pluto Tantalus = Dione • Tantalus was king of Phrygia (or other) – But not Argos: although a more common version, it doesn’t work. • Tantalus was entrusted with Zeus’ secrets • Revealed the secrets and was cast into Hades Tantalus = Dione Pelops = Hippodameia • Pelops was expelled from Phrygia by Ilus • Moved to Elis, ruled by Oenomaus, father of Hippodameia • Pelops won Hippodameia in a chariot race • Became king of Elis • The Peloponnese is named for him Phrygia Pelops = Hippodameia Atreus Thyestes Nicippe = Sthenelus Aegisthus • Atreus and Thyestes fled Elis after they killed their half brother • Sthenelus of Mycenae took them in • After the death of Eurystheus, Atreus became king of Mycenae Pelops = Hippodameia Aerope = Atreus Thyestes Nicippe Clytemnestra = Agamemnon Menelaus = Helen • Atreus and Thyestes in a bloody rivalry • Atreus killed two sons of Thyestes • Finally, Aegisthus, son of Thyestes, killed Atreus and expelled Agamemnon and Menelaus • Both taken in by Tyndarius of Sparta Sins of the Fathers • Curse of the House of Atreus – Was it the sin of Tantalus? – The murder of Chrysippus by Atreus and Thyestes? – The murder of the sons of Thyestes by Atreus? Clytemnestra = Agamemnon Iphegeneia Chrysothemis Laodice Orestes • Returned to Mycenae… – ExpelledThyestes and banished Aegisthus • Consolidated power and became the ‘king of kings’ The Marriage of Helen • Suitors came from all of Greece • Tyndareus feared a war • Odysseus’ idea: • Each suitor to swear an oath to abide and defend the chosen one and the marriage • Menelaus, son of Atreus, was chosen • He succeeded Tyndareus as king of Sparta Menelaus and Helen.