Homeric 2/18 Hymns (Basic Themes) Pan-Hellenism (national identity) Role of Zeus and the Olympian order Aetiology; arrival of the god; epiphany Based on certain rituals and gods Ritual: A god actually came and present the ritual "Epiphany" - Manifestation of God to Humans Acquisition of honors to timai of the deity Forcing of Humans by Gods to honor them Threat of feminine power to the Olympian order Hymn to Apollo Homeric, but not written by Homer; rhapsodes Thought and composed rather than told on the spot Poetry by performance Memorized and performed as ritual to the gods A blind poet from Chios (Page 181, Line 175+ -) Notion that a blind man has special sight Cannot see physical reality, but rather hidden reality Date (680-550 BCE); one hymn or two? Delian and Pythian Aetiologies; arrival at cult sites, epiphanies; relation to epithets "Epithets" - descriptive phrases/words put onto a hero or god Delos, Mt. Helicon, Delphi Receive an epithet at each place Structure of the Hymn Arrival at Olympus/Introduction (1-29) (p. 178) Arrival of Apollo to Olympus Gods are terrified of Apollo Birth at Delos (Delian Apollo) (30-145) Hera made a decree Lito wont be able to give birth anywhere the sun is shining on Festival at Delos/Olympian scene (146 - 206) Seemingly related to an Olympian scene Muses (inspiration of poets) dancing around Telphousa at Mt. Helicon (207-276) Apollo has a conversation with a river This river is female Rivers are usually male Usually Serpents, with human heads, and horns Feminine threat to Olympian order River tells Apollo to leave Ritual involving chariots to celebrate Posidon Apollo leaves to Delphi Anonymous monster at Delphi and Typhaon (Pythian Apollo) (277-374) Apollo does kill the monster
Receives the title of Typhaon Back to (Apollo Telphousa Telphousios) (475 - 387) Punishes river for lying to him Puts pile of rocks on river The first priests for Delphi (Apollo Delpinos) (388-546) Captives from a ship Apollo the Monster Killer Difficult Birth; role of Eileithyia Hera doesnt want Apollo to be born Bans Eileithyia from coming to Delos Eileithyia bribed with a neckalce Upon arrival, Lito gives birth to Apollo Female opponents to Apollo's birth Hera, Telphousa, anonymous monster Tradition that "Python" (anonymous monster) guarded chasm Chasm at Delphi for Themis Dream oracle (incubation cult) replaced by the Pythia Go to temple to sleep While dreaming, Gods would come and speak Hera gives birth to Hepaestus and Typhaon (Not the monster at Delphi) Hera does this to get back at Zeus Virgin births in Greek Myth usually mean they are flawed Monsters and the Olympain order: Zues, the greatest monster-killer Monster-Killer Motifs Threatened birth Celebrated birth of Apollo Birth significant or celebrated, but concealed Delos, downkey Travel Acquisition of Equipment Lyre, Bow Defeat of monster, often serpentine Aetiology, divine honors Apollon - He who destroys utterly Pythian - He who rots stuff Connection with the sun? Phoebus - The fearful one Lykian Apollo - The Wolf God Apollo shoots arrows at the Achaeans causing plague among them Achaeans are the ones who are invading Troy Iliad Book One Laurel (Daphne) Aetiology Daphne -> Laurel tree Tree of Apollo Pythian games - Laurel branch for victory in a race
Daphne - Apollo's 1st love; unlucky The anger of Cupid (Eros) - Child of Venus Woman becomes an object Daphne wants to be a virgin like Diana (Artemis) Instead becomes a fatal maiden Roman laurel - Laurel for the celebration of Roman triumphs (Subject nations were personified as women)