a. Review the Chart of Greek Civilization and the Synopsis of Roman History (Chart 2: Hellenistic and Roman Civilization is optional at this time) so as to be able to identify largely their history and their interaction.
Recognize the following terms and know what they mean and, when pertinent, when they took place (by half-centuries):
Minoan and Mycenean civilizations, oral tradition, "Dark ages," Archaic age, polis, panhellenic, alphabet, Classical age of Greece, Hellenistic period, conquest by the Macedonians, conquest by the Romans, Roman Empire.
b. Review the page on myths and rituals. You do not need to memorize a definition.
c. Issues that you are expected to understand:
? The main traits of myths
and their transmission before they are set in writing;
? Some of the functions of myths
(they are not mere explanations, in the absence of scientific knowledge:
they have cultural functions)
TOPIC 2: RELIGION THEN AND NOW
a. Be familiar with the traits of myths and the manner of their transmission. Review the names of the twelve Olympians for the Greeks and the Romans. Understand the issue of Roman "lack of mythology" and the manner they adopted Greek mythology (in literature) and Greek religion (see a Roman ritual in 217 BCE).
Review the Greek myths on the creation of man by Prometheus and the creation of mankind in Ovid.
b. Recognize the characteristics of rituals. Be able to identify the following (you do not need to remember the particular examples illustrated on the page on myths and rituals):
sacrifices, other offerings, libations, processions, rites of cleansing or purification, prayers
c. Issues that you are expected
to understand:
Be able to compare religions in the
contemporary western world and the Greek religion. Understand in
a general way the traits of Roman religion.
TOPIC 3: ZEUS AND HERA. THEIR OFFSPRING
a. Learn the following myths and names:
The marriage of Zeus and Hera and
their offspring
Zeus and Ganymede
Other wives of Zeus and their offspring:
Demeter (Persephone), Metis (Athena), Semele (Dionysus), Maia (Hermes),
Alcmena (Heracles), Danae (Perseus), Mnemosyne (Muses)
Hephaestus and Hera
Hephaestus traps Ares and Aphrodite
The judgment of Paris
b. Be able to identify the following:
Zeus, Hera, Eileithyia, Hebe, Ares,
Hephaestus, Ganymede, Metis, Semele, Maia, Alcmena, Danae, Mnemosyne, the
Muses (as a group), the Moirae (=Fates).
You may use Morford and Lenardon online (summaries and aids for Chapter 3)
c. Issues that you are expected to understand:
How rituals enact destruction (e.g.
the burning of the effigy of Hera and her altar) yet serve to consolidate
the system of beliefs to which they belong.
TOPIC 4: ATHENA. MYTHS OF ATHENIAN AUTOCHTHONY
a. Know the following myths:
The birth of Athena
Athena and Pallas
Athena and Arachne
The invention of the double pipe
The contest of Athena and Poseidon
The birth of Erichthonius
Ritual of the Arrhephoria
Panathenaic festival (in general
terms)
b. Be able to identify the following:
Parthenos, aegis, Palladium, Cecrops,
Hephaestus, Athena, Erichthonius, Pheidias, frieze.
You may use Morford and Lenardon online (summaries and aids for Chapter 6)
c. Issuesthat you are expected to understand:
Myths of autochthony; how the entire city was represented at the Panathenaic festival (ephebes and their athletic contests; their oath; girls who wove the new robe for the goddess; the symbolic signification of the Arrhephoria; the frieze of the Parthenon.
TOPIC 5: APOLLO
In addition to reading the Homeric Hymn to Apollo
a. Know the following myths and cults:
The birth of Apollo
Apollo and the sailors
The slaying of Pytho
Apollo and Daphne
Apollo and Hyacinthus
Apollo and Coronis
Apollo and Marsyas
The oracle at Delphi: (in general)
how consultation took place.
b. Be able to identify the following:
Leto, Apollo Delphinius, Asclepius, Cheiron (Chiron), Artemis, oracle of Ge (Gaia)-Themis, Delphi, Pythian, tripod, Cassandra.
c. Issues that you are expected to
understand:
You may use Morford
and Lenardon online (summaries and aids for Chapter 6)
