CLA 2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Greek Mythology, Upper Class, Pederasty In Ancient Greece
19 Jun 2018
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CLA 2323: Greek Mythology
Week 3: Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Zeus' Sexual Violence and Homosexuality in Greece (mythology and real-life)
Buxton: pg. 97-101 and 174-177
All male, no female homosexuality present in Greek mythology
It was not lost on thoughtful ancient Greece that Zeus and other gods would misbehave
oIt bothered thoughtful people
The King of the Universe seems kind of out of character when being violent
towards women
o"Homer and Hesiod have ascribed to the Gods all things shameful around men, like theft
and adultery."
What kind of religion is this?
Zeus is supposed to be lord of social order, but he acts like a pig towards women
It's illuminating that even the ancient Greeks could be bothered by the discrepancy
Page 97: Zeus' involvement with mortal women, and the kids from that union
General pattern: by the time Zeus is ruler of the universe, there was already the human rice
oIn organizing the human race, includes sexual relations with females to bear children
Zeus has sex with demigods, has kids like Hermes, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite,
Persephone
From the start, there is a pattern of Zeus going outside of his marriage, having sex, and the
product is someone very important in the hierarchy of human
Zeus doesn't stop at the level of sex with gods, but extends to third level: humans
oIn next stage of his business in universe, he descends to earth and has sex with many
mortal women
The sex always produces a child, usually male
Whether male or female, the child is born with special powers, known as a hero
or "heros"/protector
A hero means someone who has, in him, the divine seed and in his blood, he is slightly better
than humans
At the end of the day, Zeus' involvement with mortal woman is an extension of what he's been
doing with women in heaven (with demigoddesses and other gods)
Zeus has relations with women not just because he's horny/predatory, but also because he
wants to improve the human race
oBy introducing race of heroes
In mythology, the woman is almost always a virgin, and usually aristocratic
oPrincess, first born
This first experience is part of the hero formula
The question is: why the sexual violence? Why the rage?
Zeus' Sexual Violence
He overpowers, and deceives the women
Sometimes he approaches in a different form (i.e. Swan)
oLeda: queen of Sparta, who was approached by Zeus as a Swan
He impregnates her with Dionysus
oShe is one of few women who are marries --> not a maiden
pg. 1
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