CLA 2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Cape Matapan, Greek Mythology, Katabasis
19 Jun 2018
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CLA 2323: Greek Mythology
Week 5: Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Theseus, The Katabasis, Divine Twins & The Theban Cycle
Theseus
Confinement in hell following his scheme to abduct Persephone
oGreat example of hubris
He returns to the living after Heracles rips him off the bench
oThis is his last adventure
When get returns to the living, he has lost his throne
He goes into exile and flees to (Scyros)?
Here, he is murdered by his host
Last few months of his life are a disaster
He also tries to abduct Helen of Troy
oHe is successful, and surprisingly he doesn't try to force himself on her
oHe puts her in the care of his mother in a remote location
According to one version, it is here that her brothers Kastor and Polydeukes
rescue her
They also capture Odysseus' mother and enslave her in the process
Apparently this process happens when he is in the Underworld
The most famous late episode of his life: Hippolytus (his son)
Theseus has to capture the queen of the Amazons
oGoes with Heracles who does his labour (one version)
This version may be part of a later-day Athenian propaganda
He abducts the queen, alive, named Hippolyta (meaning "horse stampede")
Although she resists at first, she eventually succumbs to domesticity from Theseus' charm
Together, they have a son named Hippolytus
oHe grows with a unique personality
Wants to remain a virgin
Male devotee of Artemis
After Hippolyta dies, Theseus remarries to a woman named Phaedra
oShe is a Cretan princess, younger sister of Ariadne (who he dumped on Naxos years
earlier)
oShe is much younger than Theseus
Phaedra falls in love with Hippolytus, and when he rebuffs her attempt to seduce him, she hangs
herself
oShe leaves a suicide note implicating Hippolytus, saying he raped her: "Hippolytus tried
to force himself on me"
oTheseus curses his son and invokes his father's help (Poseidon) to kill Hippolytus
Hippolytus flees and out of the ocean emerges a monstrous bull (Poseidon-sent)
oHis horses panic and stampede, running out of control and flipping the chariot over
This is arguably the one mistake in Theseus' career
His stories don't add up
oOne layer is very simple: early stories like the minotaur and Persephone
oThe second layer is more elaborate, including killing bandits on the road
They are very imitative of Heracles
pg. 1
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This doesn't add up psychologically
The Katabasis
"Kata": down/downward
"Basis": walking/hiking
You do katabasis when you're alive --> "the hike down"
oIt is very difficult, but descent is easier than ascent
5 ancient Greek characters who make living journey to the Underworld:
oOrpheus, Theseus, Heracles, Odysseus, Psyche (in that order)
Orpheus was the greatest musician in the world
oSon of King Aphreis and a muse (daughter of goddess of memory and Zeus; overall
goddess of music/poetry/dance)
Muse + King of Thrace
He is not Greek, only operated in Greece
Marries Eurydussy
oShe steps on a venomous snake and dies from bite
Orpheus is anguished about it
Shows Homeric anger
In response to her death, Orpheus plans to venture to the Underworld to bargain for
Eurydussy's life back
Paths to the Underworld:
oCape Tainaron
oNekyomanteion: the route Orpheus chose
Orpheus takes his lyre with him (harp-like instrument) to help him bargain
When arriving, Persephone succumbs to Orpheus' musical skill and persuades Hades to release
Eurydussy's soul
oHades agrees to do so on one condition: take the walking route back and do not look
back
Orpheus disobeys this rule, showing his mortal nature
His wife's soul returns to the Underworld
The rest of this myth involves Orpheus' inconsolable grief from losing his wife twice
He becomes a prophet of a new religion: the Orphic mysteries (pg. 213 and 52)
oNew religion within the Olympian gods
Ideology that he helped "found" this religion
Recognizes Dionysus as son of Persephone
In the end, Orpheus is torn apart by followers of Dionysus (ironic)
Pg. 171 - his story inspired many artists
Psyche
Psyche: source of tale is a Latin novel (160 A.D.), called "The Golden Ass" by Lucius Apuleius
oAKA "Metamorphoses"
oStory of a rich man in Greece who learns wisdom from his misfortune
He has a girl who dabbles in black magic, turning him into a donkey
Has experiences (as a donkey) which make him wise
Psyche: "the soul"
Cupid: eros, "romantic love"
pg. 2
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Theseus, the katabasis, divine twins & the theban cycle. Confinement in hell following his scheme to abduct persephone: great example of hubris. He returns to the living after heracles rips him off the bench o. When get returns to the living, he has lost his throne. Here, he is murdered by his host. Last few months of his life are a disaster. He also tries to abduct helen of troy: he is successful, and surprisingly he doesn"t try to force himself on her, he puts her in the care of his mother in a remote location. According to one version, it is here that her brothers kastor and polydeukes rescue her. They also capture odysseus" mother and enslave her in the process. Apparently this process happens when he is in the underworld. The most famous late episode of his life: hippolytus (his son)
