CLAS-102 Lecture 1: Classics 102 Theory of Myths
5 Dec 2017
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Classics 101 notes: odysseus = ulysses, achilles = achilleus, a myth has a very simple plot and they are traditional stories, word tradition is something that is handed down by word of mouth through the generations. Theories of myths what it says. telling us that this is the birth of wisdom. Saying zeus is very wise and she is also very wise: ritual theory, its an anthropological theory, developed by anthropologists and psychologist, sir james frazer he wrote a work called the golden bough (12 vols). We are interested in what he says about kings in myth and how they are killed by their sons he claims this is the sole of a ritual and kings were appointed by the gods. Epic of gilgamesh vs: homer is c. 900 bc, flood myth comes from c. 2700 bc, one way that gilgamesh is similar to heracles is that both are seeking immortality.
