CLST 203 Lecture 20: Lecture20
22 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Many of our sources from antiquity are athenian: contrast thebes, for example. We mostly get the athenian spin about athenian mythology. Autochthony (being sprung from the earth) an important part of athenian identity: absolute claim to native status. Athenians tend to be the good guys (especially theseus) Importance of female, human sacrifice to further the mythological history of the city (cf. Kekrops: half man, half snake born from the ground: founds attica, judges the contest between poseidon and athena. Hephaestus ejaculates at athena: his semen fertilizes the ground, producing erichthonius, erichthonius founds the panathenaea, set up the wooden cult statue of athena on the acropolis, a stand-in for poseidon. Grandson of erechthonius: another stand-in (pseudonym) for poseidon. Sacrifices one or more of his daughters to secure victory of athens over eleusis. Hugely important temple, the erechtheion, dedicated to him: housed the wooden cult statue of athens, athena"s olive tree, poseidon"s salt spring, the tomb of erechtheus, etc.
