CLA 2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Chariot Racing, Bad Life, Atreus
19 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
CLA 2323: Greek Mythology
Week 6: Thursday, June 7, 2018
The House of Atreus (the House of Pelops)
Exam: June 14 @7pm, CRX C140
Mainly things from after the midterm
Relation between humans and gods is important
Basic understanding of the gods is needed
This content is more hero-gaged
Choice (like the midterm)
oShort (5 or 8) and long answer (4)
No map questions
Lecture
Laios has a son, Oedipus, who is cursed by the behaviour of his fatherhood
There is this idea in Greek mythology that the misdeeds of father are played out in his
children and grandchildren's lives
Oedipus has a bad life
oEach of his children suffer in their own way
This was in Thebes (2nd most important Mycenaean city)
Another famous example is Pelops - receives a curse
Mycenae was most important Mycenaean city
The house of Pelops is the story
Pelops is a fairly attractive character, who is father to Atrius
Pelops is a beautiful prince, boyfriend of Poseidon
oTheir relationship is very close to an idealized version of the upper-class social
norm of homosexual male relations
Young boy courted by an older man
Young boy would receive education, training (war, hunting, career)
His final upbringing was part of the relationship
Poseidon teaches Pelops to best charioteer in the world
Pelops eventually leaves the relationship (having formed a career as an expert
charioteer)
oHe uses this skill to marry a woman
He courts a princess of Mycenae, whose father is the bad guy, who has a
rule: "Anyone can court my daughter if they want. But the challenge is to race me in a
chariot race."
"When I catch you (after giving you a head start), I will spear you and kill
you."
Pelops accepts the challenge because he has been groomed for it
Hippodemea (check spelling) is the princess
Pelops thinks he can win the race
oTo be sure, he bribes the groom (person who attends to horses) of the intended
father-in-law with gold, who fiddles with the mechanism of the King's chariot
Loosening a screw
pg. 1
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The house of atreus (the house of pelops) Short (5 or 8) and long answer (4) Laios has a son, oedipus, who is cursed by the behaviour of his fatherhood. There is this idea in greek mythology that the misdeeds of father are played out in his children and grandchildren"s lives. Each of his children suffer in their own way. This was in thebes (2nd most important mycenaean city) Another famous example is pelops - receives a curse. Pelops is a fairly attractive character, who is father to atrius. Pelops is a beautiful prince, boyfriend of poseidon o. Their relationship is very close to an idealized version of the upper-class social norm of homosexual male relations. Young boy would receive education, training (war, hunting, career) His final upbringing was part of the relationship. Poseidon teaches pelops to best charioteer in the world. Pelops eventually leaves the relationship (having formed a career as an expert charioteer) o.
