CLA 2323 Lecture 6: Lecture 6
30 Jun 2018
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Department
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Zeus' sexual violence:
p.97-101
Zeus from the start has been going outside of his marriage to result in offspring who take a place
in the Olympian Gods - Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus, Athena
He descends to earth and has sex with mortal women. The sex always results in a child - usually
men who are heros - Someone who in him has the divine seed - slightly better than normal
humans - faster, smarter, braver.
Zeus involvement of mortal women is the extension of what he has been doing in the heaven.
Perseus, Herakles, Sar Pedon, Helen of Troy.
He has sex Not only because he is horny, but because he wants to improve the human race.
Almost always a virgin woman or girl - aristocratic or princess.
He overpowers the woman and at the very best deceives her
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Leda, Queen of Sparta - approaches her in the form of a swan
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Impregnates her
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One of the few victims who is not a maiden - she is a married lady
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Europa - approaches her as a docile bull
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Acyesis locks up his daughter in a tower to prevent her from giving birth to a son that will
endanger him
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He comes in the form of gold shower and has intercourse with her?
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Whyyy the violence?? Huhhh?
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Women did not get pregnant before marriage in ancient Greece.
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Had her maidenhood guarded.
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Had to get pregnant for the continuity of the human race
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Princess of Thebes
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Before the newlyweds can have sex, he is rushed of because he is a warrior.
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He comes back in a short while but it is Zeus is masquerading as him and impregnates
her with Herakles
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Alkmene - a married lady
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Question of female faithfulness to her husband in heterosexual relation led to who is the
man
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In storytelling, the woman can come out reasonable only if she was attacked
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The girls were not cooperating -> which meant sticking to their traditions of keeping
maidenhood intact of young girls instead of influencing them to go and have sex with other
men.
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Zeus has planned something for the world that we cannot fathom, that's why he does what
he wants
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The mythology is not codoning myth .
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In ancient Greece it was not considered good behavior to rape maidens and sleeping with
other men's wives.
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Why the sexual violence?
Adulterium (latin)
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Present day meaning: having a committed partner and having relations with someone who
isn't that partner
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It didn't mean the same thing back in ancient Greece
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It meant "contamination"
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A man who sleeps with another man's wife
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Committing the adultery to the husband but not his own wife
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Adultery:
Lecture 6
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
7:17 PM
CLA2323A Page 1
Document Summary
Zeus from the start has been going outside of his marriage to result in offspring who take a place in the olympian gods - apollo, artemis, dionysus, athena. He descends to earth and has sex with mortal women. The sex always results in a child - usually men who are heros - someone who in him has the divine seed - slightly better than normal humans - faster, smarter, braver. Zeus involvement of mortal women is the extension of what he has been doing in the heaven. He has sex not only because he is horny, but because he wants to improve the human race. Almost always a virgin woman or girl - aristocratic or princess. He overpowers the woman and at the very best deceives her. Leda, queen of sparta - approaches her in the form of a swan. One of the few victims who is not a maiden - she is a married lady.
