CLA 2323 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Greek Mythology, Lyric Poetry, Etiology
15 Nov 2015
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Etiology (aetiology) : hades abducts his niece persephone. He keeps her in the underworld for 6 months and lets her come to earth to visit for 6 months. This myth is to explain the seasons. (when persephone is on earth, it is warm, sunny and there is rain, when she is back with hades, it"s dry and cold. ) Ancestors give birth to their bloodline (children). Relates to history (family history as well) Greeks believed the trojan war involved some of their ancestors. To educate or to use as examples. Hubris: to offend the gods. (bragging about wealth or fertility can result in backlash from the divinities. ) He says that the gods can commit crimes such as adultery (cheating), stealing, murder and incest and they are still idolized. Thus, he creates the myth of atlantis to get his point across. Myths provide identity and serve multiple purposes; Can explain or give explanation for natural and social phenomenons.
