CLA204H1 Lecture Notes - Modern Greek Enlightenment, Origin Myth, Theogony
Document Summary
Sacred narrative, relates to culture and societal history. Not necessarily religious, sometimes related but mostly a justification of action. Traditional tale with collective social importance (burkett) Homer: illiad and odyssey, one of the first to use the word myth muthos . Story present but basically a single command: illiad: but he sent him away harshly, and laid upon him a stern muthos: let me not find you . Hesiod: theogony, distinction between truth and lies in muthos. Professional poet hired to celebrate actions/feats/etc: 6-5th bce poet, claimed to be giving true versions of myth. Plato: beginning of 5th century (greek enlightenment, philosophically examining muthos, distinction between muthos (without reasoning or authority fable) and logos (logical account) Aristotle: muthos of tragedy is the imitation of an action , myth is merely the medium through which a message can be imparted. Divine myths: about supernatural beings (i. e. gods/monsters, often etiological (gk. Aition cause, origin) explaining origin of activity, landmark, etc.
