GRS 200 Lecture 6: Prometheus and Pandora

• School: University of Victoria
• Department: Greek and Roman Studies
• Course: GRS 200
• Professor: Laurel Bowman

Document Summary

Malinowski- social word shapes myth you have to know the context of the myth- the working system of the culture: places myth within a social context. Primary function of myth was a charter- explains and justifies aspects of the culture: myth becomes a social tool for people to live by i. e. athenians and their occupation of athens. Every culture uses myth in one way or another. Guides of how people should behave when they hear it and what they socially couldn"t change. Prometheus, pandora and man in theogony there is no explanation of how man came about- not true of oral transmitted stories, other stories that we know of the creation of man (clay +dust of titans) Hesiod: prometheus is interested in man- gives us fire; all greek myth talks about the creation- hesiod captures a bit of it. Sumerian; humans made out of clay and have a purpose- slaves to gods.