CLAS 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Opisthodomos, Glossary Of Architecture, Amphiprostyle
Week 2
Lecture 4
● Marduk slices Tiamat in half. Her halves create the heavens and earth
● Biblical creation
○ Genesis 1:1-2:4 -- The World
○ Genesis 2:4-2:25 -- Man and Woman
○ Is the biblical account of god a “mythology”as we define it
■ A Theology -- account of the creation of the god(s)?
■ A Cosmology -- account of the creation of the world, cosmic elements?
■ Refracting contemporary social and political realities
● To explain/legitimize hierarchical structures among men
● To legitimize kingship
● Firmament: the space between the skies and the land where the humans dwell
● The “Fall”
○ Aetiology -- evil/chaos in a “good” ordered world
○ The idea of the apple unleashing evil was just confusion from the translation of
some original texts. Malum meant both evil and apple
● The creation of Man in Greek Mythology
○ Prometheus -- Creator of Man
■ Titan
■ Can see into the future
■ Son of Iapetus and Themis (Titans)
■ Brother of Epimetheus
■ Creator and protector of man
■ Autochthony: from that space
○ Trickery contest with Zeus
■ Mecone: division of sacrifice
● Prometheus gives Zeus the choice of sacrifice -- rich meat or dry
bones
● Zeus, tricked into choosing the bones (aetiology -- sacrifice)
■ Fire
● Zeus takes fire away from men
● Prometheus takes it, hides it in a fennel stalk, and gives it to man
■ Water
● Zeus gives woman to Epimetheus
● Epimetheus accepts her
● Aetiology: the creation of women (and suffering)
○ Pandora -- The first woman
■ Pan means all and dora means gifts
● Hesiod Works and Days
In order from best to worst
○ Gold -- near parity with gods
Document Summary
Is the biblical account of god a mythology as we define it. Firmament: the space between the skies and the land where the humans dwell. Aetiology -- evil/chaos in a good ordered world. The idea of the apple unleashing evil was just confusion from the translation of some original texts. The creation of man in greek mythology. Prometheus gives zeus the choice of sacrifice -- rich meat or dry bones. Zeus, tricked into choosing the bones (aetiology -- sacrifice) Prometheus takes it, hides it in a fennel stalk, and gives it to man. Aetiology: the creation of women (and suffering) Pan means all and dora means gifts. General principles that apply to all cultures: Coherent and integrated system to cope with problems and satisfy needs. Artemis (goddess of the wild and hunting) Apollo (god of music, medicine, reason, and prophecy) Hermes (god of travel, tricks, commerce, and thievery) Cult -- repeated actions directed toward a divinity in a particular place.
