CMLT316 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Homeric Hymns, Pythia, Know Thyself
3 Jun 2018
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Class 8: Apollo; Hermes
The Site of Delphi
● Significant debate about what role the Pythian priestess served
● Modern research is leaning towards offering the priestess a lot of autonomy in her ‘divine
inspirations’
● Some have speculated that the high place of the Priestesses at Delphi is owing to an
older tradition associated with the Python
Apollo’s Relationships
● Daphne (and the origin of Apollo’s sacred tree, the laurel)
● Laurel crown for athletes (Olympic Games) and poets
● Hyacinthus and the jealous Zephyr (West Wind)
Phaethon
● Phaethon cannot control horses
● Scorches Libya and threatens Olympus
● Zeus strikes him down with a thunderbolt
● Horses return to the West
Gnothi Seauton (saying at Oracle of Delphi)
● “Know thyself”
● A famous Greek expression
● On the surface, it means “know who you are” (“know your place”)
● A common motif in myth to reflect on a person’s place in the order of things
Hermes
● Appearance:
○ Winged shoes
○ Traveler’s hat
○ Caduceus
○ Young god (often younger than Apollo)
● The god of boundaries
● Spheres of influence:
○ Herald/messenger of the gods (primary role)
○ Guide for travelers
○ God of thieves
○ God of herds (livestock)
○ Trickster god
● The Caduceus (messenger’s staff)
● “Golden boy” atop manitoba legislature
Hermes as Messenger of the gods
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Significant debate about what role the pythian priestess served. Modern research is leaning towards offering the priestess a lot of autonomy in her divine inspirations". Some have speculated that the high place of the priestesses at delphi is owing to an older tradition associated with the python. Daphne (and the origin of apollo"s sacred tree, the laurel) Laurel crown for athletes (olympic games) and poets. Hyacinthus and the jealous zephyr (west wind) Zeus strikes him down with a thunderbolt. On the surface, it means know who you are ( know your place ) A common motif in myth to reflect on a person"s place in the order of things. Acts as an intermediary between humans and gods (mainly zeus) Also helps zeus in carrying out his various extramarital relations. Function mirrors that of contemporary greek and roman heralds. Child of zeus and maia (daughter of atlas) The invention of the lyre (from tortoise)
