CLAS 203 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Argonautica, Musaeum, Proto-Indo-European Language
Document Summary
Polytheistic (believed by greeks: many gods); anthropomorphic (in the eyes/shape of human begins) Gods do not create world; dwell within. No god is powerful: each has own sphere of influence. Gods exhibit humanlike behaviour: love, hate, ambition, greed, etc. Gods can communicate with mortals by oracles (oracles were way will of god to communicate his/her will through a prophecy) Sacrifices are rituals that is associated with myth or myth associated with sacrifices. Myth shows overlap of human and natural worlds: animals with human qualities (i. e. speech, birth of humans from nonhumans (i. e. tree, metamorphoses of humans into gods, animals, trees, etc. Romans adopted and remade" greek myth in their own image (to suit themselves) Own culture, religious heritage, but few known traditional stories. Differences in society, beliefs evident in reworking" of myths (i. e. lessened importance of the sea) Passed alphabet and classical tradition to following generations. Greek myth begins in primordial times: untraceable.