SLO’s & Objectives SLO’s & Objectives

SLO Interpret historical knowledge to SLO Interpret historical knowledge to extend comprehension of world cultures extend comprehension of world cultures

Objective: Distinguish the characteristics Objective: Distinguish the characteristics of the worlds major civilizations and of the worlds major civilizations and discuss their enduring influencesdiscuss their enduring influences

ZEUS is the supreme god ZEUS is the supreme god of the Olympians. of the Olympians.

Zeus and his brothers Zeus and his brothers Poseidon and Hades Poseidon and Hades divided up creation. divided up creation.

Poseidon received the sea Poseidon received the sea as his domain, as his domain,

Hades got the Underworld Hades got the Underworld and and

Zeus took the sky.Zeus took the sky. Zeus also was accorded Zeus also was accorded

supreme authority on earth supreme authority on earth and on Mount Olympus. and on Mount Olympus.

APOLLO was the god of APOLLO was the god of prophesy, music and prophesy, music and healing. healing.

Like most of his fellow Like most of his fellow Olympians, Apollo did not Olympians, Apollo did not hesitate to intervene in hesitate to intervene in human affairs. As god of human affairs. As god of music, Apollo is often music, Apollo is often depicted playing a depicted playing a instrument. instrument.

ARES aka Mars was the god ARES aka Mars was the god of war, or more precisely of of war, or more precisely of warlike frenzy. His throne on warlike frenzy. His throne on Mount Olympus was said to Mount Olympus was said to be covered in human skin. be covered in human skin.

The Roman god Mars, with The Roman god Mars, with whom Ares was identified, whom Ares was identified, was the father of Romulus was the father of Romulus and Remus, the mythological and Remus, the mythological founders of Rome. Thus he founders of Rome. Thus he was more important to the was more important to the Romans than his Greek Romans than his Greek counterpart. counterpart.

ARTEMIS was the virgin ARTEMIS was the virgin goddess of the hunt. She goddess of the hunt. She helped women in helped women in childbirth but also childbirth but also brought sudden death brought sudden death with her arrows. with her arrows.

Artemis and her brother Artemis and her brother Apollo were the children Apollo were the children of Zeus and Leto. In of Zeus and Leto. In some versions of their some versions of their myth, Artemis was born myth, Artemis was born first and helped her first and helped her mother to deliver Apollo. mother to deliver Apollo.

ATHENA was the ATHENA was the goddess of crafts and the goddess of crafts and the domestic arts and also domestic arts and also those of war. She was the those of war. She was the patron goddess of Athens. patron goddess of Athens. Her symbol was the owl. Her symbol was the owl. She was originally the She was originally the Great Goddess in the form Great Goddess in the form of a bird. By the late of a bird. By the late Classic, she had come to Classic, she had come to be regarded as a goddess be regarded as a goddess of wisdom of wisdom

Zeus was once married to Metis, a daughter Zeus was once married to Metis, a daughter of Ocean who was renowned for her wisdom. of Ocean who was renowned for her wisdom. When Metis became pregnant, Zeus was When Metis became pregnant, Zeus was warned by Earth that a son born to Metis warned by Earth that a son born to Metis would overthrow him. would overthrow him.

Zeus swallowed Metis and was overcome with Zeus swallowed Metis and was overcome with a splitting headache and summoned help a splitting headache and summoned help from the craftsman god Hephaestus (or, some from the craftsman god Hephaestus (or, some say, the Titan Prometheus). Hephaestus say, the Titan Prometheus). Hephaestus cleaved Zeus's forehead with an ax, and cleaved Zeus's forehead with an ax, and Athena sprang forth fully armed. Athena sprang forth fully armed.

DEMETER was the goddess DEMETER was the goddess of agriculture. Demeter is the of agriculture. Demeter is the sister of Zeus and the mother sister of Zeus and the mother of Persephone. of Persephone.

Persephone was gathering Persephone was gathering flowers when a huge crack flowers when a huge crack opened up in the earth and opened up in the earth and Hades, King of the Dead, Hades, King of the Dead, emerged from the emerged from the Underworld. He seized Underworld. He seized Persephone and carried her Persephone and carried her off in his chariot, back down to off in his chariot, back down to his his realm below, where his his realm below, where she became his queen. she became his queen.

Demeter was heartbroken and wandered the Demeter was heartbroken and wandered the earth in search of her daughter, during which earth in search of her daughter, during which time the crops withered and it became time the crops withered and it became perpetual winter. perpetual winter.

Hades was persuaded to surrender Hades was persuaded to surrender Persephone for one half of every year, the Persephone for one half of every year, the spring and summer seasons when flowers spring and summer seasons when flowers bloom and the earth bears fruit once more. bloom and the earth bears fruit once more.

The half year that Persephone spends in the The half year that Persephone spends in the Underworld as Hades' queen coincides with the Underworld as Hades' queen coincides with the barren season. barren season.

HEPHAEST was the lame HEPHAEST was the lame god of fire and crafts or the god of fire and crafts or the two together, hence of two together, hence of blacksmiths. blacksmiths.

Hephaestus also created the Hephaestus also created the first woman, Pandora was first woman, Pandora was given to the Titan's brother, given to the Titan's brother, Epimetheus, as his wife. For Epimetheus, as his wife. For her dowry she brought a jar her dowry she brought a jar filled with evils from which filled with evils from which she removed the lid, thereby she removed the lid, thereby afflicting men for the first time afflicting men for the first time with hard work and sickness. with hard work and sickness. Only hope remained inside Only hope remained inside the jar. the jar.

HERA was the goddess of HERA was the goddess of marriage. Hera was the wife marriage. Hera was the wife of Zeus and Queen of the of Zeus and Queen of the Olympians. Olympians.

Her worship goes back to Her worship goes back to a time when the creative a time when the creative force we call "God" was force we call "God" was conceived of as a woman. conceived of as a woman. The Goddess took many The Goddess took many forms, among them that of a forms, among them that of a bird. bird.

Hera was worshipped Hera was worshipped throughout Greece, and the throughout Greece, and the oldest and most important oldest and most important temples were consecrated temples were consecrated to her. to her.

HERMES was the messenger HERMES was the messenger of the gods and guide of dead of the gods and guide of dead souls to the Underworld. souls to the Underworld.

Hermes was the son Zeus and Hermes was the son Zeus and a mountain nymph and known a mountain nymph and known for his helpfulness to mankind. for his helpfulness to mankind.

It was Hermes' job to convey It was Hermes' job to convey dead souls to the Underworld. dead souls to the Underworld.

POSEIDON aka Neptune POSEIDON aka Neptune was the god of the sea, was the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses. earthquakes and horses. Although he was officially Although he was officially one of the supreme gods one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, he of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his time in spent most of his time in his watery domain. his watery domain.

Poseidon was brother to Poseidon was brother to Zeus and Hades.Zeus and Hades.

Poseidon cursed the wife of King Minos. Poseidon cursed the wife of King Minos. Minos had proved his divine right to rule Minos had proved his divine right to rule Crete by calling on Poseidon to send a bull Crete by calling on Poseidon to send a bull from the sea, which the king promised to from the sea, which the king promised to sacrifice. Poseidon sent the bull, but Minos sacrifice. Poseidon sent the bull, but Minos liked it too much to sacrifice it. So liked it too much to sacrifice it. So Poseidon asked Aphrodite, the goddess of Poseidon asked Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to make Minos's queen, Pasiphae, love, to make Minos's queen, Pasiphae, fall in love with the bull. The result was the fall in love with the bull. The result was the monstrous Minotaur, half-man, half-bull. monstrous Minotaur, half-man, half-bull.

As god of horses, Poseidon often adopted As god of horses, Poseidon often adopted the shape of a steed. Poseidon sometimes the shape of a steed. Poseidon sometimes granted the shape-shifting power to granted the shape-shifting power to others. others.

APHRODITE aka Venus APHRODITE aka Venus was the goddess of love, was the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. She was beauty and fertility. She was also a protectress of sailors. also a protectress of sailors.

The poet Hesiod said that The poet Hesiod said that Aphrodite was born from Aphrodite was born from sea-foam. Homer, on the sea-foam. Homer, on the other hand, said that she other hand, said that she was the daughter of Zeus was the daughter of Zeus and Dione. and Dione.

When the Trojan prince Paris was asked When the Trojan prince Paris was asked to judge which of three Olympian to judge which of three Olympian goddesses was the most beautiful, he goddesses was the most beautiful, he chose Aphrodite over Hera and Athena. chose Aphrodite over Hera and Athena. The latter two had hoped to bribe him with The latter two had hoped to bribe him with power and victory in battle, but Aphrodite power and victory in battle, but Aphrodite offered the love of the most beautiful offered the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. woman in the world.

This was Helen of Sparta, who became This was Helen of Sparta, who became infamous as Helen of Troy when Paris infamous as Helen of Troy when Paris subsequently eloped with her. In the subsequently eloped with her. In the ensuing Trojan War, Hera and Athena ensuing Trojan War, Hera and Athena were implacable enemies of Troy while were implacable enemies of Troy while Aphrodite was loyal to Paris and the Aphrodite was loyal to Paris and the Trojans. Trojans.

DIONYSUS was the god of DIONYSUS was the god of wine. Dionysus was the son wine. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and the mortal of Zeus and the mortal Semele. Semele.

Dionysus also saved his Dionysus also saved his mother from the Underworld, mother from the Underworld, after Zeus showed her his after Zeus showed her his true nature as storm god and true nature as storm god and consumed her in lightning. consumed her in lightning.

It was Dionysus who granted It was Dionysus who granted Midas the power to turn Midas the power to turn whatever he touched into whatever he touched into gold, then was kind enough gold, then was kind enough to take the power back when to take the power back when it proved inconvenient. it proved inconvenient.

Birth of Birth of DIONYSUS DIONYSUS

According to mythology, Dionysos' "mortal mother was According to mythology, Dionysos' "mortal mother was Semele of Thebes, whom Zeus had taken as a lover. Semele of Thebes, whom Zeus had taken as a lover.

Jealous Hera appeared to Semele in the guise of her old Jealous Hera appeared to Semele in the guise of her old nurse and dared her to demand that Zeus appear in his nurse and dared her to demand that Zeus appear in his real form. real form.

Semele was incinerated by his thunderbolt, but Zeus Semele was incinerated by his thunderbolt, but Zeus salvaged the unborn boy and sowed him into his thigh; a salvaged the unborn boy and sowed him into his thigh; a few months later Dionysus was born and given to few months later Dionysus was born and given to Hermes to entrust to the care of nymphs on Mount Mysa.Hermes to entrust to the care of nymphs on Mount Mysa.

When he grew up these nymphs became his female When he grew up these nymphs became his female devotees, the Maenads. Hera drove him mad and he fled devotees, the Maenads. Hera drove him mad and he fled to the east where the oriental earth goddess Cybele to the east where the oriental earth goddess Cybele cured him. cured him.

They then returned to Greece, establishing his cult in They then returned to Greece, establishing his cult in different places and proved to the world that his father different places and proved to the world that his father was Zeus."was Zeus."

Dionysus traveled about the world Dionysus traveled about the world teaching the mysteries of his worship and teaching the mysteries of his worship and also how to cultivate wine. also how to cultivate wine.

Those who welcomed him received the gift Those who welcomed him received the gift of the vine and those who did not were of the vine and those who did not were driven "mad."driven "mad."

Dionysus was the god of wine, fertility and Dionysus was the god of wine, fertility and joyous life. He was the god of hospitality, joyous life. He was the god of hospitality, which included bringing joy to the feast which included bringing joy to the feast and freeing men from their cares. These and freeing men from their cares. These feasts included sexual orgies seeking feasts included sexual orgies seeking “ecstasy”“ecstasy”

Followers of Dionysus believed Followers of Dionysus believed that he was the presence that is that he was the presence that is otherwise defined as the craving otherwise defined as the craving within man that longs to "let itself within man that longs to "let itself go" and to "give itself over" to the go" and to "give itself over" to the baser earthly desires. baser earthly desires.

worshippers of Dionysus worshippers of Dionysus attempted to bring themselves attempted to bring themselves into union with the god through a into union with the god through a ritual casting off of the bonds of ritual casting off of the bonds of sexual denial and primal sexual denial and primal constraint by seeking to attain to a constraint by seeking to attain to a higher state of ecstasy. higher state of ecstasy.

The uninhibited rituals of ecstasy (Greek The uninhibited rituals of ecstasy (Greek for "outside the body") employed wine, for "outside the body") employed wine, abandon, and perversionabandon, and perversion

to bring the followers of Dionysus into a to bring the followers of Dionysus into a supernatural condition which enabled supernatural condition which enabled them to escape the temporary limitations them to escape the temporary limitations of the body and mind and to achieve a of the body and mind and to achieve a state of enthousiasmos, or, outside the state of enthousiasmos, or, outside the body and "inside the god." body and "inside the god."

The Dionystic idea of mental disease The Dionystic idea of mental disease resulting from the suppression of secret resulting from the suppression of secret inner desires, especially aberrant sexual inner desires, especially aberrant sexual desires, was later reflected in the desires, was later reflected in the atheistic teachings of Sigmund Freud. atheistic teachings of Sigmund Freud.

Thus Freudianism might be called the Thus Freudianism might be called the grandchild of the cult of Dionysus. grandchild of the cult of Dionysus.

But the person who gave himself over to But the person who gave himself over to the will of Dionysus was rewarded with the will of Dionysus was rewarded with unlimited psychological and physical unlimited psychological and physical delights. delights.

Followers migrated in frenzied hillside groups, Followers migrated in frenzied hillside groups, dressed transvestite in fawn skins and dressed transvestite in fawn skins and accompanied by mask-wearing, screaming, accompanied by mask-wearing, screaming, music, dancing, and licentious behavior. music, dancing, and licentious behavior.

Women attempted to nurse young animals. Women attempted to nurse young animals. Older animals who ran from them were Older animals who ran from them were considered "resistant" to the will of Dionysus and considered "resistant" to the will of Dionysus and were torn apart and eaten alive as a part of the were torn apart and eaten alive as a part of the fevered ritual. fevered ritual.

Human participants were sometimes subjected Human participants were sometimes subjected to the same orgiastic cruelty, as the rule of the to the same orgiastic cruelty, as the rule of the cult was "anything goes," including beastiality.cult was "anything goes," including beastiality.

In 186 B.C.E. the In 186 B.C.E. the Roman Senate met Roman Senate met to call for the to call for the destruction of all destruction of all Dionysis shrines and Dionysis shrines and worship in Italy after worship in Italy after numerous numerous outrageous outrageous ceremonies.ceremonies.

Dionysus was honored with a series of Dionysus was honored with a series of festivals: the Oschophoria, Lesser festivals: the Oschophoria, Lesser Dionysia, Lenaea, Anthesteria, and the Dionysia, Lenaea, Anthesteria, and the Greater Dionysia.Greater Dionysia.

Greater Dionysia was celebrated in Greater Dionysia was celebrated in Athens in the spring. This festival lasted Athens in the spring. This festival lasted for five days. for five days.

During the celebration business life During the celebration business life stopped, prisoners were freed in order to stopped, prisoners were freed in order to participate.participate.

The festival had one very special event The festival had one very special event title the Thymelic contest. title the Thymelic contest.

This contest was performances of the works This contest was performances of the works of poets in an open-air theatre.of poets in an open-air theatre.

Observing this contest was considered an Observing this contest was considered an act of worship. act of worship.

Also in honor of Dionysus, the musicians did Also in honor of Dionysus, the musicians did not have to pay taxes; and from the 4th not have to pay taxes; and from the 4th century BC until 800 years later, the century BC until 800 years later, the members of the Artists Guild did not have to members of the Artists Guild did not have to participate in the military.participate in the military.

Dionysus was worshipped throughout Dionysus was worshipped throughout Greece and India.Greece and India.

Many link current activities such as Mardi Many link current activities such as Mardi Gras Festivals to the Cult of DIONYSUSGras Festivals to the Cult of DIONYSUS

Frenzied Crowd Frenzied Crowd AtmosphereAtmosphere