Artemis Diana HH 9 Muse sing of Artemis

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Artemis - Diana HH 9 Muse, sing of Artemis, sister of the Far-shooter, the

Artemis - Diana HH 9 Muse, sing of Artemis, sister of the Far-shooter, the virgin who delights in arrows, who was fostered with Apollo. She waters her horses from Meles deep in reeds, and swiftly drives her all-golden chariot through Smyrna [5] to vine-clad Claros where Apollo, god of the silver bow, sits waiting for the far-shooting goddess who delights in arrows. Homeric adolescent woman potnia therôn deer, bear Moon - Selene, Hecate golden arrows - shafts of woe, sudden death of girls virgin but not asexual, hunt Brauron, kourotrophos

HH 27 I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on

HH 27 I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on the hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who delights in archery, own sister to Apollo with the golden sword. Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks [5] she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earth quakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart [10] turns every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered her heart, this huntress who delights in arrows slackens her supple bow and goes to the great house of her dear brother Phoebus Apollo, to the rich land of Delphi, [15] there to order the lovely dance of the Muses and Graces. There she hangs up her curved bow and her arrows, and heads and leads the dances, gracefully arrayed, while all they utter their heavenly voice, singing how neat-ankled Leto bore children [20] supreme among the immortals both in thought and in deed.

Apollo - Apollo HH 21 Phoebus, of you even the swan sings with clear

Apollo - Apollo HH 21 Phoebus, of you even the swan sings with clear voice to the beating of his wings, as he alights upon the bank by the eddying river Peneios; and of you the sweet-tongued singer, holding his high-pitched lyre, always sings both first and last. kouros apellai initiation festival poetry as unifier, poets’ god bow - lyre Ionians healer and destroyer sun god , Phoebus antithesis to Dionysus, sôphrosynê Laurel, Daphne Delphi, prophecy

Hermes - Mercury herma, heap of stones, bearded head liminal, herm, ithyphallic, apotropaic, hermeneutic

Hermes - Mercury herma, heap of stones, bearded head liminal, herm, ithyphallic, apotropaic, hermeneutic bringer of luck - guide of souls (psychopompus) HH 18 I sing of Cyllenian Hermes, the Slayer of Argus, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, luck-bringing messenger of the deathless gods. He was born of Maia, the daughter of Atlas, when she had mated with Zeus, — [5] a shy goddess she. Ever she avoided the throng of the blessed gods and lived in a shadowy cave, and there the Son of Cronos used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph at dead of night, while white -armed Hera lay bound in sweet sleep: and neither deathless god nor mortal man knew it. [10] And so hail to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you I have begun: now I will turn to another song! Hail, Hermes, giver of grace, guide, and giver of good things!

idealization of youth Argeiphontes (Slayer of Argos). Messenger, winged boots, hat petasos, kerykeion (herald’s

idealization of youth Argeiphontes (Slayer of Argos). Messenger, winged boots, hat petasos, kerykeion (herald’s staff) a. k. a caduceus

Aphrodite - Venus HH 6 I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful,

Aphrodite - Venus HH 6 I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus. There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loudmoaning sea [5] in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted Horai welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of copper and precious gold, [10] and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold-filleted Horai wear themselves whenever they go to their father's house to join the lovely dances of the gods. And when they had fully decked her, [15] they brought her to the gods, who welcomed her when they saw her, giving her their hands. Each one of them prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned Cytherea. Hail, sweetly-winning, coy-eyed goddess! Grant that I may gain the victory in this contest, [20] and order you my song. And now I will remember you and another song also.

Dionysus - Bacchus - Bromius - Liber HH 26 I begin to sing of

Dionysus - Bacchus - Bromius - Liber HH 26 I begin to sing of ivy-crowned Dionysus, the loud-crying god, splendid son of Zeus and glorious Semele. The rich-haired Nymphs received him in their bosoms from the lord his father and fostered and nurtured him carefully [5] in the dells of Nysa, where by the will of his father he grew up in a sweet-smelling cave, being reckoned among the immortals. But when the goddesses had brought him up, a god oft hymned, then began he to wander continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs followed in his train [10] with him for their leader; and the boundless forest was filled with their outcry. And so hail to you, Dionysus, god of abundant clusters! wine, ecstasia, enthousiasmos merging of votary and god Zeus (Dios), Semele, Cadmus of Thebes, phallus latecomer to Olympian pantheon vegetation Maenads, mania, Bacchae, goat, lion,

Compare the images of gods and goddesses in the Homeric Hymns assigned for today’s

Compare the images of gods and goddesses in the Homeric Hymns assigned for today’s class.

The shorter Homeric Hymns suggest a subordinate role for women in the society that

The shorter Homeric Hymns suggest a subordinate role for women in the society that produced them.

The shorter Homeric Hymns suggest a subordinate role for women in the society that

The shorter Homeric Hymns suggest a subordinate role for women in the society that produced them. While the poems characterize the Olympian gods in their own right, they generally define the Olympian goddesses in terms of a god. Emphasis is put on each as a wife or a sister, or, in one case, as a mother. The principal figures of this divine society are thus male, the females being secondary. The efforts the poets make to link the goddesses to gods must reflect a social phenomenon in archaic Greek society, in which women likewise did not have social status independent of male guardians. One exception to this rule is Aphrodite, goddess of love, a force so elemental that her feminine embodiment of it cannot be limited to any one god.

Zeus is “best and greatest among gods” (23. 1), and Poseidon is a “great

Zeus is “best and greatest among gods” (23. 1), and Poseidon is a “great god” (22. 1). Hades is “host of many” (2. 18). Even the lesser gods derive their identity from some special strength: Apollo has his lyre (21. 4), and Hermes his divine messenger service (18. 3). Among his many epithets, Ares is “father of warlike Victory” and “ally of Themis”, but these figures are abstract features for strength and justice (9. 4); he is not dependent on them. Hephaestus is “famed for inventions” (20. 1), but he shares this role with Athena (20. 2), which may be an indication of lower status. Dionysus is defined emphatically as son of Zeus and Semele (26. 2), which is more than a simple patronymic, but his poem makes a point of saying that he is “counted among the immortals” (26. 6), as if this were disputable. His divine status seems suspect. He keeps the company of nymphs (26. 9 -10). The dependence of his identity on his parents may likewise be part of a somewhat androgynous character.

While Dionysus’ divinity and masculinity may be suspect, even the highest and most divine

While Dionysus’ divinity and masculinity may be suspect, even the highest and most divine Olympian goddesses are closely associated with gods, who seem to give them status. Hera is “sister and wife” of Zeus (12. 3 -4). Hestia tends Apollo’s house (24. 1), and Artemis is the sister of Apollo, to whom she drives her chariot (9. 1, 4 -5). Hestia is also honoured at the immortals’ banquets, but she shares this honour with Hermes (29. 4 -6). Athena likewise “cares for war”, but only with Ares (11. 2). Emphasis is also put on her being born from Zeus’ head (28. 4 -5).

Aphrodite is not linked to any one god, but instead every god wishes to

Aphrodite is not linked to any one god, but instead every god wishes to have her as a wife (6. 17). She is thus a sort of universal companion. Demeter is also somewhat anomalous in being known principally as a mother, though not as a wife (13. 2). Her short hymn, which is very short and may leave out important information, makes no reference to the girl’s father. Demeter thus has no dependence on a male god, which raises issues that have to be explored in her longer hymn (2). It may be that she reflects a sort of forlorn single-mother figure in ancient Greek culture, whose membership in society is ambiguous. 499 words