Poseidon Sea Deities Group Divinities and Monsters September

Poseidon, Sea Deities, Group Divinities, and Monsters September 17, 2015

Questions on the Nereids: Galatea and Thetis [tophat] --Does the story of Galatea remind you of any other myth or myths? What are some similarities and differences? --How do you explain the myth variant of Polyphemus and Galatea in the Roman fresco? Why does it exist and what message does it send? --What themes and ideas about marriage are expressed in the story of Thetis?

Thoughts on Galatea and Thetis Galatea: echoes Aphrodite triangle, but: Acis is not Ares; different model of beauty Polyphemus: Hephaestus’ nightmare (or fantasy) Roman fresco: utopian victory of the ‘lesser’ man Thetis: Female resistance to marriage; female instability ‘marrying up’ for Peleus; son surpassing father Human wish: mortal ‘rapes’ god (but: male/female)

Questions on Scylla (class) --How do the two versions of the myth of Scylla enrich the myth with different elements? --Is there any symbolic significance in the fact that dogs, and not some other animal, attach to Scylla?

Two models of ‘female jealousy’ n Pandora< Hermes

Interpretative Models for Marine Deities Psychological and anthropological: human desire and fear of sea travel; transgression (e. g. The Titanic) Religious: sea is mysterious and unpredictable; mishaps and successes at sea are due to divine powers Societal: seafaring drives commerce and progress but also forces transformation of the people (landlocked vs. coastal regions)

Questions on Poseidon and Water Deities [tophat] What are some modern expressions of the human fascination with the sea?