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Greek Mythology: lecture 3

Greek Mythology: lecture 3. HERACLES. Birth & Ancestry. Youth. Attacked by serpents in cradle Taught by Amphitryon (chariot), Autolycus (wrestling), Eurytus (bow), Castor (sword/javelin), Linus (lyre) Murdered Linus Slayed Cithaeronian lion Bedded 50 daughters of Thespius. Labours .

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Greek Mythology: lecture 3

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  1. Greek Mythology: lecture 3 HERACLES

  2. Birth & Ancestry

  3. Youth • Attacked by serpents in cradle • Taught by Amphitryon (chariot), Autolycus (wrestling), Eurytus (bow), Castor (sword/javelin), Linus (lyre) • Murdered Linus • Slayed Cithaeronian lion • Bedded 50 daughters of Thespius

  4. Labours • Bring skin of Nemean lion • Kill Lernaean hydra • Capture Cerynitian (Ceryneian) hind • Capture Erymanthian boar • Clean stables of Augeias • Drive away Stymphalian birds • Capture Cretan bull • Capture mares of Diomedes • Get belt of Hippolyta • Bring cattle of Geryon • Fetch apples of the Hesperides • Bring Cerberus from Hades

  5. Minor labours (parerga) • Rescued Hesione from sea-monster • Battled Achelous for Deianeira • Slew centaur Nessus as he tried to rape her • Slew giant Alcyoneus • Slew earthborn giant Antaeus • Captures Cercopes (thieves) • Slew eagle set to torment Prometheus • Slew centaur Eurytion • Battled centaurs

  6. a) Killing monstrous animals LION HYDRA

  7. b) Capturing edible animals HIND BULL MARES BOAR BIRDS CATTLE

  8. c) Labours for/against humans STABLES GIRDLE

  9. d) ‘otherworld’ labours APPLES OF HESPERIDES CERBERUS

  10. Wives, lovers & dynasties • 52 sons by 50 daughters of Thespius (kings of Thespiae/founded colony of Sardinia) • Echidna (Dracontidae – house of Cadmus) • Megara (Therimachus, Deicoon, Creontiades – murdered) • Deianeira (Hyllus, Ctesippos, Glenos, Oneites, ‘Macaria’ – Dorian/Spartan kings) • Omphale (Agelaus – Lydian kings) • Iole (given to Hyllus) Full list: http://homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Heracles1.html

  11. Eromenoi • Iolaus (Argos/Thebes) • Hylas (Dryopian/Chios) • Elacatas (Sparta) • Abderus (Abdera) • Philoctetes, Nestor, Iphitus, Nireus, Adonis, Jason, Corythus, Stichius, Phrix/Trinx

  12. God/apotheosised Son of Zeus Name means ‘glory of Hera’ Culture hero Hyper-masculine Mortal/dead Eternally in service Hounded by stepmother Destructive brute Gender ambiguity Fundamental ambiguity

  13. Explanations? • Burkert 1985: • Conglomerate of tales with no authoritative poetic definition? • Wish-fulfilment & its antithesis – extreme must turn to opposite to reaffirm itself? • Sergeant 1987: • 2 different Heracles in ancient tradition – Argive wild-man & Boeotian culture hero?

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