1. The Odyssey Bkgd: one man’s journey home
Greek Mythology
The Odyssey Bkgd: one man’s journey home

2. The Odyssey
Epic poem – a long narrative poem about the deeds of a hero
Written by the blind? poet Homer ( BC)
Homer, the first to combine isolated tales into a whole epic poem
Passed down orally (told person to person)
Poetic lines accompanied by instruments to aid memory

3. Characteristics of the Epic
Begins “in media res” (in the middle)
Begins w/ invocation (appeal) to the muse-- asking the muse for inspiration to tell his tale
References to the supernatural (gods/goddesses)
Epic similes and hyperbole (extreme exaggeration)
Repetitive phrases, speeches, incidents, and use of flashbacks
Stock Epithets – descriptive word/phrase used to regularly describe an object or person
Ex. wine-dark sea, caped crusader, breaker of horses, raider of cities

4. The Epic Hero larger-than-life man
faithful to his friends, his family, and his gods
capable of great deeds of strength and courage
seems to have “super” powers, but does not
regarded as a national hero
goes on a quest or journey which tests his endurance, courage, and cunning

5. Homer’s Epics Bkgd: Iliad and The Odyssey
Based on the Trojan War (1200 BC) – 10 year war
100,000 Greeks sailed to Asia Minor to conquer Troy
All based on revenge b/c Paris kidnapped Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world
Iliad is the first / Odyssey is the sequel
Odyssey = Journey

6. Trojan War Map

7. Before The Odyssey Odysseus
Helped build the wooden “Trojan” horse filled w/ Greek warriors
Crept out at night and sacked Troy

8. The Odyssey (con’t) Gods took sides w/ the Greeks and Trojans
Made Odysseus journey home long and difficult (10 years to get home)
Poseidon
The Odyssey describes Odysseus journey home

9. The Odyssey (con’t)
Odysseus wanted to return home to Ithaca to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus
He had to survive storms, temptations, and enemies at home

10. The Odyssey (con’t) More popular than The Iliad
Universal story of a national hero
Homer’s illustrates the character of the hero – flawed yet heroic
We use the word today to describe our journey, our odyssey
We all spend years trying to reach our goals and we all must endure tests, temptations, and obstacles

11. What is a myth?
Highly imaginative tales that attempt to explain the mysteries of life
Every culture has them
Think what your parents may have told you as to why it rains as a child OR Tooth Fairy

12. The Olympians

13. Zeus Son of Chronus Reigns over the heavens (Mt. Olympus)
Oak; Eagle; Lighting Bolt
King of gods; fathered many characters in mythology

14. Zeus

15. Hera Zeus’s sister and wife; reigns over Mt. Olympus Cow/peacock
Jealous protector of marriage and punished the women Zeus fell in love with

16. Poseidon Son of Chronus; brother of Zeus God of the Seas and Waters
Trident; horses or bulls
“The Earthshaker” and controls storms

17. Ares
God of War
Son of Zeus and Hera
Bloodthirsty and merciless

18. Hestia
Goddess of Home
Powerful Protector

19. Hades Son of Chronus; brother of Zeus and Poseidon Invisibility helmet
God of the Underworld/ Dead and Wealth

20. Athena Daughter of Zeus Olive; owl; Athens Goddess of Wisdom and War
Sprang from Zeus’s head and his favorite

21. Artemis
Goddess of the Moon/ Hunt
Sister to Apollo

22. Hermes Messenger of the Gods
Appears in more myths than any other character

23. Aphrodite
Goddess of Love and Beauty
Sprang from the ocean foam

24. Hephaestus God of Fire/Forge Son of Zeus and Hera
Kind, unlike his brother

25. Apollo Son of Zeus and Leto Crow and dolphin
God of Light/Sun, Music and Archery
Master musician

26. Sources
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