Myth Topic 2

The Cultural Context:

“Myth reflects the society that produces them”

Greek Geography:

Poor, barren, rocky land

**MAP**

Greek History:

BCE (= BC)

3000–1600: Early/Middle Bronze Age

1600–1050: Mycenaean (Late Bronze) Age

1050–800: Dark Age

750–479: Archaic Period

479–323: Classical Period

323–30: Hellenistic Period

[31 BCE – 400 CE Roman Period]

See timelines, ACM pp. liv–lvii

Early/Middle Bronze Age

Mycenaean (Late Bronze) Age 1600–1050 BC

Form of writing: Linear B

Dark Age 1050–750 BC

Invasion by Greek-speaking Dorians

Overrun all but Athens

Archaic Period 750–490 BC

The Greek Alphabet

Phoenician

Source of Latin alphabet (= ours) and Cyrillic alphabet

ABCD

Classical Period 479–323 BC

Leonidas, etc.

Hellenistic Period 323–30 BC

Spread of Greek culture by Alexander the Great (336-323 BC)

Esp. throughout near east (Palestine, Syria, Egypt)

Roman Period 31 BCE – 400 CE

Greek Society:

Pederasty—“love of boys” was common

Cup-bearers in Symposium

Problems of modern categories:

Not “homosexual” or “heterosexual”

(which suggest identities)

(what does the bible say about homosexuality?)

μαλακοὶ οὔτε ἀρσενοκοῖται

Greek men engaged in a variety of sexual activities

See ACM 373–375

Plato’s Symposium

Relationships between men were paramount

Hang out in symposium—drink

War was common

half of adult males would expect to live

Hoplites

Gymnasium—practice for war

WOMEN:

dangerous “parthenos”

“Parthenon”