Greek Mythology 3500 BC to AD 2014

This chapter provides an overview of ancient mythology, starting from classical Greece and extending to Indian epic. It highlights the significance of studying mythology and its relevance in understanding different cultures.

Mythology is a study of the past, focusing on events that were supposed to have happened but didn't. It is similar to history but goes deeper into human behavior and psychology. Mythological stories are always with us and serve as companions for today, tomorrow, and forever.

Origins of Greek Mythology Greek mythology dates back to around three-and-a-half thousand BC. It is the foundation of our understanding and has shaped various aspects of Western culture.

Influence on Rome and European Paintings [10 seconds] Roman civilization was heavily influenced by Greek mythology, which can be seen in their art, literature, and architecture. European paintings also drew inspiration from these mythological stories.

The Start of Greek History: The Olympic Games Greek history begins in 776 BC with the start of the Olympic Games, which were held every four years. Before this date, there were no recorded dates in Greek history.

Literary and Cultural Developments - Homer and Hesiod lived around 732-650 BC. - Tragedies started being written between the 4th to 6th centuries BC. - Periclean Athens flourished in the middle of the fifth century (454-429 BC).

Conquests of Alexander the Great The conquests of Alexander marked both an end and a beginning for Greece. It ended one era while ushering in another.

Ptolemy's Library: A Center for Greek Culture Around three ten BCE, Ptolemy I established a substantial library known as 'the British Museum Library' or 'the British Library' to preserve and catalog books that defined Greek culture.

The Origins of Greek Mythology Greek mythology has its roots in ancient times, with Homer and Hesiod being the earliest sources. The creation of Greek mythology dates back thousands of years to Mycenaean Greece. The action in Greek mythology takes place in cities that existed during this time period.

The Mahabharata: A Legendary Epic 'Mahabharata' is a Sanskrit epic written around 532 BC but believed to have originated much earlier, possibly around 1000 BC. It tells the story of the Pandavas and their battle against the Kauravas, embodying both mortal men and immortal gods. This epic marks the end of an era similar to how the Trojan War marked the end for heroes in Greek mythology.

In this chapter, the heroes who have been in exile and dressed in rags are preparing for the swayamvara of Draupadi. The swayamvara is a contest to win her hand by firing an arrow from a difficult-to-string bow through a mysterious object. This reminds us of Odysseus returning from war to claim Penelope.

The Indo-European Connection There are striking similarities between the epic stories of ancient Greece and northern India, suggesting a connection between the two. This could be due to migration or a diffusion of peoples from an ancient civilization in Northern India around 3500 BC. The absence of similar traditions in Mesopotamian society supports this theory.

"Indo-Europeans" and Language Families Languages across different regions share common words like 'three', indicating their descent from Latin (Romance languages) or Indo-European roots. Hebrew and Babylonian belong to the Semitic language family, while Hungarian is part of another group called Finno-Ugric.

'Indo-Europeans' Society: Agriculture & Mythology The Indo-European community lived north of the Black Sea around 3500 BC. They were agricultural people who had knowledge about ploughing fields, wagons, wheels, arts of peace and war despite being in Stone Age era. Greek mythology has its roots not only in Mycenaean Age but also goes back thousands more years to a primitive stage where societies had cities comparable to those mentioned in Greek myths.

In Greek epics, the heroes were concerned about their standing and honor, following a set of standards known as the heroic code. This concept is similar to Dharma in the Mahabharata. The heroes often struggle with knowing what is right and face moral dilemmas. Greek poems focus on misery, failure, conflict, and suicide rather than glorifying violence.

Tydeus, the father of Diomedes and a great warrior, fought valiantly against Thebes. Athena admired him and planned to grant him immortality with a cup of nectar. However, when she witnessed Tydeus consuming his defeated enemy's brains in battle fury, she was disgusted and abandoned her plan.

The Ancient Poem 'Destiny of the Warrior' The ancient poem 'Destiny of the Warrior' is now lost, but we have echoes of it. It explores the concept of warriors and their significance in various societies.

'Destiny of the Warrior' by Georg Duma Zeile 'Destiny of the Warrior' by Georg Duma Zeile is a book that presents an elaborate theory about European society. While not widely believed among Anglo-Saxons, many Americans and some French find it worth exploring.

"Terrible Sins" Committed by Major Heroes In Germanic, Indian, and Greek societies, major heroes were known to commit terrible sins. These sins had parallels in European society as well.

In Greek society, the concept of guest friendship is highly valued. When someone becomes your guest friend, they are considered a lifelong companion. This bond entails exchanging goods and gifts as a symbol of hospitality. However, there is an extreme case where Achlys pushes cows off a tower to kill them, which goes against the principles of guest friendship.

"Trojan War" explores the characteristics of mythology and reflects on the lack of celebration after winning a war. The video mentions how in previous centuries, wars were celebrated with church bells ringing and people rejoicing in the streets. However, this was not the case for those involved in the Trojan War. As soon as they set out, a massive storm sent by Athena caused havoc among them. Various characters faced challenges such as Laocoon and Ajax being targeted due to their actions during Troy's fall, Menelaus being driven off course to Egypt, Odysseus taking ten years to return home eventually guided by some supernatural force but still facing danger from his own wife upon arrival.

In the Mahabharata, Krishna is not only a God but also the leader of a group of people. After winning major wars, he rules over them for some time. However, they eventually fall into civil war and suffer from a devastating tsunami.

Tragedy is not just about decay and failure, but it also explores the relationship between epic and tragedy. Aeschylus compared slices of Homer to salami, suggesting that Greek tragedy draws from the darker aspects of mythology. Greek mythology embraces cheerless, challenging, immoral events.

Greek mythology is a tragic creation rooted in local traditions. The stories are set in specific locations, such as Thebes, based on the imagination of the local people. These myths were not intentionally created for widespread appeal but became popularized internationally over time.

The Setting of Oedipus at Colonus Oedipus at Colonus is set in a suburb of Athens where there is an unusual tomb of Oedipus. The local context adds to the significance.

Internationalisation and the World of Knowledge 'World of Knowledge' refers to the time when Alexander the Great conquered the East, creating a common market that embraced various historic cultures. This led to a strong desire for preserving knowledge, resulting in Ptolemy constructing a massive library in Alexandria.

The Library of Alexandria Ptolemy constructed an impressive library known as The Library Of Alexandria which housed numerous ancient scrolls resembling wallpaper rolls filled with columns written on them.

The Christian Church recognizes the cultural significance of Greek mythology, despite theological differences. The myths become part of Late Antiquity's cultural landscape and are copied by monks in scriptoriums. As we enter the modern age, the culture is carried through to European societies in book form, while art remains predominantly religious. However, during the Renaissance period, mythology becomes another subject for artistic expression alongside landscapes.

Classical mythology is a popular alternative landscape to religious beliefs. Boccaccio's book introduced pagan mythologies in the 14th century, leading to increased interest in classical sculptures and artworks. Artists like Bernini depicted both religious and mythological themes simultaneously. Claude Lorrain's landscapes featured ruins and atmospheric lighting, with figures from Virgil's Aeneid and biblical stories added almost arbitrarily. Mantua, birthplace of Virgil, had stunning frescoes by Julie Romano depicting classical myths.

The Evolution of Mythology The study of mythology began in the late 18th century with the introduction of the term 'myth'. This allowed for a proper scientific study and understanding. Friedrich Reiter emphasized the importance of place in myths, while Friedrich Max Miller believed that Greek mythology was about natural phenomena. Mythology continues to be studied and analyzed by scholars today.

Myths in Modern Life 'Mythic aspects' can be found in modern life, such as advertisements for shampoo or cars. French semiotician Claude Lévi-Strauss analyzed mythic effects like steak and chips being served with blood draining out, symbolizing strength. Narrative mediums like film genres also have their own mythic qualities that resonate with audiences today.