CLAN Notes Lecture 3: In the Beginning i: Gods PDF

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Lecture 3: In the beginning i: Gods

Oneo ft h emo s tf a mo usi l l us t r a t i o nso ft h ec r e a t i on — Mi c h e l a n g e l o ’ sSi s t i n eCha p e l c e i l i n g . Fo rou rJ u da e o Ch r i s t i a nt r a d i t i on ,Go ds t a n dso u t s i d et heu n i v e r s e ,f o ri ti sHi spr o d uc t . Hema d ei t . He br e wn a meYa hwe h -me a ns‘ Ia m wh oa m’ Ge ne s i sv sTh e o g e n y Ol dTe s t a me n twa swr i t t e ni nHe b r e w, fir s tbo o ki sGe n e s i s -Gr e e kna me -me a n i n g ‘ Be g i nn i n g ’ A‘ g e ne s i s ’i sab e g i nn i n g , bu tt h er e l a t e dGr e e kwo r d‘ The o g o ni a ’( o r‘ t he o g o n y ’i ni t s En g l i s hf o r mt heg e na n dt h eg o na r ed i ffe r e ntf or mso ft hes a mer o o t —me a nst h e b e g i n ni n go fag o dorg o d s .Andt h ef a c tt h a tt heGr e e kg o d sc ou l dha v et h e s eb i o gr a p hi e s wr i t t e na bo utt he ms ho wsac r uc i a ld i s t i nc t i o nbe t we e nt h e ma ndt h eGodo ft heHe b r e ws . Th eGr e e kg o dsd on o tc r e a t et hewo r l d,b utc o mei nt ob e i n ga f t e ri t se x i s t e n c e . Di ffe r e n c e sb e t we e nHe b r e wa n dGr e e kt r a d i t i o n sa b o u tt h e i rd e i t i e s So meg e n e r a lp o i n t s :

- Th eGr e e k sdi dn oth a v eaBi bl e .Pe o p l es ome t i me sl o o s e l yt a l ka b o utHome ra st he ‘ Bi b l eo ft heGr e e k s ’ ,b u tt h i si sn otav e r ya ptme t a p ho r . - Noon ee v e rf e l tt h a twh a twa si nHome rc o u l dn otbec h a l l e n g e d , a ndn oo nee v e rf e l t t h a ti twa sl i t e r a l l yt hewor d so fag o d . Fr o ma tl e a s tt hes i x t hc e n t u r yBC,Home rwa s e xp l i c i t l ya t t a c k e d( e . g . b yXe n op h a ne s )f orp e dd l i n gl i e s . - Th i sl a c koffix e dv e r s i on sofmy t h sme a nst h a tdi ffe r e n tv e r s i o nsoft hes a mes t or y wi l lf r e q ue nt l yc o nt r a d i c te a c hot h e ri nma t t e r sofd e t a i l , a n ds o me t i me si nma j or p oi n t sa swe l l .Le a r nt ol i v ewi t hi t ! Hesiod’s Theogony: c.730 BC First identifiable poet Meeting with Muses Divine authority Main source for Greek creation myth

t heHo me r i cp oe msa ndt h ec o n t r o v e r s yo v e rt h ev e r ye x i s t e nc eoft h es up po s e dpo e t b e h i n dt h e m.Weha v en os uc hpr o b l e mswi t hHe s i o d,p e r h a pswr i t i n gag e n e r a t i ona f t e r t hee a r l i e rp oe t , f o rhei de n t i fie sh i ms e l fa st h ea u t h ora n do ffe r ss omeb i o gr a p h i c a l i nf o r ma t i o n . Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863) Near the beginning of his poem the Theogony, the poet tells of meeting with the goddesses of song: while working as a shepherd on Mt Helicon, they appeared to him and spoke three verses: Rustic shepherds, utter disgraces, mere bellies! We know how to say many lies like the truth, And, when we want to, to tell the truth. He s i od

g o e sont os a yt h a tt h e yg a v eh i m al a ur e lb r a n c h, i n s p i r e dh i m wi t hs o n g ,a n do r d e r e dh i m t os i n go ft h er a c eo ft h ee v e r l a s t i n gg o d s . Th es c e n ei sas e mi n a lon ei nEu r op e a n l i t e r a t u r e :f o rt hefir s tt i meap o e ts p e a ksd i r e c t l yt ouso fh i sv o c a t i on. Se xa n da r ta r en e v e rv e r yf a ra wa yf o rt h eRo ma n t i ca r t i s t ,bu tHe s i od ’ spo r t r a y a loft he me e t i n gi sv e r ydi ffe r e ntf r om t h ee r o t i ca l l u r ee x u de db yDe l a c r o i x .He s i o d’ sMu s e sa r e n o ts e du c t r e s s e s , b u tf e ma l eSe r g e a n t Ma j o r s ,y e l l i n ga b us ea n dor d e r s . Fo rno to nl ya r et h eg r e a tGr e e kg o d sn o tr e s p on s i bl ef o rma ki n gt hewo r l d ,b utt h e yha v e t owo r kt h e i rwa yupi ni tb e f o r eb e i n ga bl et oe s t a b l i s ht he i rc on t r ol . Thepoe m He s i o dl e f tbe hi ndf orus ,hi sThe og o ny ,i st hema i ns o ur c ef o rt hec r e a t i o n my t ho ft heGr e e ks

The Greek creation myth • 3 generations of increasingly sophisticated gods Uranos • Cronos • Zeus • Opposition to Zeus • Titans• Giants (not in Hesiod) • Typhon/Typhoeus • Near-Eastern parallels (Hittite, Babylonian)

Th es t a nd a r df o r mo ft h eGr e e kc r e a t i o nmy t h ,c on t a i n st woc h i e fe l e me n t s : - Th efir s ti st h et r i p a r t i t e( 3p a r t s )s t r uc t ur eoft hes t o r y. Rul eo ft h eu ni v e r s ep a s s e s f r o m Ur a n os ,t oCr on os ,t oZe u s ,t h ee s t a bl i s he dki n go ft heg o dsi nGr e e kr e l i gi o n .

Ea c hs t a g es h o wsap r o gr e s s i v ed e v e l o pme n ti npo l i t i c a ls op hi s t i c a t i on ,s h o wi n gn ot o nl ymo r ec o mp l e xc h a r a c t e r s ,b u ta l s omo r ec o mp l e xpo we rs t r uc t u r e s . - Th es e c on dc h i e fe l e me nto ft h emyt hc o ns i s t so ft h et hr e ema i no ppo ne nt sofZe us i nhi ss t r u g gl et ob e c omee s t a b l i s h e da sMa s t e ro ft h eUn i v e r s e . Hei so p po s e dfir s to f a l lb yt h eTi t a n s ,t he n ,wi t hi n c r e a s i n gf e r o c i t ya ndb r ut ef o r c e , b yt heGi a n t sa ndt h e n b yTy ph o e uso rTy ph o n-youngest son of Gaea (Earth) and Tartarus (of the nether world). He was described as a grisly monster with a hundred dragons' heads who was conquered and cast into the underworld by Zeus.

- Th eba t t l ewi t ht heGi ant s , a l t h o u ghe x c e pt i o n a l l yp o pu l a ri nl a t e ra r t ,do e sno t f e a t ur ei nHe s i od’ sa c c o u nt . Bo t ho ft h e s ee l e me nt ss h o ws t r on gt r a c e so ft h ei nflu e nc eo fmy t hf r om Ne a rEa s t e r n s o u r c e s ,e s p e c i a l l ywi t hc r e a t i onmyt hskn o wnf r o m Hi t t i t e( mod e r nTu r k e y)a nd Ba b y l on i a ns ou r c e s .

First generation of power: Uranos • First is Chaos (‘chasm’), then Earth• Theogony 116 ff. (Sourcebook 20) • Earth produces Uranos (‘heaven’)• Becomes her lover but will not release offspring • Cronos castrates father and is born

Ev e r y t h i n gb e g i n s , a c c or d i n gt oHe s i od( The o g o ny1 16ff. [ Sou r c e bo ok20 ] ) ,wi t hc ha os —a tt h i ss t a g et hewo r dme a n s‘ y a wni n ggu l f ’ ,o r‘ c ha s m’ ,r a t he rt h a nt het o t a lc o n f us i o n whi c hi ts u g g e s t st ou sno w.So me ho w,Ea r t ht he na ppe a r s ,a n da s e x u a l l yr e p r o du c e s , g i v i n gb i r t ht o ,a mon g s to t he r s , Ur a n o s( ‘ He a v e n ’or‘ Sk y ’ ) .He a v e nt he nbe c o me sEa r t h ’ s s e xu a lpa r t n e r ,bu ts e e mst oh a v en a s t yme t ho dofbi r t h c o nt r ol( 1 5 6– 9) : He a v e nt h e nb e c o me sEa r t h ’ ss e x u a lpa r t ne r , b uts e e mst oha v en a s t yme t h odofb i r t h c on t r o l( 1 5 6– 9) : Ass o ona se a c hoft he m wa sb o r n,h ehi dt he ma l la wa yi nac a v e r no fEa r t h ,a ndwo u l d n o tl e tt h e mi n t ot h el i g ht ;a n dhet o o kp l e a s u r ei nt h ewi c k e dwo r k ,d i dHe a v e n,whi l et he h u g eEa r t hwa st i g ht p r e s s e di ns i d e ,a n dg r o a ne d . Th e‘ c a v e r nofEa r t h ’s e e mst obeh e rwo mb , a n dt hou g ht h ep oe ts e e msr e l uc t a n tt op uti t i nq u i t et h e s et e r ms ,bi r t ho foffs pr i n gi sa v o i de db yHe a v e nma i n t a i ni n gpe r ma n e nt s e xu a li nt e r c ou r s ewi t hEa r t h .

Na t u r a l l ye n ou g h,h i smo t h e rha ss o onh a de n ou g ho ft h i sa n de n c o ur a g e st h et r a p pe d o ffs p r i n gt or e mo v et h eo ffe nd i n go b j e c twhi c hi sp r e v e n t i n gt he i re x i tf r o mh e r ,a n ds he p r o v i de st he m wi t hap r un i n gh o okf o rt hep u r po s e .I nt r ueFr e ud i a nf a s hi o n , t he i rs on Cr o n o sd oe sa ss h es u g g e s t s ,a ndwi n sh i swa yt of r e e d o m,a swe l la st ot h et h r o ne v a c a t e db yhi sf a t h e rwh o , h a v i n gbe e ne ma s c u l a t e d ,ha so t h e rt hi n g so nh i smi nda p a r t f r o mr ul eo v e rt heu ni v e r s e

Second generation: Cronos • Titans = LOSERS• Probably not worshipped earlier • Eats children to avoid prophecy (Theogony 463 f.) • Sourcebook 22• Anthropomorphic cf Uranos • Cronos later allegorised as Chronos (‘time’)

Cr o n o s( c a l l e dSa t u r nb yt h eRo ma ns )a n dhi ss i b l i n g swe r ekn o wna sTi t a n s ;t he ywe r e e s s e nt i a l l yl o s e r s , ag e ne r a t i ont h a tha dp o we ra ndwe r ed i s p os s e s s e dofi tb yt h e i r o ffs p r i n g. The ywe r epr o ba b l ya l wa y sl o s e r s :t h emyt hd oe sn o ts e e mt oh a v eb e e nb a s e d o nahi s t o r i c a ls hi f tf r om t h ewor s hi pofo n epa n t he ont oa no t he r , f o rt hep a r a l l e lwi t ht he Ne a r Ea s t e r ns uc c e s s i o nmy t hs u g g e s t st ha tweh a v et od owi t hamy t h ol o g i c a lmo t i f . Tha t i st os a y ,t h e r ewa sne v e rat i mewh e nCr on oswa sno tr e g a r d e da sae x ki n g .

Be c a u s et h e ywe r es uc hl o s e r s ,t heGr e e k swe r en otv e r yi n t e r e s t e di ns h o wi n gt he mi n a r t , a ndha v ec e r t a i n l yl e f tn o t hi n ga si mpr e s s i v ea st hi sr e a l l yh or r i b l ep a i nt i n gb yGo y a ( 1 7 46 –1 8 28 ) .No w,a l mo s te v e r y o nes a y st hi si sap i c t u r eofSa t ur nde v ou r i n gh i s c hi l dr e n , a n dIa l wa y su s e dt os a ys oa tt h i sp oi n ti nmyl e c t u r e s ,b utl a s ty e a rIha dt h e g o o df or t un e( i ft h a ti st hec o r r e c tt e r m)ofs e e i n gt h eo r i g i n a loft h i sp a i n t i n gi nt h ePr a do mu s e um i nMa dr i d. Wha tIl e a r ne dt h e r ewa st ha ti tf or msp a r tofas e r i e so fa p p a r e nt l y u n r e l a t e dwo r k s , kn o wna sh i s‘ Bl a c kPa i n t i n g s ’ .Th e yha v et h i sna meno to nl ybe c a u s eof t hed omi n a ntc o l ou r , b uta l s obe c a u s eo ft h egr i ma n dt h r e a t e ni n gna t u r eo ft h es ub j e c t s p o r t r a y e d—awi t c he s ’s a b ba t h ,di s g u s t i n g l yu g l yo l dpe o p l e ,t hi sc a n ni ba l i s t i c mo ns t r os i t y ,a nds oo n.No w,t h e s epa i nt i n g swe r eor i g i n a l l yp a i n t e do nt hewa l l so fa h o us ewh e r et h eo l dGo y awa ss t a y i n g , a ndt h e ywe r en e v e ri nt e nd e df o rpu bl i cvi e wi n g . Sot he yha v en ot i t l e s , a n di tr e a l l yi sj u s tag ue s st ha tt h i si ss up p o s e dt ob eSa t ur n . Ha v i n gh a dmyf a i t hs h a k e ni nt h es u b j e c tma t t e rb ymyv i s i tt oMa d r i d ,Iwa si n t e r e s t e d t od i s c o v e rt h a tmys c e p t i c i s mi ss h a r e db ya tl e a s ton es c h ol a ro fGo y a ’ swo r k s ,who p o i nt so utt ha t‘ Sa t ur n ’l a c k sa n yofh i sus u a l l yi de n t i f y i n gf e a t u r e s ,a n dt ha tt h eb o d yh e

i sde v ou r i n gi st h a to fas ma l la d ul t ,n o tac h i l d . Th e r ewa sapr o p he c yt ha tCr o n os ’s o nwa sde s t i ne dt oo v e r c o mehi m( The o g on y4 63 –4 ) , s oh et oo kt hes i mp l ep r e c a u t i o no fe a t i n ga l lh i soffs pr i n g. Di s g u s t i n ga st hi sa s p e c tof t hemy t hma ybe ,t h e r ei sas e ns ei nwhi c hi ts h o wss o mes or to fp r o gr e s so v e rt he p r e vi ou sg e n e r a t i on .ForUr a no s , a tl e a s ta sh ei sp r e s e n t e db yHe s i od ,s e e mst oh a v en o mo t i v ef o rpr e v e nt i n gt h ebi r t ho fh i sc hi l d r e nf r om Ea r t h ,a p a r tf r o mh i so wni mme d i a t e p l e a s u r e :a l lwea r et o l di st ha th e‘ t o okpl e a s ur ei nt hewi c k e dwo r k ’ .Bu tCr o no sa tl e a s t i sa c t i n gwi t hal o n g e r t e r m pl a ni nmi nd . Co ns i s t e n twi t ht hi sd i ffe r e n c ei st h a tCr o no s r e p r e s e n t saf u l l ya n t h r o po mor p hi c( t ha ti s ,i nh uma ns ha p e )de i t y . Ur a no s ,wh os en a me j us tme a n s‘ He a v e n ’i nGr e e k ,c ou l dne v e rb emu c hmor et ha nj u s ta ne l e me nto ft h e p h y s i c a lwo r l d . J u s tal i t t l epo i n tbe f o r ewemo v eo nwi t ht hes t o r yofZe u s ’r i s et op o we r .I nl a t e rt i me s , t hemy t hofCr o n ose a t i n gwh a theh a dpr o du c e dwa sma d ei n t oa na l l e g o r y,t h a ti s , a s y mb ol i cwa yofs p e a ki n g . Fort h ena meCr o n osi sv e r ys i mi l a rt ot h eGr e e kwo r df o r t i me ,Ch r o no s( a si n‘ c h r on o l o gy ’e t c . ) .Sol a t e rGr e e kss a wi nt h efigu r ea na l l e g o r yo f t i me ,whi c hpr o d uc e sa n dde s t r o y sa l lt hi n g s - Fa t h e rt i me

Third generation: Birth of Zeus

- • Rhea gives Cronos a stone to swallow (Theogony 485 = S/book 22) • Cronos regurgitates kids - • Sends Zeus to Crete • Zeus cult replaces earlier non- Indo-European worship in Crete?

- • Zeus frees Cyclopes & Hundred-Handers At t i cv a s eo fc .4 6 0-o neo ft h ef e wc e r t a i na n c i e ntr e pr e s e nt a t i o nso fCr o no s . Sc e p t e r -t h es ymb olofki n g s h i p t hea c c ou nti nHe s i od( Th.4 85ff. )ma k e si tc l e a rt ha tt h i si snoba b ybu tas t o nes h ei s o ffe r i n gh e rhu s ba nd Ze u sgr o wsupa ndf r e e st wot y pe so fmon s t e r sf r o mh i sf a t h e r ’ sg e ne r a t i o nwh oha dbe e n l oc k e da wa y ,t h eo ne e y e dCy c l o pe s( 5 01ff. ) ,a n dt heHu nd r e d Ha n de r s( 6 17ff. ) . Bo t h s e t so fmon s t e r swe r es o nso fUr a n os Ze u swa sg e n e r o u s l yr e wa r de df o rt h i s ,a st heCy c l op e swe r ebl a c ks mi t hsa n df or g e df o r

h i mt h et hu n de r b ol t , t heHu n dr e d Ha n de r sj o i n e dh i ma ndt h eot he rg o dsi nt h ec l a s s i c a lpa n t h e oni nfigh t i n g t os e i z epo we rf r omt heTi t a ns . Atade e p e rl e v e l , b ot ht h et hu n de r bo l ta n dt heh e l po ft heHun dr e d Ha nd e r si nd i c a t ef or t hefir s tt i met h eb e ne fito fs t r a t e gi ca l l i a n c e :Ze uss h o wss o me t hi n gl i k es t a t e s ma n s h i p Zeus’ Struggles: 1) Titanomachy- a ten-year series of battles fought in Thessaly, consisting of most of the Titans fighting against the Olympians and their allies. Predicament of Temple of Artemis in Corcyra

(Corfu), c.590 BC

Ar me dwi t ht het hu nd e r b o l t ,Ze usn o wha dt odi s p l a c et h eo l dg o d sa n dt he i rl e a d e r , Cr o n o s . Th es t r u g g l ewh i c hf o l l o we di skn o wna st h eTi t a n oma c h y , o rb a t t l ewi t hTi t a n s .He s i o d h a sal o n gd e s c r i p t i o no fi t( 6 1 7ff. ) ,b utt h e r ea r en oc e r t a i na n c i e ntv i s u a lr e p r e s e nt a t i on s o fi t .Thet r ou bl ei st h a ti tt e n dst og e tc o nf u s e dwi t ho t h e rba t t l e soft heg o ds ,e s pe c i a l l y t heGi g a nt o ma c h y .An ywa y ,he r ei st heb e s tc a n d i da t ef orc o nt a i ni n gas c e n ef r om t h e Ti t a n oma c h y :i to c c u r so nt hep e di me n to ft h eTe mp l eo fAr t e mi sont h ei s l a n do f Co r c y r a ,ormo de r nCor f u ,b e t we e nGr e e c ea ndI t a l y .I twa se x e c u t e di nt h eAr c ha i ca g e , a r o u n d5 90BC. He r ewes e eama s s i v eGo r g oni nt hemi d d l e ,wi t hl i o n so ne a c hs i de ,a n d o nt her i g htt wofig u r e swh on e e dt ob es e e ni nc l os eu p

Zeus (and Cronos?) • Zeus is unbearded • Young? • Olympians victorious • Helped by Hundred- Handers • Titans immortal, but imprisoned in Tartarus

God sha dt obeb or n ,b utt h e yc ou l dno td i e .Ze u swa st h usu na b l et oi nfli c tc a p i t a l p u ni s h me nto nt hed e f e a t e d ,bu ti n s t e a di mp r i s on e dt he mi nTa r t a r us ,a sf a rbe l o wt h e e a r t ha st hes k yi sa b o v ei t .Ho wf a ri st ha t ?Ac c or di n gt oHe s i o d( 7 20ff. ) ,i twou l dt a k e a na n v i ln i neda y sa ndni g h t st of a l lf r om He a v e n( Ur a n o s )t ot h ee a r t h ,a nddo wnt o Ta r t a r usa n o t h e rn i n ed a y sa n dn i g h t s .

Zeus’ Struggles: 2) Gigantomachy • Sons of Earth from Uranos’ blood • Prophecy that only a mortal could help • Heracles • Giants killed or buried under mountains or islands • Enceladus under Aetna Attic Red-figure vase, c.410 BC

No tl o n ga f t e rd e a l i n gwi t ht heTi t a nsa n de s t a b l i s h i n gt he ms e l v e s , t h eOl y mpi a n sh a dt o fig h tt h egi a n t s( Gr e e kgi g a nt e s ,he n c eg i g a n t omac hy ) ,wh owe r es o nso fEa r t h , s pr u n g f r o mt hef e r t i l eb l o odo fUr a no s ’p e ni swhe nCr on o sc a s t r a t e dhi m. Bu to t h e rg i a n t sa r eb ur i e du nd e rv o l c a no e s , wh e r et h e yc o n t i n ue dt ot o s sa n dt ur n :t h e g i a n tEnc e l a duswa ss u pp o s e dt obeu nd e r n e a t ht hev o l c a ni cMtAe t nai nSi c i l y ,f or i ns t a n c e . De s p i t eHe s i o d ’ ss i l e nc e , t hi ss c e n ei sc o pi o u s l yi l l us t r a t e di nGr e e ka r t , whi l et hei n s i d eoft h ec u ps h o wsPo s e i d on ,a l s oa r me dwi t hh i sc ha r a c t e r i s t i cwe a p o n, d i s p a t c hi n gt h egi a n tPol y b o t e s( na mekno wnf r o ml i t e r a r ys ou r c e s ) .Ont hel e f ti st h e g i a n t ’ smo t h e r ,Ea r t hhe r s e l f ,r i s i n gu pi ns u pp l i c a t i ont obe gt h es e ag o dt os pa r ehe rs o n

Zeus’ Struggles: 3) Typhonomachy • Offspring of Earth & Tartarus • 100 snake heads in Hesiod (Theogony 825) • Sourcebook 23 • Banished to Tartarus, still sends winds • Zeus swallows Metis Chalcidian Black-figure vase, c.540 BC

Th el a s tc ha l l e n g et oZe uswa sf r o mt h emo ns t e rT y ph on ,orT y ph oe u s ,a shei ss o me t i me s c a l l e d ,t heo ffs p r i n go fEa r t ha ndTa r t a r u s ,hei ss o mes o r to fmi x t u r eo fs n a k ea n dgi a n t : He s i o d( The o g . 8 25=So ur c e bo ok2 3)p r e s e n t shi ma sh a v i n g10 0s n a k eh e a ds ,b utt he u s u a lde p i c t i o ni so ft h ebo t t o mh a l fa sb e i n gr e p t i l i a n ,a si nt h i sCha l c i di anBl a c k Fi g ur ev a s ef r om ar o und54 0BC. Ofc o u r s eZe usa g a i nbl a s t e dh i se ne mywi t hhi s u n f a i l i n gt h un de r bo l t ,a g a i ns e n di n ghi md o wnt oTa r t a r us ,wh e r eh er e ma i ne d , o c c a s i o n a l l ys e nd i n gupvi ol e n twi n d s .Butt heOl ymp i a no r d e rwa sfin a l l ys e c ur e .I nt he f a c eofa n o t he rp r o ph e c yt h a tt h ec h i l dofh i swi f eMe t i s( ‘ i n t e l l i g e n c e ’ )wo u l dbes t r o n g e r t ha nhewa s ,Ze u sh a dt h ewi ts i mp l yt os wa l l o whe r ,t hu sa v o i d i n gt heb i r t hoft h ec h i l d a n dk e e pi n gh e rs pe c i a lgi f twi t h i nh i ma l wa y s( 88 690 0) ‘ At t i c ’me a n sf r o m At t i c a ,whi c hi sAt he nsa ndi t ss ur r o u nd i n gc ou n t r y ,whi l e ‘ Cha l c i di a n ’me a nsf r o m Ch a l c i s , ama j ort r a di n gc i t yt ot heNW o fAt h e ns .Th e At he n i a nv a s ei s‘ r e dfig u r e ’ , wh i l et h eCha l c i di a ni s‘ b l a c k fig ur e ’ .‘ Bl ac kfig ur e ’i st he e a r l i e roft het e c hn i q ue sa n dme a n st h a tt h ea r t i s tp a i n t e dt hefig ur e sd i r e c t l yo nt ot h e n a t u r a lr e dc l a yo fwh i c ht h epo t swe r ema de ;‘ r e dfig ur e ’ , i nc o nt r a s t ,me a n st h a tt he a r t i s tpa i nt sa r o un dt hec ha r a c t e r s , ma ki n gt h eba c kg r ou n db l a c ka n dt h efigu r e si nt he o r i g i na lc ol o uro ft h ec l a y ;t h i sd i ffe r e n ts t y l ewa si n v e nt e di nAt h e nsa r o un d5 25BCa n d s o o nb e c a med omi n a nt .Fi n a l l y ,wet r yt ogi v ed a t e st ot h ev a s e s —a l wa y sa p p r o xi ma t e , s o g e tus e dt os e e i n g ‘ c . ’( f o r‘ c i r c a ’ , t heLa t i nf o r‘ a r o u n d ’ )b e f o r ea l ld a t e so nt h e s ep i e c e s . Attic Red-figure vase, c.410 BC Chalcidian Black-figure vase, c.540 BC

Near-Eastern sources • Succession myth of generational conflict • Hittite myths • Akkadian (Babylonian) myth: Enûma Eliš

Cuneiform tablet of Enûma Eliš...