CLT3378 (Branscome) Fall 2012 Study guide Exam 1 FSU PDF

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Exam 1 David Branscome FSU...

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Ancient Mythology: East and West Exam 1 Study Guide Term List Introduction to Myth Hero – protagonists of legends, not necessarily gods Trickster – amoral; neither good nor bad. Shape-shifting deceivers. Instigators, sometimes culture heroes (ex. Prometheus steals fire and gives it to men). Ea and Prometheus are trickster gods Polytheism – belief in many gods Anthropomorphism – conception of gods in the shape of human beings (ex. Greeks thought the gods took shape of beautiful people and have human emotions) Binaturalism – conception of gods with two natures: 1. Physical space + god (Sky, Earth, Sea) 2. Abstract concept + god (Love, Victory, Envy) 3. thing + god (Soma is a god, also a sacred drink) Syncretism – adaptation of one culture’s mythic beliefs by another culture. A culture believes the gods are the same, and mixes them together Sphere of influence – areas with which the gods are associated/have power. Don’t have to be connected, but can overlap. (ex. Zeus is the god of rain, lightning, kingship, and hospitality)

Enuma Elish Mesopotamia – land between 2 rivers, Tigris and Euphrates Sumerians – first Mesopotamian civilization. First to build cities and make laws. Had a language we cannot translate Akkadians – spoke Semitic language (similar to ancient Hebrew or Arabic) Assyrians – spoke dialect of Akkadian language Babylonians – spoke dialect of Akkadian language, lived in city of Babylon, city-state of Mesopotamia Enuma Elish – Babylonian creation epic, epic poem that tells how the universe formed. Creation myth and succession myth, tells how gods succeed other gods. Translates to “when on high.” Recited or performed at the Babylonian New Year Festival, at it every citizen of Babylon swears their allegiance to the king; king acts out role of Marduk. Enuma Elish composed around 1000 BCE on 7 cuneiform tablets Marduk – Enuma Elish tells of the rise of power of Marduk, protector god of Babylon. Marduk is a storm god, controls rain, wind and lightning. NOT a bi-natural god because he’s not the storm himself. Marduk becomes king of the gods Cuneiform – invented by Sumerians, clay tablet with symbols that each stand for a particular word or sound

Apsu – one of 2 first gods to exist. Bi-natural god, god and all bodies of fresh water Tiamat – one of 2 first gods to exist. Bi-natural god, god and salt water, or the seas. Reproduces with Apsu, have children Lahmu and Lahamu Lahmu – Apsu and Tiamat’s son Lahamu – Apsu and Tiamat’s daughter Anshar – male god, appears after Lahmu and Lahamu but it is not specified whose child he is Kishar – female god, appears after Lahmu and Lahamu but it is not specified whose child she is. Reproduces with Anshar, gives birth to Anu Anu – bi-natural god, is the sky. Sky is divided into 3 parts, Anu is the uppermost part of the sky. Has son Ea Ea/Enki/Nuddimud – different names for same god. Has spheres of influence over cleverness/wisdom and fresh water. Ea is a trickster god and associated with human creation Mummu – Apsu’s vizier, right-hand man and advisor Damkina – Ea’s wife, lives with Ea in fresh water reservoir after Ea kills Apsu. She has a son with Ea, named Marduk. Marduk is born from her with 4 eyes, 4 eyes, and breathes fire Qingu/Kingu – Tiamat’s lover (after Apsu) and leader of her army of monsters. He was given the Tablet of Destinies Kakka/Gaga – Anshar’s vizier, right-hand man and advisor Tablet of Destinies - contained the spheres of influences of the gods, they had not yet been determined

Background Reading 1 Semitic – a language related to ancient Hebrew Amorites – spoke a dialect of Akkadian, overthrow Akkadians and Sumerians, establish Babylon as their capital city. Commonly referred to as Babylonians Babylon – large city-state in Mesopotamia, control of the city altered from Sumerians to Akkadians to Amorites to Assyrians Ziggurat – sky-high temples, stepped pyramids made from bricks. Considered the home of a god or goddess, had statues of the god outside the temple, priests fed it meals every day. Not a place of worship like modern day church, mosque, or synagogue Akitu – the Babylonian New Year Festival, celebrated every year in April. Held in honor of Marduk, the patron god of Babylon

Baal Cycle

Baal Cycle – came from city of Ugarit, group of poems about storm god Baal, written on tablets found at Ugarit in alphabetic script. Tablets were found in the library of the chief priest of the Baal temple. Written down by scribe Ilimilku, but we don’t know who composed the stories. May have been preserved orally for hundreds of years Ugarit – lost city located in the region of Canaan. prosperous coastal trading city that reached its height from around 1400 to 1200 BCE, at which time the city was destroyed, probably at the hands of the invading Sea Peoples Canaan – located in modern-day Syria Canaanite – not much of their culture was known until discovery of Ugarit, had hostile relationship with Israelites El – translates to “god,” creator god and “father” of the gods. Did not actually create all gods, he is just old, revered, powerful, and feared. Lives upon a mountain that contains 2 rivers, the source of all the world’s fresh water Baal – translates to “lord,” storm god, wind god, rain and fertility god. Baal controls the growth of crops. Especially worshipped by farmers, fishermen, and sailors. He is the son of Dagon, the grain god. Baal’s rain brings Dagon’s grain. Baal lives on the sacred mountain of Zaphon Hadad – prepared a housewarming feast for Baal Dagon – Baal’s father, god of grain Zaphon – sacred mountain, Baal’s home Asherah – El’s wife, Canaanite “mother” of gods Anat – Baal’s sister, Anat and Baal form a divine pair. Anat is a young, virgin, goddess of war and hunting. She is extremely bloodthirsty, loves bloodshed Kothar-wa-Hasis – craftsman god, makes tools for the gods Shapash – Canaanite sun goddess, linked to both life and death because she has power over the summer, can bring droughts Attanu-Purlianni – chief priest of Baal Temple, tablets containing the Baal Cycle were found in his library Ilimilku – scribe that wrote down the Baal cycle poems Niqmaddu II – king of Ugarit during period that Ilimilku wrote down the Baal Cycle Yam – IS the sea, a bi-natural god, associated with serpentine creatures, referred to as “river,” “dragon,” and “serpent.” Yam wants Baal’s powers, but is defeated by Baal and Anat Mot – IS death, a bi-natural god. Canaanite underworld is Mot’s home, it is a disgusting and mucky swamp. Offended at Baal’s invitation to his new home, battles Baal until they reach a draw, Mot relents

Background Reading 2 Ras Shamra – modern-day site where ancient Ugarit tomb was discovered. Ugarit is often referred to by its modern name, Ras Shamra

Illuyanka Myths and Kumarbi Cycle Hittites – Indo-European is an ancient parent language, Hittite is the oldest Indo-European language in which we have literature. Hittites entered Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) in 2300 BCE. Hittite Empire lasted from 1700-1200 BCE. Hittite King, Mursilis I, sacked the city of Babylon Hattians – the first people of Anatolia, the Hittites absorbed them and they disappeared Hurrians – built an empire called Mitanni, had the chance to expand their empire after the destruction of Aleppo, the fall of Babylon, and the murder of the Hittite king, Mursilis I Hattusas – Hittite empire’s capital Hattian/Hittite Storm God – chief god of over 600 gods. The god’s name is unknown, but he is identified with the Hattian storm god and the Hurrian storm god, Tessub Illuyanka – Hattian translation for “serpent.” Illuyanka were myths adopted from Hattians, told of Storm God defeating Illuyanka. Illuyanka myths were associated with the Purulli festival in the spring Purulli festival – festival celebrating the return of spring Inara – daughter of the Hittite storm god, a huntress. Prepares a feast at which the storm god ties up and kills Illuyanka Hupasiya – human man, offers to help prepare a feast if Inara will have sex with him, Inara agrees. At feast, Hupasiya ties up the drunk Illuyanka, allows the storm god to kill Illuyanka Kumarbi Cycle – Hurrian literary works adopted by Hittites and written in Hittite language. Group of poems about Kumarbi written at the height of the Hittite empire, 1400-1200 BCE Kumarbi – Hurrian god associated with the underworld. Castrates and overthrows Anu to become king of the gods, is eventually overthrown by his son, Tessub Alalu – the original king of the gods, the first king in place at the beginning of universe. Overthrown by Anu Tessub – hero of Kumarbi Cycle. When Kumarbi becomes pregnant with gods, he thinks that Tessub had already been born, so he attempts to eat Tessub. Kumarbi bites into stone instead, Tessub overthrows Kumarbi Song of Kumarbi – one of the most preserved poems from Hittite culture, a succession myth that tells of the rise and fall of Kumarbi. Succession cycle: Alalu -> Anu -> Kumarbi -> Tessub

Song of Ullikummi – tells of Kumarbi’s attempt to overthrow Tessub, gives birth to stone child named Ullikummi, puts him to grow on shoulder of Ubelurri. Ullikummi is cut off before he becomes strong enough to defeat Tessub Ullikummi – Kurarbi’s stone child. Small at birth, placed upon the shoulder of Ubelurri to grow. Becomes enormous, but is cut from Ubelerri by Ea, then defeated by Tessub Ubelurri – sky supporter, holds up the weight of the sky. Unknowing, unaware of when the gods split heaven and Earth apart, unaware that Ullikummi grew on his shoulder

Background Reading 3 Mursilis I – Hittite king in charge of the raid on Babylon. Mursilis I’s murdered brought a period of anarchy to the Hittites Hattusilis I – Marsilis I’s father and predecessor as king. Founded Hittite empire and established Hattusas as the capital city. Renamed himself Hattusilis, meaning “man of Hattusas” in honor of his new capital Indo-European - the hypothetical linguistic ancestors of most of the languages of Europe—the Germanic languages such as English, Latin and the romance languages, and ancient Greek—and also of Sanskrit in India Mitanni – empire of the Hurrians

Creation in Genesis Genesis – the first book in both the Jewish Bible and the Christian Old Testament, creation of the universe Israelites/Hebrews – emerged as an important power in Canaan. Their language was Hebrew, a Semitic language related to Akkadian. Canaan came to be divided into two main areas or kingdoms, Israel in the north and Judah (or Judea) in the south. A man from Judah named David (1000-960) became king, and he managed to unite the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, under his rule ’elohim – translates to “god.” A title, but not the actual name of the Israelite god Yahweh – God’s name, god of Israelites/Hebrews ’adonay – after Persian period (after 538), Jews decide it is too sacrilegious to speak the name of God, refer to the lord as ‘adonay, translates to “lord.” Monolatry – worship of one god. Israelites only worship Yahweh, but acknowledge that other gods exist Monotheism – after Babylonian exile (586-538 BCE), the Israelites/Hebrews return to Judah as Jews. Jews are monotheistic, only believe in and worship one god, Yahweh Leviathan – chaotic sea monster that Yahweh battles. Comparable to a river, serpent or dragon

Rahab – mythical sea monster. Has “helpers” analogous to Tiamat’s army of monsters Bereshith – first word in Genesis, translates to “in the beginning” in Hebrew, also the title of the book. Represents literary convention where a book is named after its first word (ex. Enuma Elish) JEDP Theory – contradictions and discrepancies in the stories of the Bible due to different sources & different authors. JEDP is a theory about biblical composition that divides the writings among 4 authors. Most biblical scholars today still subscribe to the JEDP Theory Shemesh – word for the Hebrew sun. This word is not used in Genesis because it is too similar to the Akkadian Shamash & Ugaritic Shapash, wanted to avoid confusion. Genesis refers to sun and moon as “two great lights” Yareah –word for the Hebrew moon. This word was not used in Genesis because it is too similar to Ugaritic Yarikh. Jews did not want Yahweh to create something that sounds like a polytheistic god Tehom – Yahweh splits the oceans, puts sky in between. Tehom in Hebrew translates to “deep.” Tehom is same as Tiamat, the sky that separates heaven and Earth Cosmocentric – natural state of the universe should be preserved, not altered for human use. First creation story in Genesis is the cosmocentric creation, “heavens and earth,” creation of earth is secondary Geocentric – belief that everything revolves around the earth Anthropocentric – belief that humans are the central and most significant species. Second creation story in Genesis is the anthropocentric creation, “earth and heavens,” creation of earth is primary, focuses more on earth than the heavens Tree of Knowledge – eating from the tree would allow Adam and Eve to know good and evil, meaning they will know everything. Eating from the tree makes them more like gods in that they are all-knowing, more like humans because they understand good and evil. Adam and Eve do not die after eating the fruit of the tree, but die metaphorically because they lose their innocence Tree of Life – if Adam and Eve could eat from the Tree of Life, they would become immortal. They must eat from the Tree of Life to become fully like God. God believes immortality is not for human beings, will not allow them to eat from the tree, and kicks them out of the garden ’itsavon – translates to “pain/toil,” pain of childbirth for women, pain of men toiling in soil, working for a living ’adam – derived from the word ‘adamah, meaning “soil.” It is a pun, or a play on words, because men must work in the soil ’adamah – “soil,” the first man’s name, Adam, is derived from ‘adamah Adam – first man created by God in Genesis Eve – first woman created by God in Genesis, created from men to serve as his companion

Background Reading 4 Tanakh – the Jewish Bible, written from 1000-400 BC. Tanakh is an acronym for the three groups of books into which the Hebrew scriptures are divided Solomon – the son of David, who united Israel and Judah. He was succeeded by his son Solomon, and beginning in 1000 BCE, David and Solomon’s reigns mark the high point of the political power of ancient Israel. Babylonian Exile – in 586, when the Babylonians conquered Judah, destroyed its capital city of Jerusalem, and deported its population to Babylon Cyrus the Great – founder of the Persian Empire, conquered Babylon in 538, allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem. In the Bible, writers praise the Persian king’s mercy and benevolence Creation in Hesiod’s Theogony Hesiod – Greek poet from 700 BCE, wrote Theogony. One of the earliest Greek poets, and one of the only early Greek authors whose works survived Theogony – ancient mythical poem written by the Greek Hesiod. Theogony translates to “birth of gods” Poem – Homer and Hesiod were epic poets, begin their works with invocation to the Muses Muses – there are 9 Muses in Hesiod’s Theogony, all sisters. They are goddesses of the arts and daughters of Zeus and the bi-natural goddess of Memory. The Muses inspire Hesiod, and the poet believes that the gods are speaking through him. In Theogony, the Muses first tell Hesiod that art is deceptive, then sing of creation Chaos – one of the 4 first, primal gods at the beginning of creation. Chaos does not mean the English translation of “disorder.” Chaos means “nothingness,” he is a chasm, or a huge empty space. Chaos is a bi-natural god because he is the empty space Gaia/Ge – one of the 4 first, primal gods at the beginning of creation. Gaia is the Earth, she is a bi-natural goddess Tartaros – one of the 4 first, primal gods at the beginning of creation. Tartaros is an underworld pit and prison, he is a bi-natural god because he is the prison himself Eros – one of the 4 first, primal gods at the beginning of creation. Eros is the god of sexual desire, necessary for Theogony because the gods must procreate. Eros is a bi-natural god, he is Sex Erebos – Chaos gives asexual, virgin birth to Erebos. Erebos is a bi-natural god, and a region of the underworld Ouranos – Gaia gives a virgin birth to Ouranos, the mountains, and the sea. Ouranos is a binatural Sky god

Titans – first of 3 sets of children produced by Gaia and Ouranos. Includes Okeanos, Kronos, and Rhea Cyclopes – second of the 3 sets of children produced by Gaia and Ouranos. 3 cyclopes are born, they are craftsmen that make Zeus’s thunderbolts Hundred-handers – third of the 3 sets of children produced by Gaia and Ouranos. 3 hundredhanders are born, and they are extremely strong warriors Zeus – storm god and Greek king of the gods. Comparable to Marduk (Enuma Elish), Tessub (Kumarbi Cycle), and Baal (Baal Cycle). These are all storm gods that become king of the gods Kronos – a Titan, one of the children of Gaia and Ouranos. Overthrows his father Ouranos to become king of the gods. Kronos castrates Ouranos with a sickle of adamant and throws his genitals into the sea Sickle – a semi-circular blade Adamant – a fictional type of metal, the strongest material in the world Aphros – When Kronos throws Ouranos’s genitals into the sea, a sea foam forms around them. Foam translates to “aphros,” and from the aphros goddess Aphrodite is created Aphrodite – rises from the sea foam, or “aphros,” produced by Ouranos’s castrated genitals Rhea – after Kronos becomes king of the gods, he marries Rhea. He and Rhea produce children called the Olympians Olympians – the children of Kronos and Rhea, including Zeus. When Kronos hears the prophecy that he will be overthrown by his son, Kronos swallows the Olympians to prevent the prophecy from coming true Titanomachy – “battle with Titans,” the Titans wage war against the Olympians. The war lasts 10 years, and the Titans and Olympians battle to a draw until Zeus releases the hundred-handers. The Titans lose the war, and Zeus throws them into the underworld pit of Tartaros Metis – an early mate of Zeus, bi-natural goddess of Cleverness. When Metis becomes pregnant, Zeus worries about the prophecy of being overthrown by his son, so he swallows Metis. While inside Zeus, Metis gives birth to a daughter instead of a son. Zeus gives birth to Athena via his head Athena – born from Metis while she’s inside Zeus, is delivered through Zeus’s head. Athena is a goddess of craftiness and military strategy Typhoios/Typhoeus/Typhon – the son of Gaia and Tartaros. Typhoios is a 100-headed, firebreathing dragon that attempts to overthrow Zeus. Their battle is essentially lightning (Zeus) vs. fire (Typhoios), or a storm god vs. a dragon-like monster. Typhoios loses the battle and is thrown into Tartaros Apollodorus – falsely given credit for writing the Greek book, Library Library – a Greek mythological handbook, written to explain the events of Greek myths, falsely credited to Appollodorus. Author of Library is referred to as Pseudo-Apolladorus

Delphyne – in Apollodorus’ version of Zeus vs. Typhoios, Delphyne is an ally of Typhois. She is a dragoness that guards the cave where Typhoios hid Zeus’s stolen sinews (tendons of his hands and feet) Mt. Aitna – volcano in Sicily. After Zeus gets his sinews back, he attacks Typhoios on Mt. Aitna with his lightning bolts. Many Greeks believe that Mt. Aitna is a volcano because Zeus’s thunderbolts that were thrown inside are still active

Background Reading 5 Phoenicians – ancient people who lived on the coast of modern-day Lebanon. Created an alphabetic script that was adopted by the Greeks Ascra – city-state in Greece where poet Hesiod was born Cyme – Hesiod’s father moved to Ascra from the city of Cyme, located in Asia Minor. This location is significant because living in proximity to many non-Greek cultures allowed Hesiod to learn of many foreign myths

Atrahasis and Flood Atrahasis – Babylonian flood hero, king of city of Shurupakk Ipiq-Aya – author of Atrahasis and the Flood, wrote the poem on 3 cuneiform tablets around 1700 BCE Ellil – god of storms and wind, and the gods’ boss. For 3600 years, the gods had to dig canals to build Babylon, when they gods com...