CLAS 2007CLAS 2007Roman Myth and ReligionRoman Myth and Religion

Winter 2012Winter 2012

Mondays and Thursdays Mondays and Thursdays

8:30 – 9:50 in A 2508:30 – 9:50 in A 250

Dr. Ilse MuellerDr. Ilse MuellerOffice: H 339Office: H 339Tel. 474 3450 X 4423Tel. 474 3450 X 4423Email: Email: ilsem@nipissingu.caOffice Hours: Thursdays 10 - 12Office Hours: Thursdays 10 - 12

Course Description This course examines the origins and

evolution of religious thought and practice in ancient Rome from its mythic foundation to the triumph of Christianity in late antiquity. Roman myth is examined in detail and situated in its appropriate historical, social, political, and religious contexts. Special attention is paid to the relationship between myth, politics, and religion as well as to the influence of mythic and religious traditions from other Mediterranean cultures on Roman religious thought and practice. This course may be credited towards Religions and Cultures.

Course Books

1. T.P. Wiseman, The Myths of Rome, Exeter 2004, 

2. Lucius Apuleius, The Golden Ass.  3. Additional Primary source material

will be made available on the website

The Course Website

Dr. Mueller’s Home Page: http://faculty.nipissingu.ca/ilsem/imhome/

Check the website regularly for announcements, readings, lecture notes, assignment details and DUE DATES,

Lecture notes (outline and important terms) will be posted for review

Links to related sites for research and interest

Grade DistributionGrade Distribution

Assignment# 1 (Primary Source evaluation) Assignment# 1 (Primary Source evaluation)

Due Jan. 31Due Jan. 31 15%15% 4 Quizzes (3 will count) 5 points each4 Quizzes (3 will count) 5 points each

Jan 19; Feb 9; Mar 1; Mar 15 Jan 19; Feb 9; Mar 1; Mar 15 15%15%

Research Essay – part 1: annotated bibliographyResearch Essay – part 1: annotated bibliography

due Mar 19due Mar 19

Part 2: Research Essay – due April 5Part 2: Research Essay – due April 5 25%25% Final Exam (in exam period)Final Exam (in exam period) 35%35% Participation, attendance, preparednessParticipation, attendance, preparedness 10% 10%

How to succeed in this Course

Attend classes regularly Complete your reading assignments before

each class make notes as you read; ask questions! Take notes in class and go over them once

on the same day and again before the next class

Start your assignments early; ask questions if in doubt on anything

Hand in your assignments promptly on the due dates

Engage with the material

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

1. What is a Myth?1. What is a Myth?2. Our Sources for Roman Myth and 2. Our Sources for Roman Myth and

ReligionReligion3. The Context of Roman Myth: 3. The Context of Roman Myth:

Geography, Time LineGeography, Time Line

What is a Myth?What is a Myth?

mythosmythos (from the Greek) = Word, speech, public speech; (from the Greek) = Word, speech, public speech; narration, news, intelligence; conversation, talk; thought, narration, news, intelligence; conversation, talk; thought, project, plan; advice, order; report, tale, story; affair, project, plan; advice, order; report, tale, story; affair, occurrence.” (Oxford Classical Greek Dictionary)occurrence.” (Oxford Classical Greek Dictionary)

PlatoPlato made a distinction between made a distinction between mythosmythos and and logos – mythos logos – mythos became associated with traditional (irrational) stories as became associated with traditional (irrational) stories as related by poets – distinct from related by poets – distinct from logoslogos as a rational account as a rational account

MythMyth = “Traditional narrative embodying ancient popular = “Traditional narrative embodying ancient popular belief or idea; fictitious person or thing; widely held but belief or idea; fictitious person or thing; widely held but false idea.” (OED)false idea.” (OED)

In shortIn short – a traditional story that has been handed down – a traditional story that has been handed down (orally) from one generation to another in any given culture(orally) from one generation to another in any given culture

TraditionalTraditional (from Latin (from Latin traderetradere – to hand over) – to hand over)

Types of myths (modern categories)

Divine myths: characters and settings are outside human experience, example: the gods are immortal, Mount Olympos, the Underworld

Legends – characters and settings may be within human experience

characters are heroes or outstanding human beings, events fare back in time but with historical connection to the present time and to historical places

Not important whether true or not Fairy Tales – characters and settings mixed - monsters,

magic, instead of exceptional human beings – the underdog (most unlikely to succeed) i.e. Cinderella

Many myths are a combination of all three Roman myths are primarily legends

The function of myths Stories had importance for the community Aitiological (aetiological) they explain

something examples: story of Trojan hero Aeneas explains

the founding of the Roman race (story of Aeneas), Story of Romulus and Remus: founding of the

city of Rome; Tale of the Rape of the Sabine Women: explains

alliance between Sabines and Romans; promotes Roman virtues regarding family and marriage

Explanations of temple building, import/creation of a given cult, rituals, religious practices, cult places, founding of colonies, names, origins of festivals, and much more.

Myth, Religion, and RitualMyth, Religion, and Ritual

Myths are not simply entertaining stories Myths are not simply entertaining stories Myths are integral to religious life in the ancient Myths are integral to religious life in the ancient

worldworld Myths are tied to religious ritual (esp. to sacrifice)Myths are tied to religious ritual (esp. to sacrifice) What came first? The Chicken or the egg? Myth or What came first? The Chicken or the egg? Myth or

ritual?ritual? Myths explain the foundation of civic identity (i.e. Myths explain the foundation of civic identity (i.e.

Athena in Athens; Mars in Rome etc.) Athena in Athens; Mars in Rome etc.) Myths integral to a culture’s history and identityMyths integral to a culture’s history and identity

What Can We Learn From Greco-Roman What Can We Learn From Greco-Roman Myth?Myth?

the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Greeks and Romans.

How the Greeks and Romans understood the world How the Greeks and Romans understood the world around them and their place in it. around them and their place in it.

The moral and social values of Greek and Roman The moral and social values of Greek and Roman culturescultures

The influence of Greek and Roman myth and religion The influence of Greek and Roman myth and religion on later religious, intellectual and cultural on later religious, intellectual and cultural developments.developments.

Aspects of the human psyche and of human social, Aspects of the human psyche and of human social, cultural, and intellectual life in general.cultural, and intellectual life in general.

Roman Legends: what Romans considered important Roman Legends: what Romans considered important about their history, identity, their values and idealsabout their history, identity, their values and ideals

How Do We Study Roman How Do We Study Roman MythMyth

By collecting and analyzing all the surviving evidence By collecting and analyzing all the surviving evidence relating to myth from ancient Greece and Romerelating to myth from ancient Greece and Rome

By setting myths in their appropriate historical context By setting myths in their appropriate historical context (i.e. Myths change over time – see Wiseman)(i.e. Myths change over time – see Wiseman)

Setting myths in their proper socio-political contexts Setting myths in their proper socio-political contexts (i.e. (i.e. who benefitswho benefits))

Setting myth in their cultural milieu – comparative Setting myth in their cultural milieu – comparative mythology (i.e. analogous myths from other cultures)mythology (i.e. analogous myths from other cultures)

Considering the multiple variations of the same mythConsidering the multiple variations of the same myth Note: How we approach the study of myth depends Note: How we approach the study of myth depends

upon our scholarly intentions and objectives.upon our scholarly intentions and objectives.

Our EvidenceOur EvidencePrimary and Secondary SourcesPrimary and Secondary Sources

Primary SourcesPrimary Sources = Evidence from the time and place = Evidence from the time and place under investigation under investigation

Note: Always base your arguments and observations upon Note: Always base your arguments and observations upon PRIMARY SOURCE EVIDENCEPRIMARY SOURCE EVIDENCE – WHY? – WHY?

Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources = Scholarly articles and monographs = Scholarly articles and monographs (i.e. books) on a specific topic by authors of later periods, (i.e. books) on a specific topic by authors of later periods, primarily (for our purposes) modern scholars. Secondary primarily (for our purposes) modern scholars. Secondary Sources represent findings, theories, arguments that are Sources represent findings, theories, arguments that are based on the authors’ examination and interpretations of based on the authors’ examination and interpretations of the primary evidence. the primary evidence.

For scholarly purposes you MUST ONLY use scholarly For scholarly purposes you MUST ONLY use scholarly articles and books that are peer reviewed.articles and books that are peer reviewed.

Note: Note: websites such as Wikipedia do not represent websites such as Wikipedia do not represent scholarly articles and are NOT ALLOWES to be used scholarly articles and are NOT ALLOWES to be used for your assignments in this course.for your assignments in this course.

Sources for Greco-Roman Sources for Greco-Roman MythMyth

Ancient Literature (i.e. poetry, drama, novels, and Ancient Literature (i.e. poetry, drama, novels, and more)more)

Ancient mythographers (ancient Greek and Ancient mythographers (ancient Greek and Roman scholars who selected and collected Roman scholars who selected and collected myths known to them – i.e. Hesiod, Apollodorus myths known to them – i.e. Hesiod, Apollodorus

Historiography (i.e. the works of ancient writers of Historiography (i.e. the works of ancient writers of history)history)

Philosophical texts – Often deal with questions of Philosophical texts – Often deal with questions of religion and myth and man’s place in the religion and myth and man’s place in the universeuniverse

Material culture (i.e. Art, Architecture, Sculpture Material culture (i.e. Art, Architecture, Sculpture and other works of art; votive items etc.)and other works of art; votive items etc.)

Epigraphy (i.e. inscriptions; curse tablets, coins, Epigraphy (i.e. inscriptions; curse tablets, coins, etc)etc)

Literary Sources: Some ExamplesLiterary Sources: Some Examples Greek MythsGreek Myths

Homeric Epics: Homeric Epics: The Iliad The Iliad and and The Odyssey The Odyssey (ca. (ca. 750 BCE – 700 BCE)750 BCE – 700 BCE)

Hesiod: Hesiod: Theogonis, Works and Days, Catalogue Theogonis, Works and Days, Catalogue of Womenof Women (ca. 700 BCE) (ca. 700 BCE)

Archaic Lyric Poetry: Alcman, Sappho, Alcaeus, Archaic Lyric Poetry: Alcman, Sappho, Alcaeus, Anacreon, Stesichorus, Ibycus, Simonides, Anacreon, Stesichorus, Ibycus, Simonides, Pindar, BacchylidesPindar, Bacchylides

Tragedy: the Athenian Playwrights: Aeschylus, Tragedy: the Athenian Playwrights: Aeschylus, Sophocles, EuripidesSophocles, Euripides

Mythographical Compendia: i.e. Apollodorus, Mythographical Compendia: i.e. Apollodorus, The Library The Library (ca. 180 BCE – 100 BCE) (ca. 180 BCE – 100 BCE)

Historians: i.e. Herodotus, Historians: i.e. Herodotus, Histories Histories (ca. 484 (ca. 484 BCE – 425 BCE)BCE – 425 BCE)

Greek and Roman MythsGreek and Roman Myths

Ancient Geographers: i.e. Strabo (ca. 64 Ancient Geographers: i.e. Strabo (ca. 64 BCE – 24 CE) BCE – 24 CE) The GeographyThe Geography, and , and Pausanias, Pausanias, Description of Greece Description of Greece (ca. 2(ca. 2ndnd Century CE)Century CE)

Philosophical Writers: i.e. M. Tullius Philosophical Writers: i.e. M. Tullius Cicero (106 BCE – 43 BCE), Cicero (106 BCE – 43 BCE), De Natura De Natura DeorumDeorum

Christian Polemics: i.e. Tertullian (ca. Christian Polemics: i.e. Tertullian (ca. 150 CE – 230 CE), 150 CE – 230 CE), ApologeticusApologeticus, St. , St. Augustine (ca. 354 CE – 430 CE), Augustine (ca. 354 CE – 430 CE), City of City of GodGod

Visual Sources:Visual Sources:Vase Paintings: Orestes’ Vase Paintings: Orestes’

purificationpurification

(Sculpture) Romulus and (Sculpture) Romulus and RemusRemus

and the she wolfand the she wolf

POTTERYPOTTERYSatyr Feast/Orgy (associated with the god Satyr Feast/Orgy (associated with the god

Dionyius)Dionyius)

www.library.thinkquest.org

Questions?

Go to the bookstore and buy the booksReading for Thursday: Chapter 1 of

WisemanQuestions for Chapter I: 1. What is the purpose of Chapter 1?2. Who is Flora – what is her history

and what does it tell you about Roman myths?