CC 303 Test 4 Short Answers

According to Lepore, what was one of William Marston's reasons for creating Wonder Woman?

"...to combat the idea that women are inferior to men, and to inspire girls to self-confidence and achievement in athletics.."

Give examples of Ovid's political overtones in his tales of metamorphoses.

"Snatch up Caesar's sole from his murdered body, and transform it into a star, so that Julius deified may ever look from his lofty seat upon the forum and my capitol" "Apollo's son came to us from abroad, but Caesar is a god in his own land" Essentially shitting on Augustus, saying Julius was better. Julius is a god around here, while Augustus is not.

Give three examples of how Roman poets appropriated Greek myth for Roman purposes.

1 - Plautus- writes the play Amphitryon which depicts the hilarious misunderstandings which ensue when Jupiter (Zeus) disguises himself as Amphitryon in order to bed his wife Alcmena (Alkmene), as well as Mercury disguising himself as Amphitryon's servant 2 - Another example is Virgil's Aeneid, which takes strong inspiration from the Iliad and the Odyssey. 3 - Lastly, Ovid's Metamorphoses, uses Greek myth to study transformation, and was adjusted and adhered to Roman culture.

What is the historical symbolism behind Wonder Woman's use of the 'Lasso of Truth'?

A lot of people claim the lie detector inspired it but this was actually proven false. It was actually inspired by feminine charm. From the wikipedia page: "But the lie detector had nothing to do with Marston's creation of the Magic Lasso. Wonder Woman's Magic Lasso or Golden Lasso was the direct result of their research into emotions and was more about submission than truth.[4][7] So Marston created the Magic Lasso as an allegory for feminine charm and the compliant effect it has on people." From the Lepore assigned reading: "Marston is often credited with inventing the lie-detector test, which is why Wonder Woman carries a magic lasso that makes anyone she ropes tell the truth."

Based on your reading of Star Myths on theoi.com, how are the constellations of Canis Major, Lepus, and Taurus related to the nature of Orion in Greek myth?

According to Greek myth, Orion is a hunter, and Canis Major is said to be Orion's dog that acts as his hunting companion. Lepus is a hare that Orion and his dog perpetually hunt, and this is evident in the constellations as both Orion and Canis Major seem to be in pursuit of Lepus. Orion faces the constellation Taurus, and the tie to Greek myth is that Orion chases seven Pleiades (nymphs that are associated with spring rains).

How does Virgil show Aeneas' pietas during the fall of Troy in Book 2 of the Aeneid?

Aeneas flees Troy with a group of people called the Aeneads, who are a group of people who would later become the people who form Rome. In essence, Aeneas is carrying out the most important Roman family.

In the Aeneid, how is Aeneas' heroism different from Odysseus? Achilles?

Aeneas, and Roman culture in general, prefers community and what is for the greater good than Odysseus and Achilles (and typically greek culture in general), which is more centered around individualism and personal accolades.

Based on your readings of Eratosthenes' Constellation Myths, how does Orion's mythology explain Orion and Scorpio's relationship in the heavens?

As Orion begins to set in the east, Scorpio rises in the west, which displays Scorpio chasing after Orion; furthermore, this explains Orion's decent into the underworld during the spring. The myth states that Gaia sent a scorpion to kill Orion after he threatened/bragged that he could kill all the creatures on the earth; the Scorpion chasing after Orion to kill him is apparent in the heavens.

Based on lecture and Buxton, give three examples of how the Trojan war is pivotal to medieval Europeans understanding of history?

Buxton provides numerous examples as to how the Trojan war was pivotal to many aspects of medieval European history, including the tale of Brutus of Troy, who was believed to be to grandson of Aeneas and the predecessor of the British people, the Brutus Stone, which, similar to how to statue of Athena was thought to prevent the fall of Troy, was thought to protect London from falling, and the myth that Priam and Helen fled Troy and eventually went on the establish the modern city of Paris (named after his son)

Based on your reading in Buxton, give three examples of how the Troy in the Iliad may be linked to the archaeological site of Hisarlik.

Buxton provides numerous examples of how Troy in the Iliad may be linked to the site of Hisarlik, including the similarities between names associated with both Trojan and Hisarlik royalty, the shared existence of large walls surrounding both Troy (as described in the Iliad) and at the site of Hisarlik, and existence of large plains around Hisarlik being linked to the fact that the Trojan were known to tame wild horses, who are known to reside in the plains.

Based on your readings in Trzaskoma, give three examples of how Herodotus and Thucydides attempted to rationalize the Iliad to make it 'historical'.

Examples of Herodotus and Thucydides attempting to rationalize the Iliad to make it 'historical' include Herodotus' assertion that is logical to assume Homer would have embellished many parts of the war for the sake of poetic expression, Thucydides attempt to contextualize the Trojan and Peloponnesian wars, thus giving the Trojan War a more historical interpretation, and Herodotus' claim that Alexander being blown off course contributed significantly to the overall outcome of the war, for it was his unexpected change in course that ultimately cursed the Trojan to lose the war.

Based on your reading in Buxton, give three examples of the symbolic landscape of Troy in the Iliad.

Examples of the symbolic landscape of Troy in the Iliad include the large walls that surrounded the city, the Skaian Gates from which the Trojan elders observed the battlefields, and the vast amount of plains that are inferred to have existed outside of the city walls.

Give two reasons why Rome was pivotal to the preservation of Greek myth for western civilization.

Greeks were turning from the gods of ancient Greek myth because Christianity was spreading and they were beginning to convert to monotheism. Romans incorporated Greek myths into the Christian chronology Greek myth being told in the Greek language created a language barrier to the rest of the world. But with Romans putting myth into Latin, the myths were available to the rest of the world The conquer done by the roman empire helped to spread myth

How did Ovid invent the myth of Echo and Narcissus?

He takes two different Greek myths and combines them into one - also adds dialogue; all about irony and eros

How does Virgil use the invocation to indicate this is a Roman epic?

He validates Rome in the invocation, therefore indicating that the Epic is Roman

Based on your reading in Buxton, give three examples of the shifting perspectives of the Trojan War.

Homer's Iliad did not try to paint the Trojans or Greeks with black or white hats, rather Homer displayed the atrocities of war; according to Buxton, they even shared the same language and gods. -Herodotus viewed the Trojan War as a battle between Greek in the West and non-Greeks in the East. -Historians, such as Herodotus and Thucydides, favored the Trojan War as representing another war rather than being a war in itself.

What is one argument for reading Ovid without trigger warnings or opt-out options?

If Ovid is introduced with trigger warnings or opt-out options, then Ovid's mastery of the language and poetic genius will be missed by the students, and his work has stood the test of time as an influential work that warrants study.

In what ways is Death's role in Black Orpheus different than in Greek myth?

In Black Orpheus, Death is embodied by a person and follows Eurydice around; furthermore, there are several moments when Death gives Eurydice the chance to live, and it is ultimately Orpheus's decision to turn on the railcar's electricity that kills Eurydice. In Greek myth, Eurydice is killed by a viper; however, in both stories, the motif of Death eventually coming, in this case to break a bond, is present.

How does eros function in Ovid's vs. Parthenius' love stories?

In Ovid's love stories, eros is represented by cupid, a god capable of manipulating mortals and immortals with arrows that can strike an individual with love or hate. In Parthenius' love stories, eros portrays lust as a curse or pestilence; for example, Apollo transforms Daphne into a laurel branch to possess her, resulting in her unfortunate fate to fuel Apollo's craving. Actually Zeus, Daphne's father, transforms Daphne into the laurel to protect her from Apollo's advances

How does Aeneas defeat of Turnus relate to Marc Antony and Caesar Augustus?

Marc Antony is representative of Turnus who is seen as a traitor and Caesar Augustus is seen as Aeneas; the defeat of Turnus mirrors Caesar's defeat of Marc Antony.

Give an example of how Roman equivalences to Greek divinities reveal a Roman emphasis.

Mars was much more important than Ares. They were both associated with exploitation during war and colonization. Mars was also responsible for trade and growth. Mars signified protection of the crops, and exhibits a combination of qualities demonstrated by Apollo and Ares Minerva resembles wisdom in medicine and art more so than the image of a warrior

What does the Guardian's account of Marston suggest was the reason for the theme of breaking bondages in Wonder Woman comic books?

Marston had bondage fantasies. He believed that women loved to be bound and believed that the feminine movement was about women's struggle to break free of these metaphorical bonds

How does Mira threaten Orfeu?

Mira threatens Orfeu by saying that she will kill Eurydice if she sees him with her again.

What is the relationship between the myth of Orion and Oinopion and the seasons?

Oinopion, whose name means wine drinker, sought refuge in an underground bronze chamber to hide himself from Orion; Oinopion refused the marriage between Merope, his daughter, and Orion, and later blinded Orion. This myth is connected to the constellations because Orion is visible in the spring; in the story, Orion could not find Oinopion, who symbolizes wine, because wine grapes are harvested in the fall, so Oinopion is underground (dormant) while Orion looks in the spring.

How does Orfeu's ability with song and guitar effect his surroundings?

Orfeu's ability with song and guitar displays his arete like Orpheus in Greek myth; Orfeu is able to make the sun rise and is able to calm the animals.

What is the relationship between the Orion and Cartographers?

Orion is related to cartographers because constellations were used for navigation; therefore, when cartographers drew their maps (Gerardus Mercator's Atlas), they represented Atlas (a supposed African cartographer known as 'King Atlas') as carrying the heavens (depicted as globe) with the constellations drawn. The image of atlas transformed from Atlas simply carrying the heavens, which is Greek, to Atlas carrying the stars (which is infused myth and science), to finally Atlas carrying the world.

Give two examples of how Orion is related to medical astrology in medieval and renaissance Europe.

Orion is related to medical astrology because constellations influenced the Zodiac Man and Temperaments. The Zodiac Man assigned astrological constellations to different parts of the body; therefore, depending on the month of birth, the physician will tailor their treatment to a certain part of the body. The Temperaments revealed the personality of a person depending on the zodiac you were born in; such as choleric, sanguine, melancholic, or phlegmatic.

Give two examples of how Orion is related to the creation/development of the calendar.

Orion is related to the creation/ development of the calendar because the heavens, which includes the planets and constellations, dictate time. The days of the week represent Greek gods. The constellations not only represent each month, and have Greek names, but they helped shape calendars by representing the winter/summer solstice and vernal/autumn equinox; i.e. the Gregorian calendar which uses Orion's descent as a marker for the coming of spring.

How does Mira represent the role of Maenads in the death of Orpheus in Greek mythology?

Orpheus, in Greek myth, rejected women after Eurydice died; therefore, the Maenads killed him in a fit of ecstasy, as per Bacchic custom. In Black Orpheus, Orfeu rejects Mira, so Mira, in a fit of rage, hurls a rock at Orpheus which results in his death.

What are three ways Ovid has been viewed and his rape stories have been interpreted by modern audiences?

Ovid has been viewed as a misogynist because of his viewpoint that men are victims of women's beauty; this is evident in the myth of Daphne and Apollo and Procne, Philomela, and Tereus, where Apollo and Tereus both pursue a woman because of their inability to fight their beauty. The misogynist point is also evident in his romanticism of violence, like the detail in the severing of Philomela's tongue, which slyly underscores the importance of silence in women. He has also been viewed as a proto-feminist because it is theorized that he adopted the persona of a misogynist to highlight the brutality of the injustices brought against women. This viewpoint is best highlighted by Procne's decision to kill her own son on behalf of her sister; Procne sees the silence and pain in Philomela and decides to help deal justice. Ovid has also been viewed as a silenced artist, because all the instances of silencing in the stories, Philomela's tongue being severed, Pygmalion's bride being a statue, and Daphne being chased until she is powerless, all symbolize Ovid's exile from Rome, and he used rape to convey the pain he felt.

How is Ovid's cosmogony different than Hesiod's?

Ovid's cosmogony is a unilateral creation where one god, a creator, created everything and started with the elements. It's a philosophical way of creation while Hesiod's cosmogony is the creation of the universe through sexual reproduction of different gods.

What are the differences between Parthenius' account of 'Daphne' (p. 342 in Trzaskoma) and Ovid's 'Daphne and Phoebus (Apollo)'?

Parthenius- Leucippos falls in love with Daphne, who is a nymph who does not wanna get married and runs with Artemis. Leucippos has a pathological eros for her, so he goes so far as to dress as a woman to hunt with her. Apollo also falls in love with Daphne, so he tells them all to go take a bath. Leucippos doesn't wanna undress, so they rip it off him and once they see he is male, the throw hella spears at him. Apollo thinks this leaves him alone to claim Daphne, but she doesn't want him. So she asks her father, Peneus, to change her form so she doesn't have to love him, and is turned into a laurel tree. Ovid- Cupid is sitting around with his bow, and is told by Apollo that the bow is a man's tool, not a boy's tool. So, this pisses off Cupid. Cupid has two types of arrows, one that makes you hate someone, and one that makes you love someone. Cupid shoots Apollo with the love arrow, and Daphne the hate arrow. Apollo is chasing Daphne through a forest with the intent on raping her, until she got super exhausted and called upon her father, the river god Peneus, to save her. She asks to be transformed from her attractive state, so Peneus grants this request and turns her into a laurel tree

Give three examples of female characters in Ovid's Metamorphoses who are literally silenced.

Philomela is silenced by Tereus so that she is not allowed to speak of her rape: her tongue is cut out. Pygmalion's bride is silenced in Ovid's metamorphoses because she is a statue; furthermore, Pygmalion wishes for a bride like the statue so that she cannot speak and susceptible to his whims. Daphne was transformed into a Laurel tree by her father and was then taken by Apollo to wear (symbolic marriage/dominance): this act of capture, which conforms to the classic interpretation of rape, was done without her consent.

Give two examples of how female characters in Ovid's Metamorphoses try to stand up for themselves.

Philomela tries to stand up for herself by writing to her sister, in tapestry, about her rape involving Tereus, Procne's husband. Daphne tries to stand up for herself by running away from Apollo; although she does not physically stand toe to toe with Apollo, her act of defiance is her best "no" that she was able to transmit to Apollo because of his persistence (attempted rape).

How has Virgil used the Odyssey and the Iliad in his structuring of the Aeneid?

References the Iliad through the battle that the Trojans have against the Italian group led by Turnus (the Achilles figure) and by representing the Trojan side of the Trojan war with Trojans as honorable and Greeks deceitful. He references the Odyssey by using Dido to be the character of the Phaeacians since she becomes Aeneas's lover and he struggles to leave her in order to fulfill his quest and duty of starting the new city- making the events of the Odyssey more about goals after war than about a nostos

What do the stories of Romulus and Remus reveal about Rome's interaction with Greek myth?

Romulus and Remus were descendants of Aeneas, a hero who escaped the Trojan War. They were twins of a Vestia Virgin and Mars, and they founded Rome. They connect Rome to Troy through Greek Mythology.

Give three examples of how the Wonder Woman reflects elements of the Amazons in Diodorus of Sicily's account.

She is from Themyscira, which is the same name of the city which the Amazons described in Diodorus of Sicily are from Wonder Woman wears minimal clothing as do the Amazons Wonder Woman is strong and a great fighter as are the Amazons

What are some basic concepts associated with Greek tales of metamorphosis?

Some basic concepts associated with Greek tales of metamorphoses are eros, metamorphoses, and mortals and immortals. Eros is represented as lust in metamorphoses; however, there is an irony as well, because the lust drives mortals to commit acts that result in their transgression from humans to simpler aspects of nature, which is opposite of the universe's understood evolution. There is a divide between shapeshifting in mortals and immortals: mortals are changed by the gods while gods shapeshift on their own accord, perhaps displaying the power of the gods.

What literary trope is evident in Ovid's myth of Pyramus and Thisbe?

Star-crossed lovers

How does the clerk's comments about Orfeu's name foreshadow what will happen to Orfeu?

The clerk's comments about Orfeu's name foreshadow his falling in love with another woman that is not Mira, but Eurydice, which symbolizes the timeless bond between Orpheus and Eurydice in Greek mythology.

How do Eurydice's comments about Orfeu's song speak to the concept of fate?

The fact that Eurydice has heard Orfeu's song before, and that she has never met him before, means that she recognizes something old; therefore, they share an old bond that is fated. This is indicative of Orphism because they are both reincarnated, therefore, they recognize each other from a past life.

Give three ways in which this seen pays homage to the Orpheus' descent to the underworld in Greek myth?

The janitor, who takes Orfeu to the missing people department, can be seen as Chiron from Greek myth; the Janitor's broom is the oar and the papers represent the souls of the underworld. When they get to the gate of Hades, they must go past a dog by the name of Cerberus. When they reach the religious ceremony, Orfeu must sing to hear Eurydice; this represents Orpheus in myth singing his way through the underworld to persuade Hades and Persephone with his song to get Eurydice back.

Give an example of the impact of Christianity on Greek myth.

The story of Pandora and Agalaurus represents Getting rid of envy and jealousy by putting them in a box, thus reflecting Christian ideals

What is one argument for introducing trigger warnings or opt-out options for students reading Ovid?

Trigger warnings or opt-out options for students reading Ovid were introduced to allow victims of rape, which could be sexual misconduct, assault, or violence, the freedom of escaping the possibility of becoming re-traumatized.

How does Virgil work Caesar Augustus and contemporary Rome into his account of Aeneas meeting his Anchises' shade in the underworld?

Virgil plugs in Augustus Caesar by saying that he will bring a golden age to Rome and that Rome will span as far east and west as possible.

Based on lecture and Buxton, give three examples of how the Trojan war is pivotal to Roman understanding of history?

Virgil's Aeneid ties the founding of Rome to the Trojan War and dictates the rise of the empire and Augustus Caesar as fate; other poets, like Ovid, also used the Trojan War to provide social commentary about Rome's volatile ideals. Alexander the Great believed he was equal to Achilles as a leader; furthermore, Alexander made sacrifices to the gods on both sides of the war, Athena, and Priam to make amends with any injustices brought to them during the Trojan War. Romulus claimed to be a descendant of Aeneas.

Give three examples of how the origin of the Wonder Woman's Amazonian origins differ from Diodorus of Sicily's history of the Amazons.

Wonder Woman's enemy is Ares while the Amazons worship Ares Wonder Woman's Amazonian tribe present paradise and peace, while the Amazons of Diodorus of Sicily are warlike and kill men out of hate Amazons described in Diodorus of Sicily cut off one breast so it doesn't get in the way of fighting, while Wonder Woman retains both breasts

How are the ancient images of Amazons different from the images of Wonder Woman?

Wonder Woman's outfit is based on American Patriotism, with colors/patterns of the American flag. Amazonians would have worn something closer to Greek battle armor.

How does the last seen with Zeca, Benedito, and the little girl speak to concepts associated with Orphism?

Zeca plays the guitar which makes the sun rise, and as he plays, a girl wanders by singing and hands Zeca a flower; to this, Benedito says that Zeca is the new Orfeu. Zeca is the new Orfeu (Orpheus) because he makes the sun rise and the girl is Eurydice; this explains Eurydice's comment earlier in the movie that she has heard Orfeu's song before, because she was once the little girl, just as Orfeu was once Zeca. This is suggestive of Orphism because it displays a reincarnation cycle, and since the movie takes place within the context of a carnival, which means to say goodbye to the flesh when applied to Christian lent, it is obvious that Eurydice and Orfeu are trying to escape to a better afterlife throughout the movie. This will scenario will eventually play out again later, with hopes of finally breaking the cycle.

Give an example of the impact of Greco-Roman philosophy on Greek myth.

Zeus is made to represent ether (Earth) and Hera represents air to show that their characters and stories are demonstrating the flow of the universe

Give three ways in which Wonder Woman speaks to the feminist movement and women's suffrage.

combat the idea that women are inferior to men, and to inspire girls to self-confidence and achievement in athletics, occupations and professions monopolised by men In the nineteenth century, suffragists, following the work of anthropologists, believed that something like the Amazons of Greek myth had once existed, a matriarchy that predated the rise of patriarchy. Women's moral superiority is represented by the Lasso of Truth