希臘羅馬神話：Creation Myth

1、Lecture 3: Greek Creation Myths Learning Objectives Learn Hesiods account of creation. Learn the important myths about the Titans. Learn the succession myths from Uranus to Cronus to Zeus. Biblical Accounts of Creation Chinese Creation Myth Comparison of Different Creation Myths 1.Creation of Univer

2、se in Greek Myth (from Hesiods Theogony) First principal(主角) for Hesiod is Chaos keis (混沌) = shapeless mass 沒有形狀的 一團(tuán)物質(zhì) Next out of Chaos are produced: Ge (Gaea) TartarusErosErebusNight Chaos t:t rs冥府，地獄冥府，地獄di: 蓋亞，大地女神蓋亞，大地女神 irs 愛神愛神 eribs 陰陽交界，陰陽交界， 黑暗界黑暗界 Creation of Universe (cont) Ge (Gaea, Gai

3、a) “Earth” then produces from herself without a mate: Uranus (Sky)MountainsPontus (Sea) Ge (Earth) ju:r ns pnts Uranus, 天王星 Creation of Universe in Greek Myth Erebus, the gloomy darkness, and Night, the last 2 offspring from the original Chaos, then mate: DayAether Erebus m. Night i: The Upper Atmos

4、phere Creation of Universe (cont) Gaea (Gaia) “Earth”, the first offspring of Chaos, then mates with her son, Uranus, the “Sky”: “sacred marriage” : union of mother-earth goddess and sky-god 12 Titans3 Cyclopes3 Hecatonchires (100-Handers) Ge m. Uranus ju:r ns taitn Titanic- 巨大的 saiklupi: z 獨(dú)眼巨人 hek

5、tnk airi:z 百手三巨人泰坦神 hect- 一百 Creation of Universe (cont) 12 Titans are: Oceanus sins 海洋 之神 Cronus krns 克羅諾斯 Hyperion haipirin 許珀里 翁 Iapetus. aipits 伊阿珀托 斯 Phoebe fi:bi 菲比 Rhea ri: 雷亞 Themis i:mis 西彌斯 Mnemosyne摩涅莫辛涅 ni:msni: 記憶 女神 Tethys ti:is 特提斯 Crius God of Growth CoeusGod of Intelligence Theia ai

6、 忒伊亞 Creation of Universe (cont) The offspring of 8 of the Titans/Titanesses 1st, brother some however depict him as having a human head and the dragon heads being attached to his hands instead of fingers. He was feared even by the mighty gods. His bottom half was gigantic巨大的 viper 毒蛇 coils that cou

7、ld reach the top of his head when stretched out and made a hissing noise. His whole body was covered in wings, and fire flashed from his eyes. Defeated by Zeus with his lightning bolts and trapped underneath Mount Etna. Battle with Typhoeus taifuju:s /Typhons(堤豐堤豐 ) 2. Threat of a son to succeed Zeu

8、s Hesiod: Metis mi:tis (when pregnant swallowed by Zeus to prevent 2nd pregnancy Athena born from Zeus head) Pindar(品達(dá)): Thetis (pursued by Poseidon married to mortal Peleus pelis珀琉斯, father of Achilles) Aeschylus eskls: Prometheus uses his knowledge of future fatal marriage for Zeus to secure his r

9、elease (Thetis?) The Succession Myth c.Zeus withstands threats against his sovereignty 3. Sons of Iapetus aipits Menoetius (blasted by Zeus thunderbolt and thrown into Tartarus) Atlas (holds up sky at western end of world) Atlas 棟梁之才，擔(dān) 負(fù)重任的人； 地圖集 The Succession Myth c. Zeus withstands threats to his

10、 sovereignty(王位) Sons of Iapetus (cont) Prometheus: favours humans tricks Zeus at sacrifices; man punished by creation of woman gives fire to humans; punished by being bound at NE boundary of earth on Mt. Caucasus k:kss (高加索山) predicts Zeus fall by fatal marriage; punished by eagle daily eating his

11、liver; reveals marriage bedecked her form with all manners of finery The Graces and queenly Persuasion, put necklaces of gold upon her Hours 時序女神，crowned her head with spring flowers Hermes, the Slayer of Argus, contrived within her lies and crafty words and a deceitful nature; put speech in her. Pa

12、ndora, “all-gifted” Creation of Humans (cont) Creation of woman Created as a punishment for Prometheus stealing fire from gods to give to humans Pandora created out of earth each race destroyed by gods Age of Gold Age of Silver Age of Bronze (Age of Heroes): Hesiod Age of Iron (present age for Hesio

13、d) Age of Gold Lived like gods Made merry with feasting, no evils No need to work Dwelt in ease and peace Became pure spirits after death During the reign of Cronus Age of Silver Unlike the golden race A long childhood Simple-minded, foolish lived short in their adulthood(成人期) Sinning and wronging e

14、ach other Showing no respect to the immortals Blessed spirits of the underworld after death Age of Bronze Sprung from ash trees Be fond of war and violence Strong and terrible Bronze were widely used by them The Gods were tired of their evil doings and continual dissensions(紛爭), so they were sent do

15、wn to Hades without leaving a name. Therefore, Zeus sent a great flood to the earth to drown them, except Deucalion and Pyrrha. Lycon ln (萊卡翁) Age of Heroes Nobler and more righteous, a god-like race of hero-men, demi-gods Some destroyed in some great wars, like the Trojan war, war at Thebes Others

16、living at the ends of the earth, enjoying honor and glory Ruled by Cronus The Iron Age Men got their food after much toil and labour. Crime burst in like a flood No modesty, truth, honor, but fraud(欺騙), cunning, violence prevailed War often broke out an age of wickedness, strife, and disrespect for

17、the gods Aidos (Shame) itself and Nemesis nemsis (Goddess of vengeance) will abandon mortals to their evil folly and doom. Second Creation of Humans Deucalion (dj:keiljn丟卡利翁) and Pyrrha (pir 皮拉) Deucalion is son of Prometheus Pyrrha is daughter of Epimetheus Flood/Deluge pious couple Deucalion Pyrrh

18、a, women Map of Greece Biblical Accounts of Creation Genesis chapters 1-12: earth, a formless and desolate place darkness covered the face of the deep Order of creation: light (“l(fā)et there be light”), separating the light from the darkness, day/night-1 dome in midst of waters (sky), separating the wa

19、ter under it from the water above it-2 seas and earth, the water below the sky comes together and becomes seas, land appears earth puts forth vegetation-3 sun, moon, stars (“Let lights appear in the sky”) -4 sea monsters, birds (“Let the water be filled with many kinds of living beings, and let the

20、air be filled with birds”) -5 Animals on the earth, human beings (“Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life” “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us.”) -6 man (Adam) created from dust woman (Eve) created from Adams rib Garden of Eden, in the east Eve gives Adam

21、 forbidden fruit Adam The cold, turbid part - the earth Pan Gu supported the sky like a pillar while standing on the earth. When Pan Gu died, his body parts were transformed into elemental forces of nature. Breath -the wind and clouds Voice -the rolling thunder Eyes -sun & moon Body and limbs -five

22、big mountains Blood -the roaring water Veins -far-stretching roads Muscles -fertile land Hair and beard -stars Skin & the fine hairs -flowers & trees Marrow -jade and pearls Sweat -the rain & dew (露水) Tears -rivers Radiance of his eyes -thunder & lightning Fleas and lice on his body -ancestors of mankind Creation of Mankind by N Wa N Wa creates men from yellow clay, sculpting/shaping each one individually After