Lecture 2: Myths of Creation II

I. The Origins of Mortals

A. Prometheus

1. Maker of mortals: Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.76-86

2. Protector of mortals: Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 442ff.

• Myth of progress

3. Ally of Zeus: Prometheus Bound 199ff.

• Parallel to Metis

4. Prometheus as rebel

• Bad Family: Atlas, Menoitios, Epimetheus: Theogony 507-20
• Sacrifice at Mecone: Theogony 535-60
• Theft of Fire: Theogony 561-69

5. Punishment (Images: 1 2 3) and Reconciliation with Zeus: Theogony 521-34

B. Pandora

1. Origin of women: Theogony 570ff.; Works and Days 42-104

• Woman as source of evil (cf. Eve)

2. Women as Containers

C. Common themes

1. Deceptive gifts

D. Zagreus-Dionysus (The Orphic tradition)

II. Myths of Early Humans

A. Myths of Decline

1. Hesiod and the Five Races

• Primitivism

B. The Flood

1. Ovid, Metamorphoses 211ff.

• Lycaon
• Deucalion and Pyrrha (cf. Noah)
• Creation of new race: which one?