1.1 The Gods
Greece
Titans (p. 7)
For more information on the Titans, click here.
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (p. 7)
A BBC Radio 4's In Our Time episode on the place of the Odyssey in ancient and modern literature.
In Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the gods often intervene in the lives of men. Click here to see the role they play in the Iliad (Homer, Iliad 1) and click here for the same in the Odyssey (Homer, Odyssey 5).
Aphrodite (p. 10) was not always the most faithful of lovers. Although she was married to Hephaestus she took a liking to Ares (p. 11). Click here to read about the infidelity of Aphrodite as recorded in the Odyssey (Homer, Odyssey 8.265-320).
The Greeks saw Athena (p. 9) as the representation of wisdom in war; in contrast, Ares was considered the blind rage of war (p. 11). Click here to read about the nature of Ares as recorded in the Iliad (Homer, Iliad 5.846).
The Judgement of Paris (p. 8)
The judgment of Paris was part of a story that explained the causes of the Trojan War. For a variety of ancient writers' work on the myth click here.
Hesiod (p. 9)
The ancient writer Hesiod lived around the 8th century BC. He provides some of the earliest known writings on Greek beliefs in the gods. Click here to read about the birth of the gods (p. 9) (Hesiod, Theogony 885).
Homeric Hymns (p. 10-12)
In addition to learning about the relationship between humans and gods, the Homeric Hymn to Demeter also explains how and why the Eleusinian Mysteries were created (p. 10). This has been removed from the prescribed text as it falls outside the requirements for the specification. To read the whole poem click here (Homeric Hymn to Demeter).
Click here to explore the Homeric Hymns further (p. 12). The hymns can be chosen from the list on the left of the page.
The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite talks about the beauty of the goddess and explains how she fell in love with the Trojan Anchises and subsequently gave birth to Aeneas. Click here to read the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (Homeric Hymn 5, To Aphrodite) (p. 10).
Rome
Virgil's Aeneid (p. 15, 18)
A BBC Radio 4 In Our Time episode on what the Aeneid was, why it was composed and why it is so important to the understanding of Augustan Rome.
Virgil opens his epic, the Aeneid, with a brief outline of who Aeneas was and asks the muses why Juno hated him so much. Click here for the opening line of the epic (Virgil, Aeneid 1.1-49).
Like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, the gods in the Aeneid regularly interfere in the lives of men. Click here to explore the opening of the Aeneid further (Virgil, Aeneid 1).
Servius Tullius (p. 16)
Servius Tullius was the seventh king of Rome. Some believed that he was born into a slave family, however Livy seems to think otherwise. Click here for Livy’s account of Servius’ upbringing (Livy, A History of Rome 1.39).
Mars Ultor (p. 18)
In 2 BC, the forum of Augustus was inaugurated in Rome. The forum was started by Augustus possibly around 27 BC. Augustus attached his forum to the north of the original Roman forum, and the centrepiece of this forum was a temple to Mars Ultor (the Avenger). Click here for a description of Augustus’ forum.
Religion in Rome
Personal and state religion were two key parts of Roman belief in the gods. While each individual may have had a sacrifice or prayer in their own home, the state also ensured that they, through the priests, correctly worshipped the gods. Click here for a short film made by the makers of HBO's Rome on personal and state religion in Rome.
Comparing Greece and Rome
Mythology
What did mythology mean to the Greeks and Romans? Did they believe their myths? What was the purpose of mythology? Click here for a discussion of these things from an episode of BBC Radio 4 In Our Time.
Epic
The epic is one of the literary genres that gods and heroes make frequent appearances in. Click here for a discussion of the role of the epic in defining the civilisations that wrote them from an episode of BBC Radio 4 In Our Time. Topics include the Iliad, Odyssey and Aeneid.
