In this class we return to individual heroes, Bellerophon and Theseus. These narratives return us to a more traditional heroic narrative with important developments. Bellerophon in particular invites us to think about the “hero’s fall” while Theseus offers the model of hero as law-maker and civilizing force. Both heroes also ask us to reflect more on the engagement between heroes and women. Bellerophon goes into exile because of one woman (introducing the particularly misogynistic ‘Potiphar’s Wife’ motif) while Theseus, despite his ‘civilizing’ character appears to encounter only trouble with women through his stories, especially in the cases of Ariadne and Phaidra.
Ancient Authors Discussed
Homer, Archaic Age
Hesiod, Archaic Age
Pindar, Early Classical Period
Aeschylus, Classical Period
Euripides, Classical Period
Ovid, Roman Imperial Period
Apollodorus, Roman Imperial Period?
Plutarch, Roman Imperial Period
Pausanias, Roman Imperial Period
Some Suggested Course Texts
Hesiod, Theogony 319-325
Ovid, Heroides 10: Ariadne to Theseus
Links to Blogposts
Pausanias on the death of Theseus
Modern Authors Mentioned
Other Articles for Additional Reading
Nylah Burton. “Stop Using This Biblical Story to Discredit Survivors of Sexual Assault.” Alma
Claude Calame. “Creation of Gender and Heroic Identity between Legend and Cult: The Political Creation of Theseus by Bacchylides.”
Similar Myths
Potiphar’s Wife Motif: Genesis 39-40
Student Links
[ coming]
Images
Classical Mythology 