There’s a bear in the sky! Discussion Prompts What’s the deal with 50 sons? Why are they always so ill-behaved? Do you think things would be different if there were only 49 of them? What do you think is the “real” story about Callisto? Which version of Callisto’s death do you prefer? Why?
Category Archives: The Greeks
Greek Myth XLVI: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter V – Dionysus, Antiope, Amphion & Zethus, Oedipus, or Dionysus’s Bite Is Worse Than His Bark
So much territory to cover… Discussion Prompts Is Dionysus an earth goddess? Why or why not? Niobe and Grief. Discuss. How difficult is the riddle of the sphinx? Does she already know the answer? Or is she trying to figure it out herself? Retell the whole Oedipus story from Jocasta’s point of view. Why doContinue reading “Greek Myth XLVI: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter V – Dionysus, Antiope, Amphion & Zethus, Oedipus, or Dionysus’s Bite Is Worse Than His Bark”
Greek Myth XLV: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter IV – Cadmus, Semele, Actaeon, or Meet Dionysus’s Grandpa
Meet Dionysus’s family. Okay, this episode also made me think of this statue of Hermes and baby Dionysus. Discussion Prompts Semele, Zeus, and Hera. Discuss. Why do you think Athena tells Cadmus to sow the dragon’s teeth? How do you think Harmonia feels about being married to Cadmus? Which reason for Actaeon’s death sounds rightContinue reading “Greek Myth XLV: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter IV – Cadmus, Semele, Actaeon, or Meet Dionysus’s Grandpa”
Greek Myth XLIII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter II – Catreus, or Agamemnon’s Dad is Who Again?
Catreus has some kids, and they also have some kids, and that’s the story in today’s episode. Discussion Prompts How fast of a runner is Apemosyne? Tell her story from her point of view. What do you think would have happened if Catreus hadn’t hid the oracles? Or hadn’t gone to the oracle at all?Continue reading “Greek Myth XLIII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter II – Catreus, or Agamemnon’s Dad is Who Again?”
Greek Myth XLII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter I – Europa, Minos, Pasiphae, or A Lot of Bulls
First there’s the Zeus bull. Then there’s the Poseidon bull. Then there’s the Man-Bull… I couldn’t find a free image I could easily drop into this post about Minoan bull-leaping, so instead I recommend this excellent article about the practice. Discussion Prompts Why bulls? AP Credit: Discuss these myths in relation to what we knowContinue reading “Greek Myth XLII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter I – Europa, Minos, Pasiphae, or A Lot of Bulls”
Greek Myth XLI: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter VIII – The Heraclids, or What We Talk About When We Talk About Heracles
Heracles’s sons and grandsons carry on the line in today’s episode. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Plagues and Politics. Discuss. What do you think about the animals on the altars? Do you agree with the ancient interpretations of what each animal means? Why or why not? Alcmene uses her weaving pins as weapons. What do youContinue reading “Greek Myth XLI: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter VIII – The Heraclids, or What We Talk About When We Talk About Heracles”
Greek Myth XXXV: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter VII – Heracleidae, or Heracles Seeks Revenge
Heracles kills some more people and finally gets his comeuppance. Sort of. Discussion Prompts Does everyone deserve what they get in this chapter? Retell this from the perspective of Deianira. Or Iole. Or any of the other women Heracles, shall we say, beds. What do you think is the meaning behind the trope of buildingContinue reading “Greek Myth XXXV: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter VII – Heracleidae, or Heracles Seeks Revenge”
Greek Myth XL: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter VI – Wars of Heracles, or Why is Heracles Revered?
Heracles kills some more people and has to atone for it. Again. Discussion Prompts Tell Queen Iardanes’s story. Heracles’s “dire disease” is not described. What do you think it is? Why? Is the country of Lydia a matriarchy? Why or why not? Why do you think Iphitus believes in Heracles’s innocence over the cattle afterContinue reading “Greek Myth XL: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter VI – Wars of Heracles, or Why is Heracles Revered?”
Greek Myth XXXIX: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter V – Twelve Labors of Heracles, or There Should Have Been Ten
Heracles makes himself famous in today’s episode. Discussion Prompts Discuss how Hera fits into this story. Which is your favorite labor? Why? Pick one of the shorter labors and retell it. Is Heracles a serial killer? Why or why not? Why does Hera stir up trouble amongst the Amazons? Retell this chapter from the perspectiveContinue reading “Greek Myth XXXIX: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter V – Twelve Labors of Heracles, or There Should Have Been Ten”
Greek Myth XXXVIII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter IV – Perseus, Sons of Perseus, Amphitryon, Birth of Heracles, or But Wait, There’s More!
Perseus has some adventures and more than a few descendants in today’s episode. Discussion Prompts Which of the relationships in this chapter do you find to be the most (or least) problematic? Why? Why do you think Amphitryon kills Comaetho? Heracles real name is Alcides. Why do you think the Delphic priestess calls him HeraclesContinue reading “Greek Myth XXXVIII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book II, Chapter IV – Perseus, Sons of Perseus, Amphitryon, Birth of Heracles, or But Wait, There’s More!”
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