Class notes 10/12/2010

"when the head was considered so sacred that it might not even be touched without grave offence, it is obvious that the cutting of the hair must have been a delicate and difficult operation."

Lit 285 (second half of semester)

10/12/2010

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

*Europa-The rape of Europa, painting by Tritons?

-Her brother was Cadmus

-great grand daughter by Io

-is tricked by Jove as he turned into a bull. He tricked her onto his back and took her out to sea.

*to talk about one medium of art in compassion to another- Ekphrasis

Pershan story teller said “it was so, it was not so……”

Book 6

Born out of Zeus heard- Athena or Manurva also called Pallas

*story of Arachne (boastful human)

*a painting by Velazquez that depicts the story of Arachne and Minerva

*Minerva

-her father-Idmon

-her home-Hypaepa

-working her wool into a ball of yarn

Mento-a mythological name or poem

-Minerva disguised herself as an old woman and told Arachne not to boost to the other goddesses.  Arachne said to the old women (Minerva), let your goddess come tell me this in person.  She showed herself and they both have a weaving/painting contest. Minerva rep. herself as the gods. When she strikes the ground an olive tree grows.  Each corner of her painting has 1.Thracian Rhodape and Heamus, 2. Pygmaean queen, 3. Antigone, and 4.Cinyras.  Her painting is then bordered by wreath of olive branches.

*Didactic-means teaching you something or a lesson

Next Arachne weaves a painting of Europa and the bull. Also story of Asterie. And Jove and Antiope. She added Neptune and story of Phoebus, Bacchus, and then fills it with flowers interlaced with ivy.  Her painting depicted how deceitful the gods are.   Minerva tore Arachne’s painting to pieces. She tried to hang Arachne but felt sorry for her and then cured her and turned her into a spider.

-Perfidy-deceitfulness or not forthcoming

Class member-Corrine’s parents-Kristen and Tom

Book to get- The marriage of Cadmus and Harmonia

*story of Europa and Arachne

-Europa was playing on the beach with a gold basket.  Painted on the side of the basket was a strand heifer in the sea with hand of Zeus reaching out.  It showed her grandmother, Io, as the heifer.