1.4 Foundation Stories - Revision

• Ancient History
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

1.4 Foundation Stories - Revision

What MUST you remember to do when answering 8-markers?

What MUST you remember to do when answering Section C questions?

What MUST you remember to do when writing 15-markers in Myth & Religion?

Describe the contest that took place between Athena and Poseidon for the naming of Athens.

Cecrops judged with Zeus - Poseidon gave salt water spring, Athena gave olive tree - Athena was chosen as the olive tree was more useful

Explain why the myth of Athena and Poseidon's contest was important to the Athenians.

• Allowed Athens to show they had support of the gods
• Olives central to way of life - food and oil

Describe the events surrounding the birth of Theseus.

• Aegeus had been to Delphi to ask how to get an heir
• King Pittheus of Troezen interpreted the oracle as next time Aegeus had sex, he would conceive a son, so got him drunk to sleep with his daughter Aethra
• That night Aethra received a dream from Athena to wade to Sphairia - Poseidon emerged from the sea and coupled with her - Theseus had human and godly characteristics

Describe as many scenes as you can from the Theseus kylix in the British Museum.

• Sinis the pine-bender
• Crommyonian Sow
• Sciron
• King Cercyon
• Procrustes
• Bull of Marathon (/Medea)
• Minotaur in centre

Explain why Theseus was important to the Athenians.

• Brought about reforms as king of Attica - negotiated neighbouring towns' allegiance to Athens and established democracy
• Destroyed all town halls and council chambers and established new one in Athens
• Also initiated Panathenaic Games
• Allowed Athens to claim a founder who matched Heracles

Describe the events that led to Aeneas founding a new city in Italy.

• Fled Troy after Trojan War, bringing public Penates, father and son with him (wife died)
• Arrived in Italy and engaged in huge war with local tribe, before making peace with Latinus and founding new city, Lavinium
• He and Lavinia had son, Ascanius

Name and explain the significance of two kings between Aeneas and Romulus.

Tiberinus: drowned when crossing a river which became known as the Tiber

Aventinus: buried on a hill which later became part of Rome, called the Aventine

Describe the events that led to Romulus founding Rome.

• Amulius drove out Numitor and made his daughter, Rhea Silvia, a Vestal Virgin
• She was raped by Mars and birthed Romulus and Remus
• Amulius ordered them to be thrown into Tiber, but they survived and were raised by a she-wolf
• Later found and raised by shepherd, Faustulus
• Returned to Alba Longa, killed Amulius and returned Numitor to the throne
• Performed an augury to decide name: Remus saw six on Aventine first, Romulus saw twelve on Palatine second
• Remus jumped over Romulus' walls and was killed

Explain why Livy used Aeneas and Romulus' stories in his work.

• Moralising historian - thought Romans were becoming greedier and believed they could learn better behaviour by looking at examples from past
• Message of Romulus and Remus around dangers of kingly greed, while Aeneas was all about pietas.

Explain the dangers of using Livy as an historical source.

• See previous - he was moralising historian and more concerned about giving messages than historical accuracy
• Actually states how stories are more suited to poets than historians - he has no intention of establishing whether they are true or not

Describe the criteria on which Plutarch compared Theseus and Romulus.

• Greatness of their deeds
• Leadership
• Reasons for their misfortune
• Achievements
• Relationship to family
• Relationship to women and gods