Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion (Part IV)

(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part I)
(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part II)
(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part III)

Previously, I discussed how mythological tales were often reflective of the humans passing down the stories. In this post, I want to look at how the types of stories told could be indicative of the culture of the time.

There were many tales that depict the Dionysian frenzies that overtook maenads (female followers of Dionysus) and satyrs (half-human, half-goat followers) as they celebrated rites relating to Dionysus. The term ‘maenads’ literally means ‘the raving ones’ which is highly reflective of how they would celebrate through extreme intoxication and dancing, demonstrating that the Dionysian festivals and rites were more debauched than pious. Also, satyrs were known for their lustful, playful nature, reflective of the symposia that took place in Ancient Greece. A symposium was a dinner-party of sorts, where men gathered for intellectual discussion, philosophy, games and the like.  More often than not, despite it being the convivially gathering for men of status, it ended with too much drinking and partying. We have several sources that depict what occurs at symposia, Eubulus, a playwright, has Dionysus describe the drinking as such:

“For sensible men I prepare only three kraters: one for health (which they drink first), the second for love and pleasure, and the third for sleep. After the third one is drained, wise men go home. The fourth krater is not mine any more - it belongs to bad behaviour; the fifth is for shouting; the sixth is for rudeness and insults; the seventh is for fights; the eighth is for breaking the furniture; the ninth is for depression; the tenth is for madness and unconsciousness”

This fairly comical quote highlights how the importance of drinking to the event and how it was reflective of what happened at Dionysian rites. It could be said that Dionysus and his role as the god of wine encouraged the drinking and madness that accompanied the symposia and rituals. In this way, we see that the gods and myths around them reflect different aspects of culture; Dionysus and the ecstatic debauchery that is associated with him can also be found in these regular meetings.

Furthermore, the culture at the time was less bound to the morals that we are bound to today. It was common for a man of around thirty to take on an adolescent boy as a student and lover, known as pederasty (or paiderastia). Of course, to a modern audience this is unacceptable and unethical, yet in Ancient Greece, this was a common social practice. The purpose of this was to discipline the younger boy and for the older man to be a mentor to him in all aspects of life; yet it goes against many of our principles. Again, this also reflects in myths of the time, especially with Zeus and Ganymede. Zeus fell in love with Ganymede and kidnapped him to serve Zeus forever, as a cup-bearer. This highlights how common the practice was, as even gods participated in it and may playwrights chose it as subjects for their plays. Thus, it can clearly be seen that different aspects of culture and society were intertwined very closely with mythology.

(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part V-1)
(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part V-2)

(Greek Mythology: Culture and Religion Part V-3)