...To make it short, consider this statement from Luigi Prada’s “Dreams, Bilingualism, and Oneiromancy in Ptolemaic Egypt”: “Ancient Greeks believed in healing through dreaming, were a deity or a symbol always appeared and evoked a cure for the illness. Additionally, humans hoped that gods could answer wisely their inner dilemmas, and could help them discern more vividly and clearly the content of their incubation”. Another way to grasp how important the oneiric world was during the Ancient Greece era is found in literature. It is remarkable that in the vast majority of Greek stories there is always a role for dreams that either predict the future or deceive the mortals, who are often tricked by the gods. We can find examples of this in Homer’s Iliad,...
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...Name] [Tutor’s Name] [Class] 03 August 2010 Power Structures in Greco-Roman Mythology: The Power and the Powerless of Women Introduction Greco-Roman mythology is rich in names, characters, and events. Dozens of gods, goddesses, and mortal women and men participate in a variety of activities that reflect or exemplify behaviors and power relations in Greek and Roman societies. A wealth of literature was written about the relationships between mortals and immortals in Greco-Roman mythology. Much was written and said about the place humans occupy in the complex mythical hierarchies. However, the role and place of women remain the topic of the hot literary debate. In Greco-Roman mythology, the image of woman is always accompanied by the image of slave. Slavery connotations reflect the basic norms of patriarchy that dominated Greek and Roman societies. Like slaves, women were often excluded from the public life and were destined to carry the burden of male discrimination on their shoulders. It would be fair to say, that in Greco-Roman mythology, women (both mortal and immortal) reflect and exemplify the two radical sides of femininity – female subordination and submissiveness to male power, and female rage and monstrousness as a rebel against the existing power and social order in their society. Greco-Roman mythology is an excellent source of knowledge about power relations between men and women. Greek and Roman myths provide abundant information about the place women occupied...
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...Three Motivations of a Evil Three Motivations of a Evil Abstract : In this paper , the author tries to comment a famous story in Greek mythology. Firstly introducing the beginning's summarization , then giving my understanding of the reasons of the character's motivation . Key words : Desire , Revenge ,Love I have chosen several topics as my topic.Finally I decided to show my humble opinions to talk something about a story from Greek mythology---The Descendant of Tantalus (.(古：2011:356-379) This story began from Agamemnon , who just came back from Trojan War honorably .Then from the following story we learned how their family members cruelly injure or kill their brothers fathers ,or even husbands. The feuds in his big family were deeply seated ,from generations to generations , without an end .What shocks me most is that Agamemnon's wife-Clytaemnestra hated her own son even hoped him to be dead .What causes this ? What causes this family's tragedy？ 1，Desire People’s burning desire makes them addlebrained ,so that they do many things immoral. Like who I just refer to , as a mother , at least I think she should care her children .But she acted like that her two little girls were not her real daughter. When she heard the news of her son's death , except the sorrow , she may feel happy for this information ,because she knew that so long as Orestes died , she has no need to be scared with Orestes any more. It's the desire of controlling country causes her comes...
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...The play Agamemnon by Aeschylus is a play written 2500 years ago in Greece, known for being one of the most tragic Greek plays of its time. It bases its background on Greek mythology with their gods. The play itself is named after one of the main characters, Agamemnon, king of Argos. There are two other main characters, Clytemnestra, queen of Argos and Cassandra, priestess of Troy and Agamemnon’s mistress. Agamemnon, king of Argos cares for his gods. He sacrificed what he could for them to be on his side. Ordered his own daughter’s death for the purpose of having a god by their side as they went to the ten year war against the Trojan’s. After the war, he was greeted with the finest purple carpet for him to walk on once he left his chariot, which he only walked on after a brief discussion with Clytemnestra and Cassandra. The purple carpet was believed to be a luxury for the gods and he was afraid to disrespect them. “And stepping thus upon the sea’s rich dye, I pray, Let none among the gods look down With jealous eye on me” (lines 1096-1098). He devoted all of his time and work to his gods and people. Cassandra, Trojan’s priestess is Agamemnon’s war prize, he brought her back with him after defeating Troy. Apollo (former lover) gave her the gift of prophecy but cursed her by making all around her disbelieve her predictions after she refused to bear him a child. Her last predictions were about Agamemnon and her own death, killed by Clytemnestra. “Lo, how the woman-thing...
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...The Dominance of Fate Fate was of great concern to the Greeks, and its workings resonate through many of their myths and texts. We see countless characters who go to great lengths in attempts to alter fate, even if they know such an aim to be futile. The inability of any mortal or immortal to change prescribed outcomes stems from the three Fates: sisters Clotho, who spins the thread of life; Lachesis, who assigns each person’s destiny; and Atropos, who carries the scissors to snip the thread of life at its end. These three divinities pervade all the stories of Greek myth, whether they be stories of gods, goddesses, demigods, heroes, or mortals and regardless of the exploits recounted. Nothing can be done to alter or prolong the destiny of one’s life, regardless of the number of preparations or precautions taken. This inflexibility applies just as much to Zeus as to the lowliest mortal, as we see in Zeus’s hounding of Prometheus to divulge the name of the woman who will bear the offspring that one day will kill him. Though this lesson is somewhat consoling—the way of the world cannot be bent to match the whims of those in authority—it is also very disturbing. The prospect of free will seems rather remote, and even acts of great valor and bravery seem completely useless. The myths provide an interesting counterpoint to this uselessness, however. In virtually all the stories in which a character does everything in his power to block a negative fate, and yet falls prey to it,...
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...place where invaders could land which made defending Troy from the ramparts easy. Characters: Iris Daughter of Thaumas who helped both sides during the Trojan war equally. Helped Hector find war plans of the Greeks and helped Achilles enter a temple. Ithaca This is home to the mythological hero Odysseus and is located in the Ionian sea in Greece Laocoon In Greek and Roman mythology, he was a seer and priest of the god Apollo in the ancient city of Troy. He played a notable role in the last days of the Trojan War; he and his twin sons, Antiphas and Thymbraeus were killed by a giant sea serpent. Menelaus king of Sparta and husband of Helen, the woman who caused the Trojan War. Mycenae In Greek legend, Agamemnon, leader of the combined Greek forces, was king of this place during the Trojan War. Myrmidons They are very brave and skilled warriors commanded by Achilles Nestor He was an Argonaut, helped fight the centaurs, and participated in the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. He and his sons, Antilochus and Thrasymedes, fought on the side of the Achaeans in the Trojan War Odysseus He was one of the most influential Greek champions during the Trojan War. When Agamemnon, to test the morale of the Achaeans, announced his intentions to depart Troy, He restored order to the Greek camp. Palladium An image of Palla Athena that was sacred to Trojans. During the war it was stolen by Odysseus and Diomedes. It was said that Troy would not fall as long as the Palladium stayed within its walls...
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...primary Greek Mythology characters to be wordy for Dante’s vison of hell. The difficulty that xxxx would face is assigning Achilles to the right circle of hell, as he is suitable for most if not all. Although Achilles was dubbed a hero and his actions and motivations were acceptable for his time, by the time Dante wrote his works, many of the attributes possessed by Achilles, and ancient heroes alike were deemed sinful. Much of society view was influenced by the Church and by the time of Dante, the European social norms had also shifted, thus making ancient heroes sinners and hell worthy. In the first sentence Homer opens with “Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans” (128). Without going through the rest of Iliad, just based on this statement, Achilles would go to the fifth circle of the hell described by Dante, the circle off hell reserved for those that are charged with anger as a sin. As Vigil describes it to Dante, the residents of this circle are those overcame by anger and the sullen (Alighieri 622). Achilles was a skilled warrior, but many of his decisions were based...
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...place where invaders could land which made defending Troy from the ramparts easy. Characters: Iris Daughter of Thaumas who helped both sides during the Trojan war equally. Helped Hector find war plans of the Greeks and helped Achilles enter a temple. Ithaca This is home to the mythological hero Odysseus and is located in the Ionian sea in Greece Laocoon In Greek and Roman mythology, he was a seer and priest of the god Apollo in the ancient city of Troy. He played a notable role in the last days of the Trojan War; he and his twin sons, Antiphas and Thymbraeus were killed by a giant sea serpent. Menelaus king of Sparta and husband of Helen, the woman who caused the Trojan War. Mycenae In Greek legend, Agamemnon, leader of the combined Greek forces, was king of this place during the Trojan War. Myrmidons They are very brave and skilled warriors commanded by Achilles Nestor He was an Argonaut, helped fight the centaurs, and participated in the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. He and his sons, Antilochus and Thrasymedes, fought on the side of the Achaeans in the Trojan War Odysseus He was one of the most influential Greek champions during the Trojan War. When Agamemnon, to test the morale of the Achaeans, announced his intentions to depart Troy, He restored order to the Greek camp. Palladium An image of Palla Athena that was sacred to Trojans. During the war it was stolen by Odysseus and Diomedes. It was said that Troy would not fall as long as the Palladium stayed within its walls...
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...Schwetzingen Castle and Mythology: The Connection There is unmistakable beauty and history on the grounds of Schwetzingen Castle- and the history is primarily a mythological one. Numerous statues throughout the gardens depict primarily Greek gods and heroes, though scattered examples from other cultures are present. Their faces and poses tell the story of how they were perceived- at least by their creators- in terms of their value to the society of the time of their making. The original castle, built in 1350, gave away nothing of its future splendor; it was merely “a small moated castle”, one of many such edifices throughout Europe at the time. It took the genius of Palatine Prince Elector Carl Theodor (1724-1799) to truly lift Schwetzingen Castle to its stunning present form and bring the Baroque gardens to life- though the addition of two wings in 1697 are credited to Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm.() Four characters from Greek mythology found in Schwetzingen’s gardens are Zeus, Apollo, Athena (the temple is actually dedicated to her Roman counterpart Minerva), and the Sphinx. The statue of Zeus in the gardens at Schwetzingen wears a crown of leaves and is looking sideways and slightly downwards with a powerful gaze; it is a remarkably emotive statue, offering the possibility for many different interpretations of mood and purpose- even varying depending upon the angle at which it is viewed. He seems to be about to pass judgment or wreak havoc upon a mortal or fellow...
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...Introduction Ancient Greece was the birthplace of western civilization. It’s culture is the embodiment of the ideals which are pursued even today. The richness of Greek mythology inspired artists from the middle ages to modernity, with motives of myth occurring sporadically throughout history. Starting from the middle ages, when Christian and ancient traditions started to mix together, forming the basis of modern western culture, Greek myth has been in the centre of interest. It is intriguing to note that Roman mythology is not as potent as Greek in modern art. Ovid’s Metamorphoses was the most influential text in the Middle ages, and it served as inspiration to writers, painters, musicians and other artists. However, Christianity did not accept ancient myths in their true, religious meaning. Myths were used to paint symbols, allegories and allusions to contemporary issues, mainly religious. Mythical beings and heroes were fitted – in a sense, into a medieval Catholic frame (Von Hendy, 2). Homer’s Iliad is probably the most frequently read of all the Greek myths. It tells the story of Troy, and its fall to Greek armies led by king Agamemnon. The war began when Paris, a young Trojan prince took Helen, the wife of Menelaus and ran with her. This led to a great war, which resulted in the destruction of Troy. This epic work has been a source of endless inspiration for artists throughout the ages. Since the beginning of Renaissance, and the rebirth of classical spirit in Europe...
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...Both stories are set in Greek mythology with similarities of drama and family dysfunction. They share the similarity of anger and revenge. These stories both praise and worship the Gods. The Gods give them guidance, provide answers and cause some of their turmoil. In Oedipus; the king has curiosity which in the end leads him to exile for his actions. Many times, he asks other for answers. What is the source of the city’s plague and of his fate. Although those that know the truth do not want to reveal it, he finds out he is the reason for the plague for killing the king, Laius who happens to be his father. He also finds out that he had married the queen who happened to be his mother. The response cause the queen to kill herself and Oedipus...
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...Troy home to the Trojans around 3,000 B.C- 500 A.D, in the ancient Greek times was situated in what is now known as Turkey, than known as the Asia Minor. Troy is most notably recognized for its part in the Great Trojan War. This is especially described in Homer’s Greek epic Cycle and The Iliad, Which are two Great works of art and are taught in most schools and universities around the world. Most Historians place the Trojan War in the 12th, 13th, 14th century B.C. As told in the Iliad the Achaeans, declared war against the city of Troy when Paris the prince of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus the King of Sparta. According to Homeric Troy, Achaeans set up their camp near the mouth of the river Scamander, with approximately 12,000 ships, equaling anywhere from 70,000-130,000 men. Troy stood against such a large force due to its strategic location. Troy itself stood on a hill, across the plain of Scamander, which is where most of the Trojan battles most likely took place. Another aspect to the war is Greek mythology, they believe that the war originated because of an argument between the goddesses Athena, who is the goddess of wisdom and crafts, Hera the goddess of marriage, women, child birth, family, and known as the Queen of Gods, and Aphrodite the goddess of love, beauty and sexuality. This argument was began when Eris the goddess of strife and discord, gave them a golden apple also known as the apple of discord marked only “for the fairest.” The King of all...
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... Mrs. Lilibeth Vargas (Subject teacher) Trojan War . In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus king of Sparta. The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology and has been narrated through many works of Greek literature, most notably through Homer's Iliad. The Iliad relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy; the Odyssey describes the journey home of Odysseus, one of the war's heroes. Other parts of the war are described in a cycle of epic poems, which have survived through fragments. Episodes from the war provided material for Greek tragedy and other works of Greek literature, and for Roman poets including Virgil and Ovid. The war originated from a quarrel between the goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite, after Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, gave them a golden apple, sometimes known as the Apple of Discord, marked "for the fairest". Zeus sent the goddesses to Paris, who judged that Aphrodite, as the "fairest", should receive the apple. In exchange, Aphrodite made Helen, the most beautiful of all women and wife of Menelaus, fall in love with Paris, who took her to Troy. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and the brother of Helen's husband Menelaus, led an expedition of Achaean troops to Troy and besieged the city for ten years because of Paris'...
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...SUMMARY OF ILIAD In the tenth year of the Trojan War, tensions are running high among the Achaeans. First, the priest Chryses comes to ask their leader, King Agamemnon, to release his daughter, whom Agamemnon was holding captive. When Agamemnon refuses, the priest prays to the god Apollo to send a plague against the Achaeans. After nine days of plague, the Achaeans assemble again and demand that Agamemnon give the girl back. Agamemnon eventually agrees, but only if he gets to take Briseis, the girlfriend of Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Achaeans. Even though Achilles gives her up, he becomes so enraged that he refuses to fight any more. That and he prays to his mother, Thetis, who happens to be a goddess, to pull some strings with the other gods so that the Achaeans will start getting defeated in battle and realize how much they depend on him. Achilles’ mom definitely spoils him. She gets Zeus, the king of the gods, to agree to Achilles’ request. Sure enough, the next day the Trojans makes a successful counterattack, led by Hector, their greatest warrior. Several days of violent fighting follow, at the end of which the Trojans have the Achaeans pinned against the beach, and are threatening to burn their ships. At this point, Achilles’ best friend Patroclus asks for permission to go into battle in Achilles’ place. Achilles grants Patroclus request, and even lets him wear his armor. Patroclus gambit is successful – when the Trojans see him, they think he must be Achilles...
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...Trojan War In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus king of Sparta. The war is one of the most important events in Greek mythology and has been narrated through many works of Greek literature, most notably through Homer's Iliad. The Iliad relates a part of the last year of the siege of Troy; its sequel, the Odyssey describes Odysseus's journey home. Other parts of the war are described in a cycle of epic poems, which have survived through fragments. Episodes from the war provided material for Greek tragedy and other works of Greek literature, and for Roman poets including Virgil and Ovid. The war originated from a quarrel between the goddesses Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite, after Eris, the goddess of strife and discord, gave them a golden apple, sometimes known as the Apple of Discord, marked "for the fairest". Zeus sent the goddesses to Paris, who judged that Aphrodite, as the "fairest", should receive the apple. In exchange, Aphrodite made Helen, the most beautiful of all women and wife of Menelaus, fall in love with Paris, who took her to Troy. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and the brother of Helen's husband Menelaus, led an expedition of Achaean troops to Troy and besieged the city for ten years because of Paris' insult. After the deaths of many heroes, including the Achaeans Achilles and Ajax, and the Trojans Hector and Paris, the city fell to the ruse of the Trojan...
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