What makes a hero? Is it the courage to face their fears? Or is it the heart of the individual that makes him or her a hero? Two historical figures have been considered hero’s of their time. Odysseus and Moses may have been alive in different eras, but they both had a significant impact on the world around them. Moses was known for parting the Red Sea and aiding in the escape of many civilians that occupied Egypt. Odysseus was considered a great warrior by leading his people in the Trojan war…
The unjust act of taking Briseis from Achilles alienates the greatest Achaean warrior from his fellow Achaeans and causes him to pull out of the war. As the Trojans triumph repeatedly, Agamemnon seeks to correct his wrongdoing by sending an embassy to Achilles with a goal of persuading Achilles to return to the battle. G. Mitchell Reyes states that there are “four dominant sources of appeal: honor, material, power, and justice” (23). While Achilles does value honor, material, and power; to…
Vikings; early Europe’s bloodthirsty warriors. At the surface, they seemed no better than packs of wild dogs, faithless and savage. These “dogs” did have faith. They had faith in the many Gods and Goddesses of the Aesir. Tales of creatures, immortal beings, and everlasting wars would fill the halls of longhouses across the lands for hundreds of years, until they steadily faded away for centuries. Norse-paganism was once a great and prosperous religion that spread throughout most of Europe. It…
Grace Wang December 18, 2015 Tragedy Essay Which is the better tragedy, according to Aristotle’s definition of tragedy: Medea or Oedipus Rex? According to Aristotle’s definition, a tragic hero is a distinguished person occupying a high position, living in a prosperous life and falling into misfortune due to his own tragic flaw which consequently leads to his reversal and late recognition. Medea and Oedipus Rex are both one of the best classical and well known examples of tragedy. Oedipus Rex…
I was often annoyed when the soldiers would argue in the midst of a battle. I would think to myself, ‘This is a BATTLE, just throw your spear!’. I believe Patroclus is the one to reprimand Meriones because Patroclus is cool-headed and wise beyond his years. He came as Achilles’ companion, and was there to help him overcome his anger. He may be a weaker fighter than his friend, however, he is a stronger person because he is wise enough to ignore words and put his faith in actions. Save the air in…
Introduction: The Existential Significance of Mythology Mythology provides a great wealth of material that is not only profound to think about, but also good to think with. Quoting Joseph Campbell; “Mythologies are allegorical interpretations of living realities, once experienced with such intensity that since continued to shape the human consciousness and their world” (1). Here, myths are not merely fictional stories telling, but uninterrupted existential experiences of the human sphere,…
2) How does Dante use material from classical mythology and classical literature? Charon, the Furies, and Virgil’s discourse on Fortune egregious examples of Dante’s cultural syncretism. Dante uses the various fantastic and hellish beasts that populate Roman, Greek, Latin, and other classical mythologies to illustrate the guardians of the afterlife that he is attempting to portray to the audience. Charon, the navigator of the River Styx, is called back to do an encore of the job he had done…
Ancient Greece Reading Challenge: 5.2 Required Reading: Ancient Greece: 1. Explain the importance and development of the Greek city-state and the difference between a citizen and a non-citizen: A city-state have city or town that is surrounded by villages and farmland. The city-states in Greek were very independent and they often quarreled. The citizens were strongly patriotic. Many of them participated in public affairs. Only citizens could own land and participated in the government.…
The blood red scent of dawn washed over the previously white sandy beaches, the light that fell on the Achaean camp brought life to the stench of rot and disease that Apollo sent in with arrows. The rays that hit the walls of troy kept clean by the God of light as it cooked away the morning dew. "They are fighting again today, the men. The Achaeans and the Trojans, who will I fight for today? Who can shed the most blood for me? Will Achilles come, or Hector? Will I take away another of King…
Oedipus Rex and the consequences of knowledge In the story “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles. We see a man that has not yet come to grips with what he has done. He does not know how dangerous the knowledge he seeks really is, and he starts by seeking out who murdered the former king of Thebes. Oedipus was warned if he continued to seek the truth the knowledge would blind him, and he would be cast out of the land but curiosity prevailed. He continued to seek out the dangerous truth about his real…