Menelaus

feelings of anger and hopelessness, sometimes even propell those who remain, to lose their own humanity in return. Euripides’ Hecuba details the aftermath of the Trojan war, a conflict that emerged from the gods’ need for judgement and the noble Menelaus’ need for retribution. This play centers on two violent actions: the sacrifice of Polyxena and Hecuba’s revenge. Both actions were motivated by a need for justice and retribution, however…

animals, especially predatory species such as lions and wolves, begins within the first book (27) and continues throughout the epic with unceasing repetition. Homer often uses animal imagery in the violent context of war, such as the comparison of Menelaus to a “hungry lion” at the prospect of battle with Paris (64). Just as frequently, however, this motif appears in a neutral or even positive context; When Achilles dashes out the door “like a lion” to retrieve Hector’s body for grieving Priam…

The first conflict is Odysseus being held captive on Calypso's island. Hermes however was sent from Zeus “to send him off with all good speed”(5.126). When Odysseus is finally released he faces another conflict: Poseidon. On his way back from Ethiopia, he saw Odysseus and was outraged; he wasn’t satisfied till he gave “[Odysseus] his swamping fill of trouble” by sending a huge storm that nearly drowns him(5.320). Ino and Athena helped him out during the storm and were able to get him safely on…

The Odyssey by Homer is a perfect example of an epic. For an epic to be considered an epic it needs to have a physically impressive hero of national or historical importance, a vast setting encompassing much of the known physical world and, sometimes the land of the dead. It needs to have a quest or journey undertaken in search of something of value, the involvement of supernatural forces, glorification of the hero at the end, and a basis in a specific culture or society. The Odyssey has all the…

These were some of the mightiest heroes in all literature. Tales of these men have lived for thousands of years and will continue on for many more. However, the question remains who is the better hero. Besides fighting aspects, because there are many traits that determine if they are truly heroes. Achilles was the mightiest of all the Greek warriors and had a huge impact on the battlefield. Achilles was a killing machine, slaughtering Trojans with ease. Achilles was so feared on…

Myths serve to represent a culture's ideologies, and as they are passed down, they evolve to keep up with changing values, because they are only relevant if an audience holds the same values as those that appear in the myth. Therefore, Disney could not make a movie in which the Greek hero Heracles murders his first wife and children-part of the original Greek myth, rather the movie had a 'happily ever after' ending more suitable to an American audience. While the Greeks tended to have a negative…

Throughout The Iliad, mortal women are portrayed as property of man in the male-centric epic. They are confined to outdated gender roles; mortal women have little or no control over their own destiny. However, the immortal world creates a platform for Homer to exemplify and examine women personas thorough the Olympian goddesses. The three main goddesses presented in The Iliad are Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera. During the Trojan War, Athena and Hera fight with the Achaeans, while Aphrodite favors…

Queen cheats on Leonidas with Theron. This same theme of cheating on spouses was also seen in the movie Troy. In the movie Troy, the theme of cheating was also present amongst the women. The main plot to this movie is that Helen was married to King Menelaus. During the movie Paris meets with Helen and then there is a love scene. After this cheating has occurred Helen leaves Laconia with Paris to go to Troy with him. This clearly shows that modern beliefs have made us think that there was a…

In The Iliad Homer, the epic poet brings the reader into a war of attrition between two great peoples, the Achaeans and the Trojans. Throughout the epic poem the reader familiarizes themselves with the two of the main protagonists within the poem, Hector and Achilles. As the epic progresses the reader learns the key differences and similarities Achilles and Hector have, and perhaps maybe choose who they see as the true hero in poem. However, one could say that both Hector and Achilles could be…

reading, Herodotus’ moral seems to sandwich all of the anecdotes, starting with Proteus. Herodotus introduces Proteus as a reasonably fair king, writing that when Proteus found out that Paris had seduced Helen and then ran off with her and some of Menelaus’ valuables, he sent for Paris to be arrested and took possession of Helen and the other stolen items before forcing Paris to leave Egypt. Despite Helen being in Egypt awaiting her retrieval, the Greeks still destroyed Troy during their search…