Theban kings in Greek mythology

In the Iliad, women are depicted as items of trade and as markers of rank for the men who control them. The epic poem, predominantly viewed as “a male-controlled world”, concentrates centrally on the rage amongst men but it also happens that the bulk of this rage is influenced, instigated, and stimulated by women. Throughout the text, the men are portrayed to be the most powerful, but in actuality the most crucial characters in the epic are female, and the women are just as powerful as the men,…

where the Montagues and Capulets fought, again, sparked by the love of two young lovers. Back in mythological times, Zeus, the father of the gods and god of the sky and thunder, held a celebration after the recent marriage of Peleus and Themis. Every Greek god was invited, all but one, Discord, goddess of fighting. Zeus figured that fighting had no place at a wedding. The newlyweds had enough on their minds,…

daughter, the masses of troops and greater good of Greece would be in jeopardy and likely toppled. It is in Agamemnon’s best personal interest to save his daughter and all the grief and pain that would come with him sacrificing her. However, the unselfish King is able to accept the pain of his daughter dying for the ultimate selfless act of saving his military and land. Medea on the other hand represents the ultimate selfishness. Medea, although she loves her two sons, doesn’t accept any other…

18 In the Royal House of Thebes, Oedipus finds out that he has killed his own father and married his own mother. After realizing what he has done, Oedipus takes his own eyes out and becomes blind. In addition, he also steps down from his position as king of Thebes, but never leaves the city. There, Oedipus dies peacefully with Antigone by his side. What happened to Oedipus symbolizes that people have to repent for what they have done in order to have peace. Antigone’s final action, to bury…

One of the greatest battles in history, the Trojan War, started in the 12th century. There was a wedding for Pelus and Thetis, the Trojan prince Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, obtains a golden apple from the goddess Eris. It is up to Paris to decide which of the three goddesses is the most beautiful, which will be given the golden apple. Hera, wife and sister of Zeus, offers power. Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, offers success in battle. Aphrodite, goddess of love, offers the most…

The human-god relationships and their purpose in ancient civilizations often tell much about the beliefs and ideals of the culture as a whole. The connection between humans and their gods in both ancient Hebrew and ancient Greek culture are similar, but also vary in multiple ways. Both of these relationships can be seen between the humans and their gods in literature from the time period, specifically the relationship of Moses and God in Exodus, and between Athena and Odysseus and Telemachus in…

One of the most revered classical symbols of heroism is Odysseus. The mythological superhuman hero depicted most completely in Homer’s epic, The Odyssey, embodies ideal that many Greeks and people afterwards look up to, like valor, loyalty, and intelligence. For this alone, the popularity of The Odyssey has transcended time, and Odysseus is still admired to this day. Through Homer’s epic Odysseus must struggle with obstacles in his attempt to return home from the Trojan War. Interestingly, the…

In classical Greek mythology, Phaedra is the daughter of King Minos of Crete and Pasiphaë, and is the wife of Theseus. Due to a divine plan set into motion by Aphrodite, Phaedra falls in love with Hippolytus, Theseus’ son from another marriage, bringing about the destruction of both individuals. These themes of incest, fate, and adultery are all present in Desire Under the Elms. This play can be shown to have been influenced greatly by classical representations of this myth. Desire Under the…

Greek and Roman societies were polytheistic communities who worshiped multiple gods at the same time. In ancient Greece stories about gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters were an important part of everyday life. These figures helped explain everything from religious rituals to climate change. These figures and beliefs gave meaning of the world to the citizens in the Greek Culture. In part the Roman Culture often emulated the myths and legends that had originated in Greek culture. Through…

The gods in the Iliad control the plot line. In a very short summary of the Iliad, we can say it is the story of Achilles’ anger instigated by the gods. The Iliad is an epic where besides the anger of Achilles, and the Trojan War, the gods are a central emphasis in the book. Most of the events that occur are the result of the gods. For example, they use their power to persuade the Trojan soldiers of the battle of Troy to get the outcome they want. The gods and goddesses in the story are…