2. Discuss the ways in which Homer portrays the ancient Greek deities (gods and goddesses). How are they similar to and/or different from the Judeo-Christian God in their characterization?…
Is someone considered intelligent if they use cheats and deceptions to weave through adversity? The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer around 700 B.C., tells of a man named Odysseus conquering trials and tribulations with both disguises and deceptions. This man was definitely considered intelligent by those he encountered. Odysseus' heroic trait is his mētis, or "cunning intelligence," and his name means ‘trouble’ in Greek (he certainly got into a lot of trouble). In The Odyssey, Homer's Greek audience generally admired Odysseus' clever traits, despite his occasional dishonesty. Odysseus' skill at making up false stories and devising plans as well as his covert disguises are nearly incomparable to any other character in Homer’s epic, giving him an advantage over his adversaries. Odysseus’ Trojan horse scheme, his multiple tricks against Polyphemus the Cyclops, and his concealment as a beggar to escape the suitors demonstrate this advantage over his numerous opponents as he uses his cunning intelligence and innovative disguise.…
The stories of Genesis and The Odyssey would be fundamentally different without the presence of God and the gods in their respective narratives. However, how their respective presences manifest themselves are markedly different. The singular God of Genesis plays a passive role in the development of His plan for the mortal realm, acting from a distance, while the plural gods of the Odyssey who walk amongst the mortals and play the role of outright, active manipulators in order to enact their own plans for the mortals. These differences cause God and the gods to be perceived in different ways. While the God in Genesis becomes an ethereal, holy figure through His distance, the gods in The Odyssey are made more human through their interactions…
The ancient world literature is filled with epic tales of heroes and gods who go on perilous adventures to foreign lands and encounter many mythical beings along the way. These adventures usually teach a lesson or give insight as to the culture of the area and time period in which it was written. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid are all similar epics in their adventures and their lessons. Throughout the literary works of the ancient world there are many reoccurring motifs such as: the role of the gods, the role of suffering, and the roll of fate.…
Ancient Greece was a civilization that set many precedents. One of the most notable earmarks of Ancient Greece is It’s mythology. Though not the only polytheistic culture, Greece is one of the most prominently thought of cultures when referring to Gods and Goddesses. The deities of ancient Greece held a huge sphere of influence in their culture. The Gods and Goddesses affected many aspects of everyday life. These myths became their religious and spiritual foundations. “In ancient Greece, a myth was not simply a story, or a tale, rich in religious and poetic meanings, but rather a body of scientific knowledge about the world and a normative conception of human beings” (Javier Lopez Frias, Isadora,Hadjistephanou Papaellina).…
1. In what ways are Pentheus and Dionysus different? In what ways are they similar?…
Greek authors, when one considers the time period in which they lived, are relatively simple to distinguish from one another, particularly in how they treat Greek myth in relation to the message they aim to convey to their audience. Homer and Sophocles use myth to reflect their different perspectives on human nature, which coincides with their audience’s previously held perceptions of the myths they are dealing with. Homer’s Odyssey suggests that humans need not search for meaning in their lives, as it is administered and controlled by the gods; Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex offers a completely different standpoint, in which humans, for all their worldly knowledge, can still be held blind to the truth of their existence and origins.…
Plato and Homer had similarities of the mortal and immortal. Mortal means to be human and immortal is considered the divine. Which both poets believed. With that being said there are complications when it comes to what the divine is, evil or not. Immortals for Homer are similar to mortals just more powerful, Plato believes that the divine can do no evil, but both the living and the dead according to ancient mythology do confront one another. Stories such as the Odyssey tells…
The representation of the Gods that Homer creates in the Iliad and Odyssey are able to communicate directly with each other and the Gods uses this to help the mortals who live below them, the knowledge they…
Homer the Odyssey tells the tale of a journey of the hero Odysseus and the journey…
The three characteristics of the Greek Gods that are presented throughout Odysseus’s journey are that they are powerful, they could be helpful or harmful to his voyage, and they are worshiped by human.…
By Definition, an aphorism is a terse saying embodying a general truth or astute observation. It is derived from the Greek word aphorismos, meaning to delimit or define, and was first made popular in Aphorisms by Hippocrates.…
Storytelling is a way to explain the unknown, provide moral and ethical guidelines, and put good and bad human interactions into context for children. With the gods, heroines, and villains in Greek Mythology, children can be taught about values, courage, treachery, weakness, and the flaws of human nature. While the myths of the Greek gods are centered in the religion and culture of the ancient times, the stories continue to be parables to teach and entertain children today. The mystery and supernatural fears of ancient Greece have been overtaken by modern times, but the fundamentals of human nature remain unchanged and create opportunities to teach in a way that captures the imaginary…
Homer’s The Odyssey is a tale about a man journeying home to his family while facing many trials along the way. Throughout the story, there are many themes that illustrated the Greek Society’s beliefs at the time. One of the most prominent themes is how the Greek Gods were portrayed throughout the story. Due to their significant aid to Odysseus’s endeavors, the Gods in Ancient Greek Society were revered as good and pure.…
“Myths are ancient narratives that attempt to answer the enduring and fundamental human questions” ((Leonard & McClure, 2004, p. 1). Myths are stories from every culture, country, and period of time. Myths from different cultures around the world address similar themes because to most individuals these are the things that matter despite his or her background. There are similarities between beliefs, knowledge, mythology, and religion. Both myths and religions help individuals cope with death, suffering, and loss, as well as coping to change. Many of the poets and artists from Ancient times to Present times have embodied mythology. In doing so, they have discovered the contemporary significance to the mythological stories.…