Tantalus did not reach for the ever-retreating water: Ixion’s wheel was stilled: the vultures did not pluck at Tityus’s liver: the Belides, the daughters of Danaüs, left their water jars:
This makes it sound like everyone in the underworld was stunned by what Orpheus was asking for.
I longed to be able to accept it, and I do not say I have not tried: Love won.
It seems like a strategic move for Orpheus to go to Persephone rather than Hades on this matter regarding love.
she was killed, by a bite on her ankle, from a snake, sheltering there.
Was this a coincidence or a trap?
The ancient priestess
Was Charon ever alive? Was he created by one of the Gods?
Grief and vengeful Care have made their beds, and pallid Sickness lives there, and sad Old Age, and Fear, and persuasive Hunger, and vile Need, forms terrible to look on, and Death and Pain
Did Aeneas feel this emotionally or physically?
Aeneas himself sacrificed a black-fleeced lamb to Night, mother of the Furies, and Earth, her mighty sister, and a barren heifer to you, Persephone.
How did the greeks choose which gods they made sacrifices to at funerals? Would it always be the same Gods or did it depend on who had died?
Odysseus agrees to build a funeral pyre for Elpenor.
It is interesting to see just how important funeral practices are. It is common in many cultures to have significant funeral practices but when looking from a practice point of view it seems crazy that someone would abandon a mission just bury a dead body.
Circe of the lovely tresses, dread goddess with a human voice
Having Odysseus describe Circe with this vocabulary shows how complicated their relationship was.
dreamed up all sorts of tricks and schemes, as a man will in a life or death matter: it was an evil situation.
Interesting how Odysseus is aware of his actions, he doesn't make excuses but knows that what he has to do in order to survive is wrong.
e Cyclopes have no vessels with crimson-painted prows, no shipwrights to build sound boats with oars, to meet their need and let them travel to other men’s cities, as other races visit each other over the sea in ships, no craftsmen that is who might also have turned it into a fine colony.
The Cyclopes are described in such a negative and unintelligent way here. The Cyclopes are described in a similar way to how "savages" were described in modern times.
Troy far from the horse-pastures of Argos.
I wonder if the wording used here is meant to foreshadow the Trojan horse that will be built.
But first bring water for our hands and call for holy silence, so we may pray to Zeus, the son of Cronos, and beseech his pity.’
I find all the rituals that are taken before warfare to be very interesting. War in Ancient times was addressed in a much more spiritual way then it is today.
the dread goddess?
Interesting how Hector is willing to insult such a powerful goddess.
What great treachery would have died with you, wicked man!
This appears to be Medea pointing out the flaws of Jason and taking credit for the fact that he did not act at brutish as many other men.
If not, once your strange ship had beached on
The wording of this almost sounds like a rape reference to me. Not necessarily a physical rape but rather an emotional rape where Medea feels like her emotions of been taken advantage of and therefore breached.
Why did I take more pleasure than I should in your golden hair,
Medea sounds like how most modern girl are depicted when pining for lost lovers. She acknowledges her mistake of loving Jason and fixating on something like his hair.
The god has been remorseless to me; so I will be the same to the gods.
The way this is phrased almost seems like a threat to the gods
This is Hera’s work; but who lies there among the dead, old man?
I found it interesting that the blame seems to be more on Hera than Heracles. She may have persuaded Heracles to kill his family but I would expect more punishment to fall on Heracles especially considering how violent ancient Greece usually is.
Hush! good words only!
Odd that Theseus would ask who's children Amphitryon was weeping for and then scold him for answering.
Athenian youth, who were in the meantime imprisoned in the Labyrinth
Why did the Athenians have to send their youth to the labyrinth every 9 years and was Theseus the first ti try and stop the minotaur?
Pittheus apparently understood, and persuaded him, or beguiled him, to have intercourse with his daughter Aethra
This was a very strategic move for Pittheus. Ancient Greece was a world run by blood and power so by having a child of the leader of Athens would be a strength for Pittheus.
At any rate, this is what Aristotle the philosopher
I wonder how highly regarded Aristotle was. It seems that they are going off the account of Aristotle which obviously means he was regarded as a reliable source especially since Aristotle is know by many people today.
n a Jerusalem square they spot Mort Goldman, the obviously Jewish pharmacist
problematic
To keep the Aborigines from abandoning him in the face of this strong coalition and to secure their being not only under the same laws, but also the same designation, Aeneas called both nations by the common name of Latins.
This shows how strategy was used and how political warfare is and was in ancient times.
nd gave his daughter in marriage to Aeneas.
Really shows how women were property in ancient times and could be a "gift" implying they are not people with identity,
what manner of men they were, whence they came, what had happened to make them leave their homes, what were they in quest of when they landed in Latinus’ territory.
It is interesting to see a non violent option in a Roman myth.
Augustus, a Julius, his name descended from the great Iulus.
I wonder if there was some form of persuasion involved in order to have Julius Caesar's name mentioned in this poem.
Then Romulus will further the race,
Cleary shows how Romulus is favoured over Remus as only he is mentioned.
and establish laws, and city walls, for his warriors,
I think this line shows how great the destiny of Cytherea's child is. For him to establish laws, city walls and warriors predicts that he will be a leader.
the breast and feet and tail of a lion, and the wings of a bird.
It is interesting to see the Greek's interpretation of the Sphinx compared to the more common Egyptian description. They are both similar but I had never heard of the sphinx having wings before.
Sparti
I find the name "Sparti" interesting for these warriors as it is similar to Sparta, a name of a greek place known for producing the most ruthless warriors.
was the offspring of Ares,
I would have expected a Dragon to be related to snakes or serpents so I am surprised it is related to Ares. Maybe it is because of the bloodlust Ares represents.
there are two things, young man that are most important to people: It is. goddess Demetre (call her by whatever other name you want) who feeds the folk on Earth and who IS Earth; and her counterpart, Dionysos, the son of Semele, this god, the god who discovered the juice of the grape and which he brought to us mortals.
It is interesting how Dionysos the God of wine is as importnat as Demeter who is the goddess of agriculture. It shows how valued wine was in Greek society.
rom both sides of the stage we hear the tambourines and ecstatic sounds of women. It is that of the chorus of maenads (Dionysos’ followers) and, after a short pause they enter dancing wildly, frenzied[3], noisily. They are foreigners, “Orientals.”
It is interesting how Dionysos' followers are "Oriental" and Women. The fact that it is mainly women who are following him around shows how he is most likely charismatic and charming which are common qualities of tricksters.
So here I am! Thebes! I am Dionysos, son of Zeus.
This entrance may possibly be foreshadowing the hubris of Dionysos. As he enters and announces himself he things of himself as important. I would not be surprised if the hubris that Dionysus is showing here ends up being part of his downfall.
When he had disentangled the elements,
This reminds me of the traditions that surround Wicca. Wicca is one of the only modern religions I know that still celebrates and honours the elements. I wonder if their beliefs are a result or influenced by the beliefs of the ancient romans and greeks.
This conflict was ended by a god and a greater order of nature,
I have never really thought of the beginning of the greek creation story further than Zeus defeating Cronus. It is interesting how this version speaks of a god or a creator but it is not named who that god is and he is not a major part of who the greeks worshiped.
to my own time.
Seems to be written more from a person/character/authors perspective than the other two.
hich the myth relates has to do with the bees
I never knew bees were apart of this myth but it makes sense from a geographical perspective. Being located in the Mediterranean the ancient greeks would have been highly dependant on bees so seeing them in relation to Zeus makes sense.
Rhea, grieved as she was, and yet lacking the power to change her husband’s purpose,
As I think others have also noticed, Rhea seems to hold much less power than Cronus, which isn't always the case for women in greek mythology as it is in many other cultures. She has less power but I wonder if she is wiser and if women are portrayed as wiser, just thinking of how Athena later is born as the goddess of wisdom.
Consequently Cronus time and again did away with the children
I find this version uses less vivid imagery than others which I find makes it harder to visualize.
Children of me and of a father madly violent,
I find it interesting how this myth compares to others, especially modern ones. The idea of revolting, especially against a father is very common in greek mythology. Comparing this to a more contemporary source such as the bible I notice how revolting against a father is uncommon and many stories are about following your father and having respect for him. I wondering of these two different types of teachings influenced the greeks if the past and the christians of today.
union with Erebos in love
I find it interesting reading the greek and roman myths and how love changes the gods. It seems that there are different outcomes when the gods produce children on their own versus when the produce children out of union or love.
First it was Chaos, and next broad-bosomed Earth, ever secure seat of all the immortals, who inhabit the peaks of snow-capped Olympus, and dark dim Tartaros in a recess of Earth having-broad-ways, 120 and Eros [Love], who is most beautiful among immortal gods, Eros that relaxes the limbs, and in the breasts of all gods and all men, subdues their reason and prudent counsel.
Just by looking at the structure and punctuation of this sentence it is obvious this is a story made to tell orally rather than be read. The first 4 lines are a single sentence, broken up by many commas. I find this structure similar to other ancient texts I have read. The author is not focused on the grammar of the sentence because it is being written for someone to speak it.