The ancient Greeks tended to use the gods as an excuse for natural events. Many believe that because of their lack of scientific knowledge, the easiest explanation for unexplainable events was to place the blame on the gods. For example, when Agamemnon, the Achaean leader, would not give up his war prize, Chrysies, her father prayed to Apollo for her return. Apollo hears his prayers and casts his arrows down upon the Achaeans. This is depicted as a plague lasting nine days that sweeps through the troops.
In fact, the reader is very nearly in the position of a spy listening to Holy Willie’s prayer, i.e. a very personal moment. The criticism does not come from Burns, so to speak, but from the absurdity of Willie Fisher’s speech. Despite the fact that this poem is clearly an attack, one cannot ignore the humour underlying the poem, v.46
The Definitions of Piety Socrates meets with Euthyphro near the king-archon's court. Socrates explains that he is under indictment because he does not believe in the gods in whom the city does believe in and Euthyphro is present because he has come to persecute his own father for unintentionally killing a murderer. Socrates then flatter Euthyphro about his knowledge on holiness/piety. Out of curiosity Socrates questions Euthyphro about holiness. This leading into the definitions of piety.
Calypso holds him prisoner there for seven years until Hermes, the messenger god, persuades her to let him go. Polyphemus - One of the Cyclopes (uncivilized one-eyed giants) whose island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy. Polyphemus imprisons Odysseus and his crew and tries to eat them, but Odysseus blinds him through a clever ruse and manages to escape. In doing so, however, Odysseus angers Polyphemus’s father,
<BR> Before it was written, The Iliad was a poem told orally by the Greeks. The Iliad <br>presents modern day readers with information about the Greek society many years ago in <br>the B.C. time period. This poem portrays the important values of the Greek society <br>during a heroic age. This heroic age is conveyed by one main character, Achilles.
In terms of hospitality, a stranger should not be waiting to be waited on. One had to treat a stranger back then as a waiter or waitress is supposed to treat a customer: with the greatest amount of respect and reverence. This is shown when Telemachus “...glimpsed Athena now and straight to the porch he went, mortified that a guest might still be standing at the doors” (Homer 1.139-41). Telemachus was horrified that a stranger was at his door, waiting there, and was not acknowledged yet. Telemachus then greets Athena and invites her in to “find a royal welcome” (Homer 1.145) and he then instructs Athena to “have supper first, then tell us what you need,’” (Homer 1.146).
In Greek and Roman culture, loyalty and honor are important concepts in one's life that are to be personally and publicly explored. In The Iliad by Homer and The Aeneid, written by Virgil, these ideas are presented through the views of two epic heroes and their roles surrounding the Trojan war during its final year. The Iliad is an epic poem originally intended to be heard by audiences as opposed to being read. Translated and put into written form, it is today regarded as being one of the most important primary Greek epics of its time during the eight century BC. The Aeneid, however, holds its roots within the Roman culture of around 20 BC, and is considered a secondary epic.
Even some stories that begin happily have unexpected, sad endings for their characters. Human failings, prophecies, and unexpected coincidences all can lead to tragedy. Although all three authors were from different time periods, they incorporated similar concepts of tradition into their work. Homer birth and death was a major figure of ancient Greek oral composition and the author of the earliest and finest epic poem, the Iliad, which was based on the Trojan War. Sophocles who was born around 496 B.C.E - 406 B.C.E was credited with skillfully developing irony as a literary technique.
When Odysseus got to Polyphemus cave, he did not bare to wait and be invited in the home. Instead he preferred going in which right away means he broke a rule in the good guests rules. The way he entered was disrespectful and after that he took the food Polyphemus worked to even have. Even after that, Polyphemus was a good host not caring about it but asking why they were in his home. After Polyphemus’s respect to Odysseus he did not care and Odysseus selfishness lead him to give lies out mixing up his true adventure to why they were even there.
Aristophanes’ Peace When people think of ancient Greek playwrights, most people’s initial thought is that of Aristophanes. We not only think of him because of his eleven plays that have survived to this day; more specifically we understand his impact on the Athenian public. His plays represented life in Athens, and focused on the social and political issues that were present in 425-388 BC. Aristophanes’ Peace is an Athenian Old Comedy that was written in 421 BC. Peace and Lysistrata are both comedic plays by Aristophanes that relate to the Peloponnesian War.