Abstract This paper examines how gods and humans have complex relationships in Homer's "Iliad". It looks at how the portrayal of the Olympians given by Homer is in keeping with contemporary Greek thinking. It also considers whether perhaps Homer secretly hated the gods and uses the "Iliad" to lampoon them. It discusses how it is in their interactions with mortals that the Olympians seemingly "ungodly" behavior shows itself and through which Homer illuminates the relationships between gods and mortals.
From the Paper "Essential to understanding the relationships between gods and mortals in the Iliad is the awareness that some of the mortals themselves are semi-divine, being descended from various gods, not all Olympian. Achilles of course is the son of a mortal father and the goddess Thetis, daughter of Oceanus, a Titan. Aeneas figures prominently as a nearly unconquerable Trojan and in addition to being remotely descended from Jove by his ancestor Dardanus (also an ancestor of Priam) is also the son of a mortal father and the goddess Venus, herself a daughter of Jove according to Homer. Glaucus is descended from Aeolus, the Greek wind-god and a cousin of Sarpedon, himself a son of Jove."
Abstract This paper examines how although written in the 8th century BC, Hesiod's "Theogony" provides a detailed and authoritative account of the Greek creation myth and how as such, is regarded as a significant primary source of Greek mythology. It looks at how the manner in which the poem organizes and records the origins and chronology of Greek myth and displays connections with the myths of other cultures - ensures that it remains a work of vital importance to the study of Greek mythology. It discusses how although Hesiod's poem charts Greek mythology from the universe's origins with Chaos; through the Titans; to the conflicts between various gods, to the eventual stability achieved by Zeus, its primary relevance as a reference source is in its detailed account of the Olympians.
From the Paper "Greek myths, as with the traditional tales of most cultures, were initially passed orally from generation to generation resulting in a great deal of variation, from place to place and from time to time. Hesiod's Theogony is one of the earliest known attempts to chronicle a culture's myths in the permanent and stable form of a written work, and is therefore of immense importance to the study of mythology. Through the medium of poetry, Hesiod constructs a "standard" record of the origin of the Greek world, and a detailed genealogy of the Greek gods. However, it is this genealogical focus that may prove the greatest obstacle to the modern reader, as the construction of Hesiod's poem often resembles that of a list or table of information and possesses no significant dramatic plot."
Abstract This paper will seek to analyze the relationship of Odysseus to the Gods in the "Odyssey" by Homer. By managing to show this supernatural connection to a higher power, we can surmise how Odysseus learns valuable lessons from them.
Abstract This paper explains that Heracles, which means glory of Hera, is best known as the strongest of all mortals and considered as a super hero and the deciding factor in allowing the Olympian gods to win their battle with the giants. The author points out that Heracles was the last mortal son of Zeus and the only man born of mortal woman to become a god upon his death. The paper relates that Heracles was renowned for making the world safe for man by destroying many dangerous monsters; his self-sacrifice obtained the ascent to the Olympian realms, welcomed by the gods.
Table of Contents
The Twelve Labors of Heracles for King Eurystheus
The Traditional Order of the Twelve Labors
Kill the Lion of Nemea
Kill the Nine Headed Hydra
Capture the Erymanthian Boar
Capture the Cerynian Hind
Clean the Augean Stables in One Day
Kill the carnivorous birds of Stymphalis
Capture the Wild Bull of Crete
Steal the Mares of Diomedes
Obtain the Girdle of Hippolyte
Obtain the Cattle of Geryon
Steal the Golden Apples of the Hesperides
Capture Cerberus
Heracles Good and Evil Character
Heracles Marriage Life, Sex Life and Death
Heracles Male Lovers
From the Paper "Heracles first task that he must performed for King Eurythus is to put to death the mighty Lion of Nemea. Heracles used his bow and arrow to kill the Lion of Nemea. Apparently the arrows just bounced off the lion's coat. Heracles had no choice but to fight the monster with his bare hands. The fight was so violent. Heracles had his little finger bitten off but this only made him angrier and stronger. He grasped the lion tightly around the neck and squeezed. The lion choked to death. After the lion death Heracles skinned the lion and wears the skin for protection."
Abstract This paper explains that the Greek god Apollo represents archery, music and the sun. The author points out that, by being raised on the island of Delos, he was trained by Themis to develop god-like skills away from other Olympian gods and the lower mortals of Earth. The paper relates that, by being the son of Zeus and Leto, Apollo had the powers of both a Titan and Olympian, making him unusually powerful within the pantheon of Greek Gods.
Abstract Despite the fact that Homer's gods and goddesses often behave like petty, vindictive, and spoiled men and women, Homer's Olympian deities remain powerful beings who play a critical role in shaping human destiny. The paper shows that Homer's Olympians are not more moral than their human counterparts in terms of their actions and various types of involvement over the course of the story line of the epic poem "The Odyssey." It shows, however, in the face of the gods' tendencies to play favorites amongst humans and to manipulate the fate of mortals, human hubris is powerless. Fate, or the will of the gods may be cruel and unfair, but it is inexorable.
From the Paper "The tale's stated reason for Odysseus' extensive wanderings lie in the fact that the hero has offended the god of the seas, whose favor he requires so he can return home via boat. Odysseus was trapped in the lair of the man-eating Cyclops, and cleverly blinded the beast so he could escape. One might say that it was fair that Odysseus committed such an action. If he had not, he would have sacrificed not only his own life, but also the life of the other sailors in his care. "Eater of guests/under your roof! Zeus and the gods have paid you!'" cries Odysseus. (9:522-523)"
Abstract This paper details some of the conflicts that occur between the Olympian hosts while the battles rage below them, and how those conflict are both caused by and influence the decisions of mortal man.
From the Paper "The battle between the gods starts in full force in book twenty-one, but it is actually precipitated by the gods? entering of the Achaean/Trojan fray in the previous book. Up to that point, they had not actually battled for or against the Trojans legally?every time someone stepped in on either side, one of the higher-up gods such as Zeus or Hera would get angry. It's almost as if a huge spring of godly tension has been coiling and coiling, and Zeus releases the tension in book twenty-one when he steps up and acknowledges to Poseidon that he understands the needs of the gods to interfere with the conflict below and gives them free reign to do so."
Tags: gods, greek, hera, homer, iliad, olympus, vulcan, xanthus, zeus
From the Paper "The sculptures of the Parthenon represent a high point in Classical sculpture and a culmination in the centuries-long effort by Greek sculptors to fashion images that represent natural movement and repose. But, with the increased naturalism of the Classical era, it became difficult for artists to reconcile that realism with the ideal. In comparison with the other sculpture of the Classical era, the sculptures of the Parthenon (447-432 BC) represent a unique solution to this problem.
It might have been assumed that the expression of mood and emotion, which constituted the essence of the representation of the ideal, would be facilitated by greater realism. Yet increasing realism did just the opposite, and much of Classical sculpture is distinctly less inclined toward the ideal than.."
Abstract Why are the gods portrayed as they are in the "Metamorphoses"? The essay outlines the different presentations of divinity in this book and hypothesizes why its author, Ovid, might have written the story this way, given his relationship with religion and the State. The essay makes good use of Latin.
From the Paper "The gods of the Metamorphoses are distinguished by their often amoral relations with humans and by their lack of epic majesty. Like many other Roman poets, Ovid often presents the gods in a comical or unflattering light, yet he goes to an extreme not approached by other writers. Although J. Solodow suggests his stories lack a meaning beyond entertainment, the immense catalogue of divine rapes and the inglorious depiction of the gods begs an explanation. The gods have the same flaws as humans--pridefulness, lust, jealousy, and speaking before they consider the consequences of their decrees?and mortals suffer as a result. The gods are not aloof from the mortal world and do not seem superior to mortals in any meaningful way. In Ovid: A Poet Between Two Worlds, Hermann Frankel said of the Metamorphoses that ?Its value cannot be grasped by conventional standards, nor will its peculiar import reveal itself to the casual reader. Its very luster is baffling. The brilliant surface causes us to wonder how much, or how little, may lie hidden beneath.? Perhaps beneath the surface, the Metamorphoses contains a sly political allegory."
Abstract This paper examines the ethical issues and consequences of the increase of drug use among athletes. From Olympians to baseball home-run hitters, the paper looks at who is using -- and why. The author also discusses testing and fines (or other punishment from governing bodies). The paper concludes with a discussion about the ramification of drug use in professional and high level amateur sports, and its influence on society, particularly on impressionable youth athletes.
From the Paper "Athletes have always been contemptuous of sport's attempts to regulate drug use, but they tended to keep their mouths shut. Most resented the upper hand that testing gave management, but they were too afraid of being caught, punished, and embarrassed to speak up unless they were squeaky clean, retired or busted. The line between what is effective and legal and what is effective and illegal is diminishing. It is not clear anymore because the people who are making these illegal and controversial substances are getting good and they are finding ways to dim the line. By all accounts, athletes and coaches are becoming much more aggressive and skillful in using drugs ranging from sodium bicarbonate, which keeps muscles from tiring, to patches soaked with synthetic testosterone to build muscles. Having to resort to such extreme measures to win represents the egocentric nature commonly found in athletes today."
Abstract The paper considers "Clouds" as a critique of philosophy in the form of a comedy, revealing the tension between poetry and philosophy. The paper claims that different forms of subversion lie at the heart of the play about the relationship between Socrates and the Clouds, new and mysterious goddesses he has invented with his worship of reason to replace the old Olympian pantheon. The writer presents the explanation of Leo Strauss as to the Clouds' nature, and contrasts it with the writer's own theory that Aristophanes' purpose in writing "Clouds" was to demonstrate that Socrates' philosophizing, in its excess and amorality, is potentially destructive to society and humanity. In conclusion, the writer shows that Aristophanes is revealed as the representative of the Clouds among the Greeks.
From the Paper "Generally speaking, Aristophanes' Clouds represent imitation, indeterminacy and play. They are the Gods of language; they are also the language itself. Celestial signs simultaneously revealing and concealing the heavens. Demi-gods linking the human with the divine. Tricksters that teach men of the proper measure. Now the relationship between the Clouds and Aristophanes becomes clearer: the comedian poet considers himself a representative of those daimons, meaning on the one hand that he re-presents them, reveals them, introduces them and on the other, that he is the sole ambassador of the Clouds among his people."
Abstract This paper examines the common misinterpretation regarding the ancient Greeks being too civilized a culture to commit human sacrifice. The writer of this brief yet concise paper proves that the Greeks did in fact commit human sacrifices as a major component of their religious beliefs and activities. The Greek's belief in Dionysus, the god of crop fertility, was a significant element in these sacrifices. Dionysus symbolized flesh and blood as bread and wine. An annual worship held in his name was to insure crop fertility. This was a common practice for many societies throughout Ancient Greece, including the Myceneans. The Myceneans were a powerful civilization who sacrificed humans in honor of the Olympian gods and archaeological evidence has been found to back these claims.
From the Paper "The Mycenean civilization practiced this as well as many other forms of human sacrifice: "The burnt offering altar was often used in Mycenean rituals, and became a major form of practice. This form of human sacrifice was used late, almost until the end of the Mycenean civilization. "The burnt offering altar was a large, grill-like structure where prophets placed hot coals. The altar placed on the chest of the strongest warrior in town, the usual subject of this ritual. The sacrifice would be long and grueling, and the victim would not die until the prophets finished their praying to the gods. The Myceneans were a powerful civilization who were mentioned in the Homeric poems. They sacrificed humans in honor of the Olympian gods, and archeological evidence has been found."
Abstract This paper discusses and explains Greek religion. It describes the vast influence of religion on Greek life and how Greeks worshiped numerous gods that each covered a particular domain in life. It discusses how each god had its own purpose, personality and mythical origin and how the Greeks dedicated much of their life to contacting and appeasing the gods. The paper also describes the Greek temples and sacrifices and the importance of priests.
From the Paper "Ancient Greek religion is defined by its polytheistic and informal nature. It is a system which changes from polis to polis without dilemma. Yet there are some Pan-Hellenic aspects including the twelve Olympians, the importance of a sacred sanctuary for the gods, and the need to please the gods through sacrifice and festivals. The form Greek religion took on society can largely be attributed to the nature of Greek religion. As there were numerous gods, each with his or her own domain, there was always a place for new gods as the existing number of gods could not cover all aspects of life. This was important because Greek religion was incorporated into all aspects of Greek life and thus was not separate from the political or public sphere. This was common to all the Greek religions; each cult believed in the importance and practice of religion in all capacities of daily life. As a result, the gods must be pleased and the Greeks responded with an elaborate system of sanctuary, rituals, sacrifices, and initiations to help ensure that the gods were properly honored and no god was excluded. Ultimately, this meant Greek religion would have an even larger impact on life as it was completed and deeply ingrained on ancient Greece."
The paper assesses an article by Charles Michael Smith 'The Politics of Penis Size (Book Review)' in "The Gay and Lesbian Review" relating to the stereotype that African-American males are "well-hung".
Abstract This paper explain that, in Charles Michael Smith's article 'The Politics of Penis Size (Book Review)', which is a review of Scott Poulson-Bryant's book "Hung: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America", the idea of the black sexual Olympian is ridiculed but Smith fails to avoid making some sweeping generalizations that the available literature cannot substantiate. The author points out, from the literature review to assess this article and book, that the myth about African-American men being "huge" and thus more "man" than Asian or Caucasian men is really a projection of deep-seated fears of inadequacy. The paper argues that, if these fears are addressed, then anxiety about the sexual prowess of black men, on the part of those who are non-black will be replaced by a more holistic view of African-American males that restores to them a measure of their full humanity.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Summary of Account
Background Research (or what the scholarly literature has to say about penis size and about black men)
Assessment of the Popular Account
Implications and Future Directions
From the Paper "According to Charles Michael Smith (2006) the penis is one manifestation of masculine power. Smith goes on to state that penis power is male power and that the tallest buildings, the imposing skyscrapers that dot the landscape of the modern western world, are really the ultimate phallic symbols. In short, the penis equates with all that is seen as masculine, virile, powerful, and potent. Smith, in his review of Scott Poulson-Bryant's, "Hung: A Meditation on the Measure of Black Men in America", writes that white slave-holders often justified the brutal treatment of African-American men by seizing upon the desire of the latter to assault and seize for themselves the womanhood of white females."
Abstract In this article, the writer first explains that Greek mythology is a collection of stories by ancient Greeks about their gods and heroes. The writer notes that these stories include myths of the origin of the world, an attempt to understand and interpret the universe and the origin of the world in human terms. Many of these stories have been passed down from ancient times and in more than one version. The writer discusses that ancient beliefs eventually mixed with legends from Greek kingdoms and city-states and myths from other tribes. Together, they evolved into this body of stories that were accepted by most Greeks. These myths were transmitted from generation to generation for hundreds of years in the form of spoken tales. It was not until the Classic Period that these stories were put down in written form. The writer looks at the Greek system of gods and goddesses and concludes that traditional literary mythology reflected an increasing dissociation from actual religious practice.
From the Paper "The leader was Zeus, the god of the sky, the weather, thunder, lightning, and the father of all mortals and immortals. His wife and sister was Hera. Poseidon, his brother, was god of the seas and shaker of the earth or earthquakes. Athena was the goddess of war, of crafts and of wisdom, the wisest of the gods and goddesses. Apollo was the god of light and order, of both plague and healing who foretold the will of Zeus, his father. His twin sister, Artemis, was goddess of childbirth and all wild animals. Aphrodite, a daughter of Uranus, was the goddess of erotic love. Hermes was the guide of souls in the underworld and the god of sleep and dreams. Demeter, the symbol of Gaia, was goddess of the earth and vegetation. His mother Persephone was a sister of Zeus. Dionysus was th god of madness, frenzy, of wine and the theater. Hephaestus was the god of fire and of the crafts. And Ares was the god of war and the only son of Zeus and Hera. Hades was not among the 12, but he was the ruler of the underworld."
