Thursday, March 25, 2010

" This way I will cause him greater torment than anything. And you others, go through the town and track down the womanish stranger, who infects our women with his new-fangled disease and pollutes their beds. Once he is caught, bind him and bring him here to face the penalty of being stoned to death, after seeing a painful end to his revelling in Thebes."
(Bacchae, line 350-356)
The reader can see that Pentheus is a man and we can see is human side, including his desires. I will not say that he is attracted to Dionysus but I do feel that he is somewhat connected to him. I feel like he does not want feeling and desire out because that would bring chaos, so he tries no destry it, and because he has feeling toward dionysus he wants to get rid of him too

Teiresias the prophet

" When a clever man has an honest case to make, it is no great task for him to speak well. You possess a fluent tongue, as if you were a man of senses, but your words lack all judgement. The good speaker whose influence rests on self-assurance proves to be a bad citizen; for he lacks intelligence."
(Bacchae, line 267-272)
Teiresias the same prophet that tried to stop Oedipus from finding out his terrible fate, appeares in The Bacchae to do the same for Pentheus. He not only knows that Pentheus is in big trouble with the gods because of the way he talks blasphemy of them, but he also knows that Pentheus although he knows how to talk, all he talks is wrong, so he is trying to make him see that. Teiresias therefore is attaking rhetoric because he basically is saying that because someone speaks well, does not mean he is correct and it does not matter if he is the ruler of Thebes.

Hubris

"If I catch him inside the borders of this land, I'll cut his head off his shoulders and put a stop to his making his thyrsus ring and shaking his locks! This is the man who says that Dionysus is a god, this the man who says he was once sewn into the thigh of Zeus, when in fact he was destroyed by the fiery lightning bolt, he and his mother, because she falsely named Zeus as her lover!"
(Bacchae, line 233-243)
Pentheus shows that he does not believe that Dionysus is a god and he is willing to kill him. This is not only prove that he is disrespecting the gods, he also feels superior to them and therefore shows Hubris behaviour. I think he is so into his perfect controled world that he does not realize that terrible things could happened to him. He is not only disrespecting Dionysus the god but also his mother "he and his mother, because she falsely named Zeus as her lover!" and most important of all, he is insulting Zeus that is not only his father but also the god of the gods, so the reader I thing right away feels that his punishment is going to be very harsh.

Chaos is a blessing?

" This city must learn its lesson, however reluctantly, that it lacks the blessing of my rites."
(Bacchae, line 39-40)
Dionysus is the God of wine, his "power" is make people do what they would not dare to do if they were normal. Alcohol inhibits the senses therefore the way people respond to thing under the influence of alcohol is different. This spell people are in when dealing with alcohol usually cause chaos, that its not usually thought of it as a good thing. In Thebes the feeling of rejection toward chaos is the same.
Dionysus wants to bring Chaos into their lives, but I do not feel like this is a bad thing, is just like he stated "This city must learn its lesson", I feel although control and order is needed, there has to be a balance between order and chaos. I feel as he wants to show the other extreme in order to have a balance between the two.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Conquest

“Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters.”
- Alexander the Great

Yet another example of his unwavering drive to rule the world, he believed he could be the supreme ruler of the world. There would be no one else, like there can be only one sun and only one moon - he would be the only one ruler.

The Rise and Fall

A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient.
- Unknown, in reference to Alexander the Great

He dreamt of owning the world, of achieving the impossible, and if anyone could have done it he was most likely. Regardless of the conflicting views on Alexander he was a brilliant tactician with ambition that surpassed all else - or so we are led to believe by historians. He wanted the world and it ended for him like for any other, in a tomb where he was laid to rest.


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Believe What You Want

Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt : Men willingly believe what they wish
-Julius Caesar

No Difference

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

This quote relates to all the great leaders of the ancient times, the reason for this is because they didn't only give there men greatness and their city civilization , they taught them how to do it for themselves and that is the greatest power. If they just got everything from the leader they wouldn't now how to do it for themselves and everyone would rely on the one person and if something was to go wrong and the person passed away that city would be done. That's why you must teach people your powers and the world around you will be a better place.

Wisdom

"Cunning is but the low mimic of wisdom"
-Plato

To be cunning is defined as skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, as in deceiving, or craftiness.
To be wise, is to have the quality or state of being wise and having the knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.

Obama the Peace Keeper

2009 Nobel Peace Prize

"I receive this honor with deep gratitude and great humility. It is an award that speaks to our highest aspirations - that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice"

"I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage"

It seems that Obama is tackling everything. Now he has the Health Care Reform Bill taken care of as well. What will he do next!




The Coliseum: The Symbol of Rome?


"While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; / When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; / And when Rome falls - the World."
~~ Lord Byron

The man

"I came, I saw, I conquered."- Julius Caesar

Great Respect


as_roma.jpg


The she-wolf is the famous symbol for the city Rome and is known as there symbol around the world. The above picture is the logo of the soccer team Rome F.C and i find it interesting that even though it is famous for Rome , they have it on their soccer jerseys in order to represent there club. This shows how much respect they have for the myth of Romulus and Remus and without them this great empire would never be were it is today.

“One flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest"

"He knew you can’t really be strong until you can see a funny side to things”

It's been said that laughter is only cure. Well this quote from Ken Kesey's, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, shows that you can't be strong without a sense of humor. Why go through life being serious all the time. People may just regard you as a pessimist, and who needs that. Look at the glass as half full, and get a sense of humor. 

Humans, Vessels for the Future

"A few of the sublimest geniuses of Rome and Athens had some faint discoveries of the spiritual nature of the human soul, and formed some probable conjectures, that man was designed for a future state of existence."
~~ David Brainerd

"That man was designed for a future state of existence." This concept summarized by David Brainerd is something that many of us fail to see as the big picture today. It is true that in order to survive we must prepare for what we may face in the future but that is true with all living things. What makes this quote special is that it's attributing this idea to Rome and Athens. The invention of democracy in Athens can be critiqued as its most decorated example of preparing for a future state of existence since we still take from its origins in today's governments. Therefore saying that, "man was designed for a future state of existence," isn't all that off from the big picture.

The Philosophical Emperor

He who has seen present things has seen all, both everything which has taken place from all eternity and everything which will be for time without end; for all things are of one kin and of one form.
~~ Marcus Aurelius

Great Leaders

"I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."- Alexander the Great

This quote is great and it tells you what Alexander the Great was like, This quote is saying it is better to have a great leader to guide you through battle and that it will help more to have a great leader instead of just having a mediocre one even if you do have a great army. This relates to him since he was a great leader and is one of the most famous ones to ever step foot on the earth. This makes you think would you really want a army of sheep over a army of lions just because of a great leader? Well if it wasn't for this quote people would easily take the lions but when you think about it The great one makes a good point.

Rome is a Tough Place to Be

"I'd rather be first in a village than second at Rome"

~ ~Julius Caesar

Caesar is attributing to the idea that it isn't at all easy being the emperor when there are so many that look up to him and so many that want his power. His degree of power is somewhat similar to that of Alexander the Great in the sense that thousands of others look up to them as leaders. But as Caesar admits it in his quote, the power comes with its everlasting price and that is, the need to stay on top.

no more worlds to conquer

It was said that Alexander wept when he looked about at his vast empire and said, "there were no more worlds to conquer."

I believe that Alexander the Great was the only general in the history of the known world who could attribute to that claim. Hundreds upon hundreds of generals after him aspire to him as they can only dream that they can come near the glory that Alexander had achieved in his monumental conquest.

bloody innovations

"Alexander's revolutionary practice of total pursuit and destruction of the defeated enemy ensured battle casualties unimaginable just a few decades earlier. At the Battle of Granicus, Alexander destroyed the Persian army outright, surrounded trapped Greek mercenaries and massacred them all - except 2 000 whom he sent back in chains to Macedon as a warning to other recalcitrant Greeks. Sources disagree over the precise casualty figures, but Alexander may have exterminated between 15 000 and 18 000 Greeks after the battle was essentially won - killing more Hellenes in a single day than the entire number that had fallen to the Persians at Marathon."
- Butcher of Macedon by Victor Davis Hanson

In order to create a powerful legacy, something innovating must be done and what Alexander did was both brilliant and disturbing. His tactics of total pursuit is comparable to that of trained dogs. The fear from the chase even after surrender was obviously a very formidable component of Alexander's success that also took a significant part of his reputation as a relentless killer. Therefore if Alexander hadn't made use of this tactic, I believe he wouldn't have come anywhere near to the level of success that he'd experienced on his renowned conquest.

What Is It Really?

History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.
- Napolean Bonaparte

I have actually often wondered at this, what exactly it is that makes us believe that what we are being taught it the truth. For us there are certain portions of history we are sure about, the ones of the more recent centuries that have written evidence and photographs. However, as we move further back - all the way back to Alexander, to Aristotle, to Rome and to Egypt - how do we know that the common belief of what has occurred is factual? We have bits and pieces, small writings or larger pieces written by people during that period but there is no true way of knowing the truth in these documents. Yes, we have artifacts but sometimes what we perceive has occurred is not what has actually happened. Napolean voiced this wonder, history is what has been generally agreed upon as most probable. Makes you wonder.

Bravery and Cowardice

"A coward turns away but a brave man's choice is danger"

- Euripides

There are many views on Alexander the Great but one that reigns supreme is his courage. His methods are disputed, some idolizing him for his strategy and his 'story' while others are mildly disgusted with the methods he undertook on his quest to rule the world. However, like I mentioned, they all speak of his bravery. This quote is quite appropriate to describe Alexander as he was not a coward if we are to believe what we read, he was brave and he wouldn't back down in the face of challenges. His choice was to march into the thick of battle, whether it be a small skirmish or a daunting opponent. He chose danger.

...

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Ralph Waldo Emerson

this is the stupidest thing i have ever heard , why would anyone even want to live if you werent happy, like omg , this is dumb, why would anyone else care about your accomplishments except you, when you accomplish something , then you are happy therefore happyness is your purpose. noone cares at all what you do , or whether you have lived well , or were honorable, it comes down to every man for themself.

No time to spare

"You get in there, you get the job done and you get the hell out."- Tom Petty
" only dumb people are happy " - courtney love , this is a genious quote because dumb people dont have time to think things through , which really is what makes you unhappy, the more you think about anything the more unhappy you get . with relation to oedipus or frankenstein they were smart and they got screwed, and with relation to the poor aids infected african people , they have no knowledge about anything , they just sing some songs and dance around , life's good for them.

Monday, March 22, 2010

The more The marrier

"The one man team is a complete and total myth."- Don Shula

This quote is telling people that in all great accomplishments there are many people in order to help succeed. Although there is always one person who gets the most credit, the reason i like this quote so much is that it shows even thou not every player has the same skills and there is a stand out but without all of them they wouldn't be as successful. A great example is Odysseus and Alexander the Great they were the leaders and guided their sides to greatness but no one else was really remembered even though without them they would not have been as successful.



Life at its fullest

"He who best enjoys each passing day is truly blest."- The Bacchae (pg. 224)

This is a great quote in the Bacchae, the reason for this is because it relates to everyone. Its basically saying if you enjoy your life and you are happy everyday that's what matters, not how much money you have and what not. This shows the main thing in life is to enjoy it because there is no point in stressing yourself out and worrying about everything because that defeats the purpose of life, Just relax and chill and you will be blest.

The Root of Health

"Walking is man's best medicine" - Hippocrates

After we talked about Roman medicine in class I found it interesting that they were so advanced. It's astonishing to think about how they performed all of these surgeries and made all of these tools that we still use.

This quote shows that health (other than unpreventable diseases and aging illnesses), is pretty simple. Exercise will always keep you healthy. Even the best and brightest, like the man who inspired the Hippocratic Oath, know the basic key to living a good life.

Strong Willed

“She does not know how to bend before her troubles”.

-I really liked this quote, because even after all that Antigone had done and gone through she remained strong willed and unafraid. But the fact that they could only portray women this way through plays and not in reality was unfair.

Bonds Between Women

“Tell him nothing of my intentions, if you are loyal to your mistress and a woman.”

-This quote is a bond Medea creates with her nurse to secure her safety.

Justice Through Capital Punishment

It is Justice, not Laws that cures the society. And Capital Punishment is the only Justice that suits a murderer.
Saqib Ali

-Doing a debate in Politics, and this quote was in my conclusion, it is true, the only puishment to give a murderer is murder itself, if that's what you consider Capital Punishment.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Alexander the Not So Great?

I find it interesting that the view of Alexander in the movie compared to the view of Alexander in the article is so different. It makes me wonder who Alexander really was as a person. Was he this great hero, or was he one who strives off of others' downfall? (in some cases in the article it says he killed his own friends to be successful). I think perception is very important when it comes to Alexander. The movie portrays him as one of the greatest heroes of the old world whereas the article tries to give the worst possible details about his life and personality. Personally, I think that both of these accounts make sense. Obviously, the article and movie are both focused on getting their points across and the points are totally opposite. Although facts show that he was both a hero and a villain, aren't we all? Nevertheless, I think that one would have had to live back then to really know who Alexander was as a person. Every human doesn't see everything the same way.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Value of Virtue

"Unlike Greek mythical figures, the heroes of Rome's early past were not taller, stronger, wealthier, or better-looking than their remote descendants; they were exceptional only in virtue." - Ancient Mediterranean World, p118


Virtue is defined as moral excellence; goodness; righteousness. This fact, that Romans chose to idolize those who portrayed these fine qualities instead of those which are merely shallow and superficial, evidently shows their great respect for what really matters. The Greeks praised men and women of strength leading to great heroic glory whether by means of athletic competition or even the slaying of a giant monster. But the Romans on the other hand showed respect for those who used their skills for the greater good, exemplifying how high they valued dignified morality.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Perception

"Too often we moderns have forgotten Bosworth's warnings and instead continue to glorify Alexander's conquest. Yet to do so is either to neglect or to underappreciate the sheer cost of human lives of Alexander's reign."

-The Butcher of Macedon

Inquiry

"Their insatiable spirit of inquiry drove them to question accepted knowledge and seek further information for themselves. Pythagoras, the philosopher-mathematician, encouraged his pupils to investigate the causes and reasons of nature, thus beginning a tradition of medical inquiry."

-Greece and Rome

Inquiry and questioning were fundamental values of both Greek and Roman society, however these values seem to have eroded in our society. For the most part, people simply accept their surroundings. Surely, they wonder why or how things came to be, but this amazement is only temporary, as modern responsibilities soon take precedent. For these ancient cultures, or at least their most well-known and intelligent members, this was not the case.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Hobo geniuses?

"The Cynic sect...Extremely antisocial...challenged and exposed the hypocrisy of virtually all civilized institutions...distinguished not so much by their belief in certain doctrines as by their way of life - bearded, wandering, simply dressed, carrying only a pouch and a staff..."

All I could think of when I read this was "raving hobo".
You place someone like that in our modern world, you'd find that when you walk by this person, you'd just pretend they aren't there. You ignore the opinions of someone who doesn't take care of themselves, someone who is enveloped in their complete misanthropy. It's interesting that back then they were a respected "sect".

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A Time for Song


"Now we too shall sing a song of glory named
for proud victory to celebrate the thunder
and fire flung weapon of thunder-rousing Zeus,
the blazing lightning
that befits every triumph,
and the swelling strains of song
shall answer to the pipe's reed."
-Olympian Odes, LOEB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O4VS6ikrik&feature=related

The Role of History


"What Herodotus the Halicarnassian has learnt by inquiry is here set forth: in order that so the memory of the past may not be blotted out from among men by time, and that great and marvellous deeds done by Greeks and foreigners and especially the reason why they warred against each other may not lack renown."
-Persian Wars, Herodotus

"Obviously, then, history is a social necessity. It gives us our identity. It helps us to find our bearings in an ever more complex present, providing us with a navigators chart by which we may to some degree orient ourselves...It helps us to find the particular example, to see the uniqueness in a past age or past even, while also helping us to see how the particular and the unique contribute to the general."
-The Ancient Mediterranean World

And the long road begins...

"Manus, the power of a husband over his wife, was less comprehensive than patria potestas, Even in the Twelve Tables it was fairly easy for a wife to avoid coming under the legal authority of her husband. Independent women whose fathers were dead could inherit property. They were required to have guardians (this may reflect Greek influence), but one clause in the code protects women's property rights against embezzlement by their guardians, thus recognizing women as the true owners of their property. These are some early indications that the status of women in the Roman world would be higher than their status in classical Athens."
-The Ancient Mediterranean World

The Myth of the Cave

"In the cave behind them is a bright fire. Unknown to them there is a rampart as high as a man between the fire and them; and on the other side of this rampart are people perpetually passing to and fro carrying things on their heads."

-Plato's Republic (The Myth of the Cave)

Good Character


"Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character."
~ Heraclitus

Anger

"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy."
- Aristotle


The Ultimate Vanquisher

"Do you not think it a matter worthy of lamentation that when there is such a vast multitude of worlds, we have not yet conquered one?”
-Alexander the Great

As ultimate conqueror of his century, and under the belief that he was a descendant of the almighty Zeus, Alexander the Great was unsatisfied when in one place, knowing there were areas, other city-states, other societies he had yet to succeed and assume his place as a war hero. Unfortunately, his need to take over various places came at the toll of thousands of lives, no matter who they may be. Nonetheless, he used his god-given abilities to his advantage and didn't let a soul stand in his path




Alexander the Great: Conqueror or Killer?

"This army Alexander inherited, and with it the idea that war meant not the defeat of the enemy, the return of the dead, the construction of a trophy and the settlement of existing disputes but rather the annihilation of all combatants and the destruction of the culture itself that had dared to field such opposition to his imperial rule."
-
Victor Davis Hanson, Butcher of Macedon

Alexander the Great is known as one of the greatest, most skilled battle strategists of all time, as he continued to take over a vast area of Asia Minor, Persia, winning war after war, combat after combat and taking life after life. He and his army killed thousands upon thousands, relentless in their slaughterings, whether man, woman, child, slave. But were these killings all justified? That is the question historians have and will continue to ask themselves for years to come, and the only real answer is, in my opinion, no. He was merciless in allowing endless amounts of lives to be taken on his account without a single regret. He felt he was born a warrior, and therefore meant to kill. So he conquered as much territory as possible, to fulfill his own greedy need to be almighty. How can this be justified?


Genocide

"Alexander's inaugural Theban holocaust puts his murder in league with ethnic obliterations of our own era-Adolf's Hitler wartime retaliatory annihilation of occupied communities, Hafez Assad's erasure of wayward Syrian villages or Saddam Hussein's gassing and butchery of Iraqi Kurds."

-Butcher of Macedon

The writer, Victor Davis Hanson, makes quite the claim when stating that Alexander the Great was in the same league of murderers as Sadaam Hussein and Hitler. Through his utter destruction of Thebes, Alexander sent a message to other city-states that he would take no prisoners. It also showed his pure ruthlessness and lack of respect for anyone or anything except for his army. It is evident that Alexander played by his own rules, blood-thirsty and willing to do anything to secure power.

Power

"What is wisdom? Or what fairer gift from the gods in men's eyes than to hold the hand of power over the head of one's enemies? And 'what is fair is always followed."

-The Bacchae

This quote is referring to the pursuit of power. It is stating that "holding the hald of power over the head of one's enemies" is the greatest feeling and the means to this end are the ones that are always followed. Also, up until this point, the chorus had been stating that observance of the Gods was the greatest cause, however the message is now changed in order to benefit them personally.

Heros

"A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men."
~ Plato

We will change.


"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
~ Barack Obama

Live your Life

“Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?”
~ Bob Marley

Good vs. Bad

"Are people good because they want to be? Or are they good because they are afraid to be bad? ... I think the good person will be no different from the bad person."
~ Plato

I agree with this statement as long as the situation is within reasonable bounds according to personal morals and the law. Essentially morals can only be broken if an individual holds them (and of course abides by the law). So, if that is determined then what about temptation? Does it get in the way of morals? Can it be said that selfishness does too? Why do we as humans give in to the temptation to be bad? I personally don't think that this is such a terrible thing. Being able to give in to some temptation can be a good thing depending on the situation and the context it holds. Opposed to this, I can also say that it is also a good thing to resist temptation; to not give in to what we want when we want it. Most importantly, this references back to the Greek theory of "balance" in life. Does this balance enable us to make these choices? Do we get too carried away with giving in to temptation or resisting it? These questions have to be asked by the individual at question. Only they themselves can judge this for only them.

For Freedom

A while back our class had a group discussion about freedom and the sense of independent freedom in society. What does freedom mean to you? What does it represent? These are just a few of the questions we were faced with in our discussion. Given the task of writing down a personal answer, I'm sure that each student in the class had a different one. Is freedom the right to an opinion? Is it the opportunity to speak your mind truthfully? I say it is the ability to choose for yourself. To be able to decided (for you) what is right and what is wrong. What is helpful and what is a hindrance. To make choices enables an individual to have power over their own life at will. However, making a "bad" choice versus a "right" choice all depends on the values and morals he or she has based on the people around them in life and their upbringing.
Freedom can be many things to many different people and it can be said that the true definition of freedom nothing but undecidable.



"It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either."
~ Mark Twain

Those Who Fall the Hardest


"Why, know that over-stubborn wills are the most apt to fall, and the toughest iron, baked in the fire till it is hard, is most often, you will see, cracked and shattered!"

-Creon, Antigone

One of the most unfair aspects of life is the fact that those who stand up for their beliefs face more threat of punishment than those who do not. This injustice has existed since the time of the Ancient Greek playwrights, and has been evident through history ever since. 16th century martyrs such as Thomas More faced execution for their religious convictions, French citizens were promptly guillotined during the French Revolution if they opposed the provisional government, men who fought for their countries were the first to die on the battlefield. Through the course of taking Classical Civilizations, I have not only learned the makings of a civilization, but have begun to recognize the pitfalls of civilization. This idea that "over-stubborn wills are the most apt to fall" affirms that in certain aspects of society, weakness is, in fact, the key to survival.

Butcher of Macedon

"Yet human experience has moral constants across time and space that are common to all cultures and cannot be explained away; by any fair measure, Alexander's inaugural Theban holocaust puts his murder in league with ethnic obliterations of our own era - Adolf Hitler's wartime retaliatory annihilation of occupied communities, Hafez Assad's erasure of wayward Syrian villages or Saddam Hussein's gassing and butchery of Iraqi Kurds - all government-sponsored murder, passed off through propoganda and disinformation as the regrettable but inevitable wages of conflict."
- Butcher of Macedon by Victor Davis Hanson

I sometimes lose sight of that saying that history repeats itself, instead believing that we re-invent history as time goes on. To a point we do, finding new ways to achieve the old results, but the fundamental emotion or idea behind it remains the same. Hatred, sadism, anger - these emotions don't change, they follow us throughout time and never let go and these emotions are the ones that fuel the terror that is inflicted on society. Alexander is portrayed as this incredible man, a brilliant tactition with the ability to conquer the world in the common story but this article counter acts the brilliant mind with the guilty act. He was a cold-blooded killer with no respect for human life or any form of mercy and yet this idea of him as this great leader continues unmarked by his indiscretions. He was the predecessor of Hitler and Hussein and he was probably the pupil of someone else - the vicious cycle continues.

The Female Alexander

"Let no one think me weak, contemptible, untroublesome. No, quite the opposite, hurtful to foes, to friends unkindly. Such persons live a life of greatest glory."
-Medea

While reading the excerpt from Medea again, I stumbled across this quote that Medea speaks in justification of her actions. I thought it related nicely to my last post about Alexander the Great's method of achieving "greatness", following the principle outlined by Medea above. Obviously the two share the idea that the greatest glory can only be achieved through actions that will frighten and deter others.
It is interesting to compare how this mindset affected both Alexander and Medea. Alexander, through bloody conquests, achieved the title of "Great" and lives on in history books as a legend. Medea, on the otherhand, is deemed a "wretched woman", living on in literature as a villainess. The reason for the discrepancy is simple: Alexander was a man, and Medea was a woman. For Medea, there was no glory to be won in war, no way to avenge Jason's betrayal. Therefore, she had to make do with manipulating her own situation to carry out her vengeance. This transition from woman's world to man's world was ineffective, proving that Medea was still pinned to society's views of the duties of women, duties that came with much more restrictions and judgement than those of men.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Work

"For the gods keep the means of life concealed from humans. Otherwise you would easily be able to work in just one day as to have enough for a whole year without even working."

-Hesiod (Loeb Classical Library Leader; Works and Days)

Work is overrated. This is an obvious statement; you might think "True, I'm lazy, I hate work". I very much agree. Our society, however, does not agree with this. Work, not family, not happiness, not love, nor any other unquantifiable, yet fundamentally more rewarding quality, has become the foundation of western society. Students spend hours working on assignments and studying for exams not to learn or to expand their minds, but to prepare themselves for university and eventually a career, in hopes of earning as much money as they can dream of. This is not to say that the Greeks envisioned this type of society, but they did value work over and above everything else. This quote, to me, says that if the gods are concealing the means of life and work is something that isn't concealed, then work is not to means of life. What the means are though, I am not sure.

Such a terrible situation.

It can be said that under the influence of the wine god, Agaue would not have attacked Pentheus. Since it is she who betrays her own son and kills him, we see that she is sick. So much like an animal with rabies, she cannot hear he son’s pleas for his life. Under the control of Dionysus, her sense are gone and no longer is she Pentheus’ mother than a wild animal on a killing spree. “not by strength but by ease of hand that was the gift of the god.” This quote also tells us that she does not have the power over her own actions at this point. It is Dionysus himself that is doing this deed with his own power.
Relating this to Greek culture, we see uncivilized behavior from Agave who is under the spell of Dionysus. This goes to show us that Dionysus is not acting godlike at all but rather using his powers to take advantage and seek revenge on the people.

Determining Greatness

GREAT- [greyt] Show IPA adjective,-er, -est, adverb, noun,pluralgreats, (especially collectively) great, interjection
-unusual or considerable in degree, power, intensity
-important; highly significant or consequential
-distinguished; famous

I was intrigued by the two contrasting views of Alexander the Great depicted in the History
Channel documentary and the "Butcher of Macedon" essay. The documentary seemed to better fit the image of the man whose legend has lived on for millenia, but the essay (despite its negative tone) is probably valid too. I think the mistake is to assume that only one depiction of this "great" man is accurate.
The documentary told the story of a brilliant military strategian and intellectual who expanded Greece's empire; the essay focused on the horrific means by which Alexander executed his conquests, suggesting that in truth he was no more than a weak alcoholic with a penchant for bloodshed. We cannot regard these events as mutually exclusive. In fact, in all likelihood, Alexander was considered great because he was ruthless. Disregarding 21st century views of "greatness" and considering instead those of the ancient world, we find that greatness is inspired by fear. In nations of warriors, a weak and compromisable man would never have achieved such feats. To vanquish, he would have had to be strong, determined, and probably terrifying. Without being able to inspire fear, he would not have been regarded as a threat.
Combining the two views, we arrive at what is probably the most accurate depiction of Alexander; war tactician who used his intellect and skill to inspire fear in those around him, often through violence and bloodshed, to achieve the ultimate goal: building an empire. Does this qualify him as great?
Just look at the definition.