Caesar's Trail

Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Emerson

Caesar was different than leaders before him in the fact that he strove to prove himself through innovative means. Instead of following the conventional paths of major Roman political figures before him, Caesar undertook tasks that set him apart from his contemporaries and predecessors. He proved his ingenuity through means seldom seen before; his feats of engineering (the bridge he mentions in his writings), his treatment of men who had once fought against him (Brutus, during the Civil War), and his ambitious conquests (Gaul and Britain) distinguished Caesar as a man of insurmountable vision. Caesar was definitely a leader who rejected the path well-worn and instead chose to forge his own destiny.

Biography of Great Men

The history of the world is but the
biography of great men.
Thomas Carlyle

If the history of the world is the biography of great men, then the history of Rome is no exception. Rome's legacy and history was woven by a series of ambitious, prolific, and visionary leaders and commanders, one of the most prominent being Julius Caesar. Politics were an integral part of Roman life, and Caesar dominated the politics of the later years of the Roman Republic. From his role in the First Triumvirate and his conquests of Gaul and Britain to his assumption of governmental control over Pompey and his brutal death in the Senate, Caesar was responsible for leading Rome through different phases of history. Caesar's ambition and military prowess sparked events such as as the Civil War and the ushering in of the Roman Empire. Through his actions, a significant portion of Roman history was shaped.

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

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.

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.

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.

A Recipe for Happiness

"The end of tongues uncurbed and lawless foolishness is unhappiness; but the life of quiet contentment and good sense survives the buffeting of the sea and keeps homes together; for though they dwell far off in the sky, yet the heavenly ones observe the deeds of men."

-Antistrophe, The Bacchae

Throughout The Bacchae, we see Pentheus acting in a rash and irrational manner. Speaking vehemently about things he didn't understand, refusing to believe the words of those wiser than him, and quickly jumping to conclusions without solid evidence, Pentheus is an example of a man whose "uncurbed tongue" and "lawless foolishness" resulted in his unhappiness and demise. Had Pentheus and his family exercised good sense, not only could he have been spared from his unfortunate fate, but the royal house could have avoided being disbanded, its members thrown into exile.

In my AP English class, we are reading King Lear by Shakespeare. I have noticed many parallels to The Bacchae on the theme of rashness vs reason. Lear, elderly and quick-tempered, exiles his most loyal and beloved daughter, Cordelia, when her description of the love she has for him fails to please him. Refusing to accept her explanation or listen to the common sense of his advisors, Lear banishes Cordelia and splits his kingdom between his two remaining daughters, the conniving Regan and Goneril. The decision to ignore reason and act rashly results in Lear's great suffering and abandonment at the hands of his daughters.

These two works of literature, written almost a thousand years apart, both reflect the same wisdom. Refuse reason and deny wisdom, they say, and suffer the consequences.

Forge Your Own Destiny

"Let no lack of a pilot at the helm concern you, no, just step your mast and spread your white sail wide."

-Circe, Book 10, The Odyssey

Tyranny...The Answer to Inaction?

"Greek sources label Pisistratus and his sons tyrants. This was a foreign word signifying individuals who ruled over Greek cities, and in fact many cities, not just Athens, went through a period of one-man rule in the late seventh and sixth centuries B.C. Whether they ruled well or badly, whether they seized power or inherited it or were appointed by a higher authority, the Greeks called these rulers tyrants, not kings...For this reason, and because tyrants were often associated with arbitrary and cruel behaviour, the word has negative connotations."
-The Ancient Mediterranean World

As a society, we take great pains to avoid concentration of power in any individual, especially in our governmental systems. The rise of bureaucracies and parliaments have facilitated a dilution of power, and many countries, such as America, have established governments where there are internal checks and balances so as to prevent complete power being vested in a single person or body. Afraid of arbitrary rule, we see an eminent corruption in an individual who wields too much power. Concentration of power seems to be the recipe for the demise of freedom.
However, this has not always been the case. Throughout history, this concept of "tyranny" has often proved favourable. In times of civil unrest, war, or instability, having one man making decisions and following a set policy was more effective than having different bodies vying to exercise their own opinions, wasting time and causing divisiveness within a nation. In many cases, when power becomes too spread out, the actions of a government become futile. In modern times, inaction, caused by minority governments and opposing parties, is a problem that many countries struggle with.
Should we be so quick to condemn the concentration of power?

The Prevalence of Patriotism

"I know no sweeter sight on earth than a man's own native country."

-Odysseus, The Odyssey, Book 9

The Latest and Greatest

"It is always the latest song, the one that echoes last in the listeners' ears, that people praise the most." -Telemachus (The Odyssey)


Humans beings seem to have always housed the desire to discover the next best thing, praising the up-and -coming and shunning older models. How many of us discarded our perfectly functional iPods or cell phones when a newer, more exciting model was introduced? Does our desire for the latest and (so we think) greatest reflect an appreciation of innovation, or a naïve belief that the new is always an improvement from the old?

The Path to Glory

"It is from the greatest dangers that the greatest glory may be won."

-Greece: Crucible of Civilization

Back in October, we watched a video called "Greece: Crucible of Civilization" that outlines the history of Ancient Greece until the Persian Wars. I copied down a line from the narration, as I thought it was particularly applicable to not only Greek history, but the hero's epic as well. Just as the Greeks won respect and a strong reputation for their triumph in the face of danger, Odysseus became the hero that he was through overcoming obstacles. The magnitude of these obstacles helped augment his glory, for it is true: the more difficult the task, the more praise you merit.

What Happened to Eternal Paradise?

"No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus!

By god, I'd rather slave on earth for another man-

Some dirt poor tenant farmer who scrapes to keep alive-

Than rule down here over the breathless dead."

-Achilles, The Odyssey, Book 11

In many religions around the world, there is a sense of justice exercised in the afterlife. Good, deserving people are allowed admittance to a utopia of sorts where all their benevolence on earth will be rewarded; evil people with dark pasts are sent to a hell where they pay for their sins. However, this was not the case for the Greeks, who saw no paradise awaiting them after they breathed their last breath. Death was an equalizer, and a dark one at that. Not even heroes like the great Achilles could find honour in the afterlife, which he expresses in the quote above. Death was not a comfort; there was no talk of going to a "better place". Achilles' vehement decree that he would rather live as the lowliest being on earth than rule in death reflects the importance the Greeks saw in life, greatly contrasting other religions' concern with devoting their days on earth to readying their immortal soul for the afterlife.

Can Grief Lead to Good?

"What good can come of grief?"

-Book 10, The Odyssey

In book 10 of the Odyssey, there are several instances of turmoil and sadness that result in Odysseus questioning whether grief can result in any good. He seems to come to the conclusion that it cannot, as he encourages his crew to shake off their unhappiness so as to focus on the task ahead.

I found the question of "what good can come of grief?" quite interesting. I don't think grief is a futile sentiment. Although I can see where a grieving crew might hinder a hero's journey, in the real world I believe that grief has a valid purpose. It is through grief that people can reflect, learn lessons, and realize the importance of whatever was lost. I see grief as a tribute to a life lost, where the person who is mourning can appreciate the magnitude of their love in such a way that may not have been possible while the object of their grief lived. I think grief is vital part of the healing process, a period of deep affectation that can result in a rejuvenation instead of an omnipresent ache that has not been properly dealt with. Perhaps if Odysseus allowed his crew to grieve, he would lead happier men into the next stages of their journey.

What do you think?

Does Evil Complement Good?

"There were moments when he looked on evil simply as a mode through which he could realise his conception of the beautiful."
-Oscar Wilde, "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

This is my second time quoting from this book, but I could really go on forever. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde is my favourite novel, offering incredible insight into art, beauty, good, evil, sin, religion, and class.

This quote touches on an interesting philosophical concept. Could good and beauty exist without the parallel of evil and ugliness? Is it the contrast in which we discover true merit, the ability to compare that leads us to distinguish one from the other? I'm not a fan of philosophy and its roundabout tendancies, but this question intrigues me. I agree with the speaker of this quote. I believe that if we weren't aquainted with evil, then we could never appreciate the good in the world to its fullest extent.

"The World's Original Sin."

"Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different."
-Oscar Wilde, "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Words of Wisdom

"Everything and everyone around you is your teacher."
-Ken S. Keyes

Our Own Odysseys

"I am a part of all that I have met."
-Alfred Tennyson, "Ulysses"

The poem "Ulysses" by Tennyson is an account of Odysseus' (or Ulysses') life, told by the hero himself. I've known this poem for a while, and ever since I first read it, one line in particular has stayed with me. "I am a part of all that I have met", Odysseus claims.
Starting to read "The Odyssey" and being familiar with the story, I know that Odysseus' life was characterized by adventures, voyages, and tribulations. The extent of his "odyssey" isn't echoed in most peoples' lives, but this statement is true for all people. We don't need to be heroes or adventurers like Odysseus to be shaped by external forces. The events we live through and the places we go affect us all, imprinting themselves in our being and molding us into what we ultimately become. Odyssus himself is everyman in this sense, shaped by his circumstances, a part of all that he has met.