Homer, OdysseyLLT 180

Spring MMXVIII

The Ancient Greek World, 600 BC

Ten Minute History of Ancient Greece2000-1100 BC: Mycenean Age1200 BC: Traditional date of the fall of Troy1100 BC-750 BC: Dark Age (myths passed on

orally)480 BC - 323 BC: Classical Period323 BC - 31 BC: Hellenistic-Roman Period

Homer’s World

Literacy and Non-LiteracyCreators of types of writing• Cuneiform (Sumerians 3000 BC), hieroglyphics (Ancient

Egyptians)• Linear A-Indigenous Greeks (we cannot read), • Linear B-Mycenaeans (pictographic)

Consequences of end of the Mycenean Era• Greek civilization “forgot” how to write – “Dark Ages”• Literacy brought back in by Phoenicians in the mid 700s

BC• Traditional stories assumed written form

Changes in written vs. oral literature• Very little additional “invention” left• Becomes more artistic than popular

Epic Pötry• Predates literacy (“illiterate” = misnomer)• Mesopotamians and Egyptians became literate

early• Greece largely non-literate until ca. 750 BC• Epic poetry = poetry for non-literate by the non-

literate• Requires a good “beat” so people can remember

it• Dactylic hexameter – so called from finger• “Made from scratch” every time – lots of

improvisation• Heavy on the repetition – grates on the ears of

the literate• Necessary for retaining the characters, plot, etc.• About the only type of entertainment back in the

day• Greeks supposedly learned how to write because

of Homer

Homer

Hömer (ca. 750 BC)• Name given to the “author” of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

• One person? Two? Multiple? Male? Female? Blind?• Who cares?• Iliad: pöm about what happened when Achilles

got mad• Odyssey: pöm about Odysseus getting home to

Penelope• His pötry was regarded as historically correct• His pötry was regarded as Greece’s greatest

cultural work• His pötry conveyed ETHICAL LEADERSHIP• His pötry conveyed COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT• His pötry conveyed CULTURAL COMPETENCE

Sing, O Muse

Meet the Greek Gods• Zeus (Jupiter)• Hera (Juno)• Poseidon (Neptune)• Athena (Minerva)• Aphrodite (Venus)• Ares (Mars)• Hades (Ploutos)• Hephaestus (Vulcan)

Greek society• Ancient Greece is a people, not a country like

Greece today.• Ancient Greeks could live in modern Greece,

modern Turkey, and modern Italy• Even the Trojans, who were not Greeks, spoke

fluid Ancient Greek and worshiped the ancient Greek deities

• Cities are ruled by kings, who are of roughly equal status

• No democracy in Homer’s time, but there is freedom of speech

• The King of Mycenae is the unofficial “senior” king and de facto leader of the Ancient Greeks

• The current king of Mycenae is Agamemnon

Homeric Code• An exercise in acquiring CULTURAL

COMPETENCE • Similarly depressing Weltanschauung, as we

will see• Major concern was demonstrating arete (virtue)• All arete was lost if you let somebody mess with

you• If you died with your arete intact, you got kleos

(fame)• Basically, arete and kleos were the purpose of

existence• Not too different from Gilgamesh’s desire to get

fame• Quest for arete and kleos caused Trojan War• Helen, oath of Tyndareus, Judgment of Paris,

wrath of Achilles• Achilles = best of the Achaeans and greatest

Greek ever• Odysseus = scofflaw trying to get back to

Penelope

Leda and the Swan

Helen of Troy SpartaLeda and the Swan• Leda, wife of Tyndareus of Sparta, raped by Zeus in form of

a swan.• Leda also has sex with Tyndareus the same night. Leda lays

two eggs. • Mortal egg: Castor and Clytemnestra • Immortal egg: Polydeuces (Pollux) and Helen

Children of Zeus and Leda• Castor dies; Pollux can’t stand it, so they share Pollux’s

immortality • 1 day on Mt. Olympus, 1 day in Underworld. • Clytemnestra and Agamemnon have three children- Orestes,

Electra, Iphigenia • All Helen's suitors vow to honor her choice of husband =

Menelaus.

Rubenesque

The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis• All the deities invited except for Eris (discord) • Eris throws out golden apple inscribed "For the

Fairest" • Hera, Athena, Aphrodite claim prize• Zeus is too smart to serve as judge • Prince Paris of Troy agrees to serve as judge;

chooses Aphrodite; • Receives most beautiful woman in world, Helen

as his prize • Helen is already married to King Menelaus of

Sparta• Paris received as guest of Menelaus; • Helen is driven craaazy by Aphrodite; they steal

treasures and flee

The Ten Minute Iliad• Not about Trojan War, but weeks in 10th year of

Trojan War• Achilles and Agamemnon have their hissy fit• Achilles angered by blow to his arete• Achilles and Patroclus disengage from the Greek

army• Greeks basically get womped by Trojans for 14

books• Patroclus pulls his Armor of Achilles stunt• Gets killed by Hector – Achilles left with a

dilemma• Life without kleos or die young with kleos?• Achilles’ choice, Trojan Horse, nostoi = sequels• Agamemnon comes home, killed by

Clytemnestra• Odysseus tries for 10 years to come home to

Penelope• Remains faithful to Penelope the entire time

The Ten Minute Odyssey• Penelope is keeping the suitors at bay with her

weaving• Telemachus is being a whiny young pup• Telemachus has a talk with MENTOR• Telemachus seeks COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT• Odysseus and Cyclops = arete, kleos (and what

else?)• Odysseus weeping on Calypso’s Island• Calypso sends him home to the Phaeacians on

Skheria• Nausicaa, Alkinoos, Arete = tells his story• Home on Ithaka, lies and investigates• Encounters Argos and Telemachus• Archery Contest for Penelope’s hand• The Final Contest

My fame has reached the heavens I am Odysseus, Laertes’ son, known to all for my stratagems, and my fame has reached the heavens. My home is under Ithaca’s clear skies: our Mount Neriton, clothed with whispering forest is visible from afar: and clustered round it are many isles, Dulichium and Same and wooded Zacynthus. Ithaca itself lies low in the sea, furthest towards the west, while the others are separate, towards the dawn and the rising sun. It’s a rugged land, but nurtures fine young men: and speaking for myself I know nothing sweeter than one’s own country. Calypso, the lovely goddess, kept me there in her echoing caves, because she wished me for her husband, and in the same way Circe, the Aeaean witch, detained me in her palace, longing to make me hers: but they failed to move my heart.

The Wanderings of Odysseus

The Wanderings of Odysseus• Ciconians• Lotus Eaters• Polyphemus Island• Aeolus Island• Laestrygonians• Circe• Katabasis• Sirens• Scylla & Charybdis• Cattle of the Sun• Calypso• Phaeacians

Getting There

Cave of PolyphemusSoon we came to the cave, and found him absent, he was grazing his well-fed flocks in the fields. So we went inside and marvelled at its contents. There were baskets full of cheeses, and pens crowded with lambs and kids, each flock with its firstlings, later ones, and newborn separated. The pails and bowls for milking, all solidly made, were swimming with whey. At first my men begged me to take some cheeses and go, then to drive the lambs and kids from the pens down to the swift ship and set sail. But I would not listen, though it would have been best, wishing to see the giant himself, and test his hospitality. When he did appear he proved no joy to my men.

Ouch!

Ouch!As he spoke, he reeled and toppled over on his back, his thick neck twisted to one side, and all-conquering sleep overpowered him. In his drunken slumber he vomited wine and pieces of human flesh. Then I thrust the stake into the depth of the ashes to heat it, and inspired my men with encouraging words, so none would hang back from fear. When the olivewood stake was glowing hot, and ready to catch fire despite its greenness, I drew it from the coals, then my men stood round me, and a god breathed courage into us. They held the sharpened olivewood stake, and thrust it into his eye, while I threw my weight on the end, and twisted it round and round in his eye, and the blood poured out despite the heat. His lids and brows were scorched by flame from the burning eyeball, and its roots crackled with fire.

Contact InformationKing Odysseus, son of LaertesRoyal Palace 10Ithaka, GR 65897-1000http://www.ithaka.gr#TheRealOdysseus

Circe

ΑἰαίαI split my armed comrades into two groups, each with its own leader. I took command of one, and the other was led by noble Eurylochus. Then we shook lots in a bronze helmet, and brave Eurylochus’s lot leapt out. Off he went with twenty-two tearful men, leaving us behind with our grief. They found Circe’s house of polished stone, in a clearing in the forest glades. Round it wolves and mountain lions prowled, bewitched by Circe with her magic drugs. Instead of rushing to attack my men, they rose on their hind legs and wagged their tails. and they could hear Circe’s sweet voice singing inside, as she went to and fro in front of a vast divine tapestry, weaving the finely-made, lovely, shining work of the goddesses.

Odysseus’s Katabasis - overview• Circe sends Odysseus to go see Tiresias for

directions• Sail past the Pillars of Heracles (liminal

experience)• Right turn and then another right turn• Elpenor = archetype of the Sacrificed Man (like

Enkidu)• Kills two sheeps and pours blood into the trench• Greek Weltanschauung is almost as dismal as

Sumerian• Tiresias = gives directions• Anticleia = teaches him about the body and soul• Agamemnon = relationship advice• Achilles = the worth of arete and kleos• Heracles = life just isn’t fair!

Straits of Gibraltar

Katabasis on Cyclops IslandThen I ordered the rest of my loyal friends to stay there and guard the ship, while I selected the twelve best men and went forward. I took with me a goatskin filled with dark sweet wine that Maron, priest of Apollo, had given me. None of his serving-men and maids knew of this store, only he and his loyal wife, and one housekeeper. When they drank that honeyed red wine, he would pour a full cup into twenty of water, and the bouquet that rose from the mixing bowl was wonderfully sweet: in truth no one could hold back. I filled a large goatskin with the wine, and took it along, with some food in a bag, since my instincts told me the giant would come at us quickly, a savage being with huge strength, knowing nothing of right or law.

Pillars of Heracles

Topology of the Classical Katabasis• Long, tedious, frightening journey, usually dark• Sacrificed Man• Liminal Experience: threshold, point of know

return• Monsters, guardians, gates, fire, slogans• Body of poisonous, stinky water (eg Styx)• Surly boatman who is not really a wisdom figure• Realm of the blessed souls (Elysium, not Heaven)• Tartarus = 53 top sinners of the ancient world• Dark, pointless, practically Mesopotamian

existence• Hero reflects on life and public affairs• Hero makes the long trip back• Hero passes through the liminal gate = rebirth?

SacrificeWhen I had prayed sufficiently to the dead, I cut the throats of the two sheep and let the blood run into the trench, whereon the ghosts came trooping up from Erebus -- brides, young bachelors, old men worn out with toil, maids who had been crossed in love, and brave men who had been killed in battle, with their armor still smirched with blood; they came from every quarter and flitted round the trench with a strange kind of screaming sound that made me turn pale with fear. When I saw them coming I told the men to be quick and flay the carcasses of the two dead sheep and make burnt offerings of them, and at the same time to repeat prayers to Hades and to Persephone; but I sat where I was with my sword drawn and would not let the poor feckless ghosts come near the blood till Teiresias answered my questions.

Greek Underworld Topology• River Styx, boatman Charon, • Other rivers: Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe,

Pyriphlegethon• Judges: Minos, Rhadamanthus, Aeacus• Monsters: Gorgon, Empousa, doggy Cerberus• 53 Top Sinners of the Underworld• Elysian Fields: gotta have good connections• Tartarus: gotta be an exceptionally bad sinner• Sacrificed Man: Elpenor

Odysseus meets Elpenor

The Sacrificed Man'The first ghost that came was that of my comrade Elpenor, for he had not yet been laid beneath the earth. We had left his body unwaked and unburied in Circe's house, for we had had too much else to do. I was very sorry for him, and cried when I saw him: 'Elpenor,' said I, 'how did you come down here into this gloom and darkness? You have here on foot quicker than I have with my ship.'

''Sir,' he answered with a groan, 'it was all bad luck, and my own unspeakable drunkenness. I was lying asleep on the top of Circe's house, and never thought of coming down by the staircase but fell right off the roof and broke my neck, so my soul went down to the house of Hades. And now I beseech you by your wife, by your father, and by Telemachus - do what I shall now ask you. I know you will again hold your ship for the Aeaean island. Do not go thence leaving me unwaked and unburied behind you.

Hades and Persephone

Charon

Heracles and Cerberus

53 Top Sinners of Classical MythThe basic premise is that in order to rate eternal punishment, one has to do something especially awful (think Adolf Hitler or Dr. Phil). Otherwise one basically gets the “basic level” afterlife as a disembodied spirit with no ability to communicate with others.

• Ixion: tried to rape Hera, ring of fire• Tantalus: fed kid to gods, tantalized• Tityus: tried to rape Leto, gutter eagle• Sisyphus: cheated death, rolling stone• Danaids: killed husbands, fill bathtub

The 53 Top Sinners

Tantalus, Sisyphus, Ixion

Tityus

Odysseus and AnticleiaAnd tell me of my wife, her thoughts and intentions. Is she still with her son, and all safe? Or has whoever is best among the Achaeans wedded her?” So I spoke, and my revered mother replied: “Truly, that loyal heart still lives in your palace, and in weeping the days and night pass sadly for her. No man has taken your realm, as yet, and Telemachus holds the land unchallenged.

So too fate brought me to the grave. It was not the Goddess of the Bow who slew me in the palace with gentle arrows, nor did I die of some disease, one that steals the body’s strength. No, what robbed me of my life and its honeyed sweetness was yearning for you, my glorious Odysseus, for your kindness and your counsels.”

Odysseus and Anticleia

Anticleia’s remarks'Then I tried to find some way of embracing my mother's ghost. Thrice I sprang towards her and tried to clasp her in my arms, but each time she flitted from my embrace as it were a dream or phantom…

''My son,' she answered, 'most ill-fated of all mankind, it is not Persephone that is beguiling you, but all people are like this when they are dead. The sinews no longer hold the flesh and bones together; these perish in the fierceness of consuming fire as soon as life has left the body, and the soul flits away as though it were a dream. Now, however, go back to the light of day as soon as you can, and note all these things that you may tell them to your wife hereafter.'

Agamemnon’s remarks''Be sure, therefore,' continued Agamemnon, 'and not be too friendly even with your own wife. Do not tell her all that you know perfectly well yourself. Tell her a part only, and keep your own counsel about the rest. Not that your wife, Odysseus, is likely to murder you, for Penelope is a very admirable woman, and has an excellent nature…

Furthermore I say -- and lay my saying to your heart -- do not tell people when you are bringing your ship to Ithaca, but steal a march upon them, for after all this there is no trusting women.

Achilles’s remarks'Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, what deed of daring will you undertake next, that you venture down to the house of Hades among us silly dead, who are but the ghosts of them that can labour no more?' 'And I said, 'Achilles, son of Peleus, foremost champion of the Achaeans, I came to consult Teiresias...As for you, Achilles, no one was ever yet so fortunate as you have been, nor ever will be, for you were adored by all us Argives as long as you were alive, and now that you are here you are a great prince among the dead. Do not, therefore, take it so much to heart even if you are dead.' ''Say not a word,' he answered, 'in death's favor; I would rather be a paid servant in a poor man's house and be above ground than king of kings among the dead.

Heracles’s remarksHercules knew me at once when he saw me, and spoke piteously, saying, my poor Odysseus, noble son of Laertes, are you too leading the same sorry kind of life that I did when I was above ground? I was son of Zeus, but I went through an infinity of suffering, for I became bondsman to one who was far beneath me -- a low fellow who set me all manner of labors. He once sent me here to fetch the hell-hound -- for he did not think he could find anything harder for me than this…

…And I should have seen still other of them that are gone before, whom I would fain have seen -- Theseus and Pirithous glorious children of the gods, but so many thousands of ghosts came round me and uttered such appalling cries, that I was panic stricken lest Persephone should send up from the house of Hades the head of that awful monster Gorgon…

After the katabasis• Trip back to Mediterranean not discussed much• How has Odysseus changed?• Cyclops story = how Odysseus sought arete• Sireens = carpe diem• Scylla & Charybdis: ETHICAL LEADERSHIP • Cattle of the Sun• Behavior among the Phaeaecians = meets

Nausicaa• Sings about his travels but has to eat first• Talks to Queen Arete and she sends him home

The Sirens sweetly singing

Rest of the story• Odysseus makes it back to Ithaka• Assisted by Athena• Visits his palace disguised as a beggar• Beats up one of the suitors• Hooks up with Telemachus and swineherd

Eumaios• Recognized by his old dog Argos• Penelope announces the contest for her hand• String Odysseus’s bow and shoot arrow through

12 axe heads• All the suitors produce is a big epic fail• Beggar tries; Telemachus and Eumaios join in the

slaughter• War of wits between Penelope and Odysseus

Argus the DogAnd a dog, lying there, lifted its head and pricked up its ears. Argus was the hound of Odysseus, who had bred him himself, though he sailed to Ilium before he could enjoy his company. Once the young men used to take the dog out after wild goat, deer and hare, but with his master gone he lay neglected by the gate, among the heaps of mule and cattle dung used to manure the fields. There, plagued by ticks, lay Argus the hound. But suddenly aware of Odysseus’ presence, he wagged his tail and flattened his ears, though no longer strong enough to crawl to his master. Odysseus turned his face aside and hiding it from Eumaeus wiped away a tear then quickly said: ‘it’s strange indeed to see this dog lying in the dung. As for Argus, seeing Odysseus again in this twentieth year, the hand of dark death seized him.

Reunited

Odysseus and the SirensThen, troubled at heart, I spoke to the crew: “Friends, it is not right that only one or two of us should know the prophecies of the lovely goddess, Circe. I will tell all, so that escaping fate and death or no, at least you are forewarned. First she advised us to evade the voices of the marvellous Sirens in their flowering meadow. She commanded me alone to listen. You are to tie me hand and foot and stand me upright in the mast housing, and fasten the rope ends round the mast itself, and if I beg you to free me, bind me yet more tightly.”’

Irus the Beggar …all the young men called him Irus, because he ran errands on demand. Once he arrived he was all for driving Odysseus out of his palace, and began to abuse him: ‘Get away from the threshold, old man, before you have to be dragged away by the feet. See how they all give me the nod, telling me to haul you out? Still, I’m ashamed to stoop to that. So, up with you, before we quarrel and come to blows.’

Resourceful Odysseus then made a clever request: ‘Friends, there’s no way an old man weakened by suffering can take on a younger. Nevertheless this hungry belly of mine, always creating trouble, prompts me to try and last out his blows. So, come now, swear a binding oath, that none of you will side with Irus, heavy-handedly deal me a foul blow, and by violent means make me lose to this fellow.’

The Demise of IrusAt this Irus’ limbs quivered all the more, as they prodded him into the ring, where both raised their fists. Then noble long-suffering Odysseus debated whether to strike him dead on the spot, or deal him a soft blow but still lay him flat on the ground. Throwing a softer punch seemed best, he thought, seeking to deceive the Achaeans. As they stood up to each other, Irus let fly at Odysseus’ right shoulder, but Odysseus struck him on the neck under the ear, crushing the bone, so the blood ran red from his mouth, and he pitched in the dust with a groan, gnashing his teeth and flailing the ground with his feet. At this the noble Suitors threw up their hands and nearly died of laughter. Then Odysseus grabbed him by the foot, and dragged him out of the door, into the courtyard and up to the portico gates.

A War of Wits“Come then, Eurycleia, and have the great bed dragged from the fine bridal chamber he built himself, and cover it with rugs and fleeces and brightly coloured blankets.’

These were words to test her husband. But Odysseus, angered, rounded on his loyal wife: ‘Lady, those are truly bitter words you speak. Who has moved my bed? That would be hard, even with the greatest skill, unless perhaps some god arrived who could easily choose to set it down somewhere else. But no mortal man alive however young and strong could easily shift it from its place, since a great secret went into its making, and it was my work and mine alone. A long-leafed olive tree, strong and vigorous, and thick as a pillar, grew in the courtyard…

Together at lastAs he spoke, revealing the unchanged truth she knew, Penelope’s knees gave way and her heart melted. Bursting into tears she ran to Odysseus, flung her arms about his neck, and kissing his face cried: ‘Odysseus, don’t be angry with me, you who in everything were always the most understanding of men. Our sorrows came from the gods, who begrudged our enjoying our youth and reaching old age together. Don’t be angry, or upset, because I didn’t give you this welcome the moment I saw you.

Yeah, but…

Agamemnon approves in HadesSo we died, Agamemnon, and our bodies still lie uncared-for in Odysseus’ great hall since the news has not yet reached our homes and summoned our friends to wash the black blood from our wounds, and lay out or bodies, grieving as befits the dead.’

Then the ghost of Atreus’ son cried out: ‘Odysseus, son of Laertes, how resourceful, and how truly fortunate to have won so excellent a wife. What depth of wisdom there is in flawless Penelope, Icarius’ daughter! How faithfully she kept her husband’s image in her mind! So the glory of her excellence will not fade, instead the gods will create a song of delight for mortal ears, in honour of loyal Penelope. How different the ways of Clytaemnestra, Tyndareus’ daughter, plotting evil, murdering her husband. Her tale will be a hateful one to mankind, and she brought odium on her sex, even those of them who do right.’

The EndThey grew pale with fear at Athene’s call. The weapons flew from their hands in their terror, and fell to the ground, as they turned towards the town, eager to save their lives, eager to fly from the voice of the goddess. Then noble long-suffering Odysseus gave a chilling cry, and gathering himself he swooped on them, like an eagle from the heights, just as Zeus, son of Cronos, let fly a gleaming lightning bolt that fell at the feet of the bright-eyed daughter of that mighty Father. And bright-eyed Athene said to Odysseus: ‘Odysseus of many resources, scion of Zeus, son of Laertes hold back your hand and stop this warring among you, lest Zeus the Thunderer grows angry.’

Odysseus obeyed Athene’s words, delighted at heart. Then Pallas Athene, Zeus’ aegis-bearing daughter, in the form and with the voice of Mentor, forged a solemn truce between the warring sides.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS• Iliad was basically an ETHICAL LEADERSHIP

text• Arete and kleos are all-important in the Homeric

Code• Odyssey subverts these values• Odysseus = UNETHICAL LEADERSHIP• Odysseus focused on CULTURAL COMPETENCE • Learned something at nearly every stop on his

trip• Telemachus more COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT• Follows Mentor’s advice, grows up, helps his Dad• Penelope most COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT• Kept all of Ithaka together for 19 years• But did she practice ETHICAL LEADERSHIP?