Homer's works were in some ways the closest thing the Greeks had to a Bible. If one wanted authoritative teaching about the gods and about their dealings with mankind, one turned to Homer. Passages culled from the Iliad and the Odyssey served as "proof texts" for any point one might try to make. Likewise, Homer's writings were also the starting point for later "inspired" writers--the poets and playwrights of ancient Greece. But Homer's works are a very strange sort of Bible, and it's not always easy to say exactly what his religious views were.Please read the Iliad study questions on the syllabus, and then as much of you can of Books I-VI. Cite here a line or incident that shows how the Iliad is like a Bible or how it makes a very strange "Bible."
This is the first time I've used the Lattimore translation. I like it, but I'm finding it slower going than some translations. I prefer quality on your part to quantity, so if you only get through Books I and II, that's ok. The introduction is great, and you'll get from it a bit more about Schliemann, Evans, and Ventris.
Brek-ek-ek-ek-coax-coax.
I think that Homers Iliad is similar to the Bible because of the lessons it tries to teach, Obviously these lessons are taught in very different ways, Homers lessons being super dramatized and not always the best example but they are still simples lessons or teachings just like the Bible. These teachings aren’t the same, Homer might not have had the same beliefs as the Christian bible but he’s still able to get across his ideas of how humans should behave.
ReplyDeleteSorry I thought I was signed in, Lindsey Landenberger
DeleteThis is probably the most accurate description I've ever read of the Greek gods. Nice.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that keeps sticking in my mind while I think over what I've read is Iris. Iris, for some reason or another, every time she brings a message to anyone, reminds me of the angels in the Bible. Angels were the ones who brought the message of Jesus' birth to the shepherds and brought messages to Joseph about Mary's pregnancy. Iris bringing messages to people reminds me of angels bringing messages to all those that I listed above and more. The thing I find interesting is, when a person does a quick search on Iris, one finds that she is usually depicted with wings which is the stereotypical way we envision angels. This little factoid makes me think of her even more as the Greek version of an angel messenger. The big difference between God's angels and Iris is that Iris is a god (or at least a demigod) herself, but she is one of the underling gods whereas God's angels are more of willing servants and messengers of one God. It seems as though the less prominent gods of Olympus tend to be used as errand boys for "real" gods like Zeus...especially female gods. which seems to carry over to the human world where women are forced to be prizes of war, objects, rather than someone to actually be appreciated by their husbands. It's kind of a use and abuse situation for women and they're expected to just take it and deal with it. Regardless, Iris is like an angel messenger of sorts. It makes me wonder, though, how the daughter of a sea god and a sea nymph could somehow end up with wings rather than fins.
ReplyDeleteLove the Iris/angel comparisons. Never really thought about this.
DeleteIn book 1 of the Illiad, Achilles is upset because of a conflict involving Agamemnon, Apollo, and two maidens, Chryseis and Briseis. After conquering a Trojan town, Agamemnon takes Chryseis as his prize and Achilles takes Briseis as his. Chryseis' father prays to Apollo to free his daughter, and a plague is sent upon Agagmemnon and Achilles' camp. Achilles tries to figure out the cause of the plague, and when it is revealed to be caused by Apollo, Agamemnon becomes angry and will then only return Chryseis if Achilles does the same with Briseis. After this, Achilles also becomes enraged and threatens to withdraw from battle.
ReplyDeleteSo what do you think? Is this episode similar to Bible stories or substantially different?
DeleteThe Iliad introduces all these god and goddesses in a way that is very unique. They have a god for every event possible it seems. Okay, maybe not every event, but there is a god for war, anger, ect. It is similar to the bible in a way as there is one master god overlooking all the people. It is different as there is many other gods in the Iliad. With the bible there are apostles and others that help spread the word of the lord just not that powerful. Right away there is quite a bit of conflict between the gods. There are lessons that are being taught throughout relating to the bible in a way as well.
ReplyDeleteWe will talk later about the radical difference between monotheism and polytheism when it comes to the struggle of good and evil.
DeleteYes...I agree with Kassy. Nice summery of the gods and good contrasts with the humans of the story.
ReplyDeleteGood point. Here, and in many places, Iliad lines can and were used like Bible verses. Good advice, not necessarily in context.
ReplyDeleteGood comparison to European royalty!
ReplyDeleteGood comparisons, but note also how even Zeus is much more limited than the the Hebrew God.
ReplyDeleteWhat similarity seems to you most important?
ReplyDeleteReading the Iliad of Homer has been very interesting. I do see some similarities to the Bible. In particular the prayers, albeit poetic ones, offered up to the gods. When I first began to read, the depiction of Agamemnon made think that prayer was the last thing that he might do, but then as I read on Agamemnon recites his own prayer in the company of others. I've always felt as though prayer a way of onw saying I need help. Agamemnon didn't strike me as a person who needed help from my initial readings of the Iliad.
ReplyDelete-Jonathon Fargher
The Iliad reminds of a bible because it is written in verses and can help give moral guidelines through its readings. Reading about Achilles talking about his brief, bitter life reminded me of the book of Job, because both knew they were going to suffer but they still loved their God(s)
ReplyDeleteGauer
The main similarities I see between the Iliad and the bible are the way the human characters are written and the messages that are conveyed throughout, where as the main difference lies in its view of Gods.
ReplyDeleteIn both the bible and Iliad, the human characters represent certain traits that most people have, and are not put out of their way to be three dimensional figures. This simplicity in the characters also serves to display the morals we're meant to learn. Whereas Adam and Eve can convey the dangers of curiosity, Achilles shows the dangers of letting wrath get the better of you.
The difference of the ways Gods are portrayed is initially baffling. Those used to the ever omnipresent God might be struck by just how immature and reckless the Gods of Greece are, and just how out of tune the whole system is as they all squabble over the lives of mortal men like they're playing the world's most chaotic game of chess.