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Greek Mythology Essays

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Oedipus as a Hero

Who could forget the story of Hercules? This famous story is about a son of the gods who resides on Earth as a normal human with abnormal strength. In the story, Hercules fights various monsters and is saving his city constantly. However Hercules makes a deal with Hades, god of the underworld, to give away his strength for one day. This same day Hades sets the four titans, whom bring blizzards, rock slides, tornadoes, and volcanoes, upon the city as...
2 Pages 705 Words

Antigone' by Sophocles: The Themes of Tragedy, Rebelliousness, and Free Will

Despite Greek philosophy not having an accurate meaning of “free will”, it can be either considered good or bad. The act of having “free will” generally comes from what you think is the right thing to do. It is a will that allows us to choose what we feel is right based on how we interpret different ideas and the environment around us. It is believed that everyone has one from the day we are born and we can choose...
3 Pages 1158 Words

Inferiority of Women According to Plato and Sophocles

Sophocles, a renowned author from Athens, once stated that “to women silence is their proper grace,” which suggests that women are better off keeping their opinions to themselves and letting men hold all the power. The quote above reflects Athenian society’s view that women are not equivalent to men. The following essay details the biases held against women at the time the book was written and compares those views with Plato’s Symposium’s depiction of women, while highlighting the importance of...
2 Pages 720 Words

Aphrodite of Knidos: Historical Context and Interpretation of The Artwork

The artworks of ancient Greece and Rome have exercised an exuberant amount of influence on the cultures of several countries all over the world. Specifically, the areas of architecture and sculpture mainly influenced these artistic cultures. In fact, the statue Aphrodite of Knidos is one of the most renowned and most mentioned in literary sources. Thus, there is no question as to why this piece has been so prominent to me. Upon a trip to Italy, I was fortunate enough...
2 Pages 1054 Words

David and Goliath': Analysis of How The Weaker Dominates The Stronger

In the Elah valley, a massive warrior Goliath was slain by a shepherd David in a battle. Many see the battle to be one of sheer luck and wit, but this fable could uncover a more broad and common perspective. Gladwell argues that the weaker person, or underdog, will not always lose or be at fault. He believes that “the powerful and strong are not always what they seem” and that power has a limit, citing various events and people...
3 Pages 1303 Words

Orestes’ Sun: Apollo’s Importance to The Oresteia

Spanning an elemental and violent family conflict, The Oresteia by Aeschylus is a trilogy containing the plays Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides. As a whole, the trilogy deals with Agamemnon’s murder at the hands of his wife Clytemnestra, Orestes’ revenge on his father’s killers, and his ultimate trial for matricide. Although not present throughout the whole trilogy and only a supporting character in The Eumenides, Apollo is the character that prompts Orestes to kill his mother and he...
3 Pages 1444 Words

A Study of Peter Paul Ruben's Painting's Perseus and Andromeda

The painting Perseus and Andromeda or better known as Perseus rescues Andromeda was created by Peter Paul Rubens in 1622. This work of art remained in Rubens’s house until his death, and was then obtained by and housed in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. This oil painting tells the story of Perseus returning from slaying Medusa to save Andromeda. It depicts Perseus holding the head of Medusa and loosening the chains on Andromeda, while partially showing Pegasus, the...
1 Page 577 Words

A Study of What Constitute a Hero as Depicted in Perseus Story

Being known as a hero is a great honor. You are held in high esteem by people all over the world. You have great fame and sometimes even great fortune. But to become a hero is a challenging path. It requires you to have great strength of character, being honorable and arising to trustworthiness. Sometimes the path can be physically challenging and at times bravery and will are tested. You must be willing to sacrifice whatever is required of you...
2 Pages 1050 Words

Comparative Analysis of Apollo and Aphrodite

Greek mythology is a collection of stories that the ancient Greeks used to say. Such myths are about the world’s history and creation, the lives, and actions of gods, characters, and mythological creatures, and the roots and the importance of the worship and ceremonial rituals of the ancient Greeks. The stories of gods and goddesses in ancient Greece were an important part of daily life. They teach us religious rituals, and gave meaning to the people. It has also been...
2 Pages 1017 Words

Oedipus the King: the Story of the Consequences of a Curse Placed on King Oedipus

In the city of Thebes, there is a plague of infertility that strikes. Just as the plants do not grow so is women not able to bear children. Creon informs King Oedipus that until the killer of King Laius is identified, the plague cannot be ended. Oblivious to the truth, King Oedipus sets to find out who the killer is and swears to punish the individual. Most of the times, people may have their physical sight, but blind themselves for...
3 Pages 1378 Words

Blindness and Ignorance Vs Sight and the Truth in Oedipus

''We are only as blind as we want to be -Maya Angelou. There are a variety of connotations to the phrase ''blind. Some people tend to view blindness as a physical disability that resembles inferiority. Others believe that blindness defines ignorance as one is unaware of their surroundings or actions. However, the public's attitudes towards blindness are misconceptions as even a person who can physically see can also be blind. As people become biased toward certain views, it can cause...
3 Pages 1253 Words

Oedipus the King': A Critical Summary

In the beginning, I want to introduce the background information about this play. First, the name of this filmed performance is 'Oedipus the King' It is written by Sophocles, the most famous playwright of ancient Greece. He is one of the three tragic writers in Athens. He not only believes in the supreme power of God and destiny but also requires people to have an independent spirit and be responsible for their own actions, which is the feature of ideology...
1 Page 552 Words

Oedipus the King': Reasons Why Oedipus Shouldn't Be Punished

Sometimes the road of life takes an unexpected turn and you have no choice but to follow it to end up in the place you are supposed to be. Your fate is like a car crash an accident you never asked for but happens because it's your destiny. Sophocles highlights the irony of a man who wants to track down and execute the criminal who murdered King Laius who turns out to be himself. The play Oedipus Rex unravels King...
3 Pages 1246 Words

Leaders Faced with Crisis

When beset with grief during times of great crisis, a leader must adopt change or risk becoming powerless to the changing world. In the novel ‘Ransom’, David Malouf expresses the many facets of leaders who are faced with tragic loss, demonstrating how grief may overcome them, and ultimately disempower them. Similarly, Stephen Frears likewise presents leaders faced with crisis in his movie ‘The Queen’, who consequently become helpless when they are incapable of adopting the change in the society they...
2 Pages 1051 Words

Achilles as the Greek Hero Pushed Off Course from His Own Ideals

The Iliad is a testament to the Greek ideals of war and glory, as it fantasizes the glorious triumphs of Achilles and the Trojans. Famous for his rage made apparent in the opening of the poem, Achilles is the greatest warrior in all of Greece, and his competence and skill are a main driver of the story portrayed and the decisions of the protagonist. While the importance of honor and glory through war is the most important part of Greek...
1 Page 509 Words

Achilles' Desire for Immortality

The passage in book eighteen of the ‘Iliad’ takes readers to a scene of the Trojan War, fought between the Achaeans, led by Achilles, and Trojans, led by Hector. At a particular point during the war, Achilles chose to stop fighting, which took a negative toll on the Achaean army. Achilles did not choose to fight again until his comrade, Patroclus, was killed in battle by Hector. Achilles claimed, “I’ve lost the will to live…unless, before all else, Hector’s battered...
1 Page 691 Words

The Great Heroes before the Trojan War

Myths were not derived from a single book, rather from many stories. Greek mythology begins with Homer. The Greeks made the gods in the image of themselves. Acrisius is told by an oracle that his daughter Danae’s son will kill him. He locks up his daughter but she gets pregnant by Zeus himself and has a son named Perseus. Acrisius locks them up in a chest and floats them out to sea. They eventually wash up at Dictys’ house, brother...
2 Pages 927 Words

Comparative Analysis of Beowulf and Achilles

‘Beowulf’ and ‘Iliad’ are two popular literary works written in Old English and Ancient Greek. Both poems illustrates the fights between main characters and the stronger one is the winner. While Beowulf in ‘Beowulf’ won against Grendel - a disgusting cold-blooded monster- to protect Danes and show his respect to his cousin, the king. Achilles in ’Iliad’ killed Hector to revenge his beloved cousins death. Both of the characters owned outstanding traits to be an epic hero, including bravery, strength...
2 Pages 832 Words

Analysis of ‘Hercules and Deianira’ by Antonio del Pollaiuolo

The universal definition of art states that it is “(1) something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings; (2) the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power” (Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary, 2020). The beauty of art is controversial to the eyes of others. This can be...
2 Pages 1081 Words

Respect to Achilles: Arguments For and Against

The Iliad isn't a piece that gives a simple record of memorable actualities and occasions yet one where people are the heroes by temperance of their practices, qualities, thought processes and choices which influence the stream of the story. Achilles is one of these people that assume an essential job in the plot of Iliad; as Homer places it in the principal lines of this work, the resentment of Achilles, his withdrawal from the fights and the staggering impacts this...
2 Pages 1002 Words

Analytical Essay on Superhero Characters: Hercules Myth

“Superhero characters are a form of modern mythology. Argue for or against this view.” Mythologies are often defined as “stories or historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon”.[footnoteRef:1] This is the definition that many of us are used to and common examples are Greek and Roman mythologies. As such, it may seem absurd to think of Superhero characters as a form of modern mythology. After...
3 Pages 1608 Words

Gender Stereotypes in The Iliad: Analysis of Thetis and Achilles

The Iliad is famous for its stories of great heroes who clash against each other, sometimes victorious and other times doomed to failure. One thing these heroes all have in common is their gender. Homer’s works are filled with stories of great men doing great things, often at the expense of women and animals. Since the Iliad was written thousands of years ago the modern-day values of gender equality and capability didn’t yet exist. In fact, women were used as...
4 Pages 1743 Words

The Rebirth of an Infectiously Bright Star: Homer’s Representation of Achilles

‘‘Achilleus the lion-hearted who breaks men in battle’’(192). As the strongest and most important character in the poem, Achilles’ return to the Trojan war towards the last books of Homer’s Iliad symbolizes the reappearance of his heroic greatness. Book 21 ends with Apollo distracting Achilles from killing more Trojans, while book 22 begins with Achilles chasing the God of light for preventing him from acquiring more honor on the battlefield. The hero then runs towards the walls of Troy, while...
4 Pages 1685 Words

Achilles As One of the Best Warriors from the Greeks: Character Analysis

ILiad isn’t something that can give out an amount of things in some facts and some places that a person are able to protagonists by its own behaviors and values. Achilles is someone who values the behaviors and values loyalty, plus honor. It can be able to be motivated with some situations throughout life in the story. Achilles is someone who suffers from some scrutiny for his role in Homer's the ILiad. Achilles is one of the best warriors from...
4 Pages 1630 Words

The Wrath of Achilles: Critical Analysis of the Iliad

The Iliad is an epic poem created by Homer a legendary Greek author from the period of 800 BCE. This magnificent poem is considered to be one of the earliest pieces of literature. Although Homer receives all the credit for his creation, it is still not clear whether only one person was involved in making this epic poem. The Iliad tells a story which is centred around the last year of the Trojan War which was between the Greeks and...
2 Pages 848 Words

Themes in Hercules: Critical Analysis of Movies

Anthropology is the scientific study of human beings, how they behave, and their societies, both in the past and the present (UCDavis 2020). There are three categories of anthropology, that is, social anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Social anthropology studies the behavioural patterns of human beings while linguistic anthropology studies what influences language has on the social life of human beings. In contrast, cultural anthropology studies their culture, values, and norms (UCDavis 2020). Anthropology is built upon knowledge from...
4 Pages 2013 Words

Heracles and Atlas As Prime Male Specimens: Analytical Essay

Introduction : Mythology is used as a base of education to allow an understanding of natural phenomena. Cartwright in 2012 suggested there is a clear synergy with the myth and religion of the time, morals are woven into these teachings of heroes as well as the harsh reality of punishment for those who are disobedient (Cartwright, 2012). Through mythological teachings used to educate and control we are then able to understand the thought processes of the era. This allows a...
5 Pages 2089 Words

Romantic Elements in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Hercules

Rainer Maria Rilke, a British novelist and poet once said, “The only journey is the journey within.” In both “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and Hercules, they both go on a journey to prove themselves and try to find out who they really are. On their journeys they encounter many obstacles which proved their determination and heroism. The romantic elements in the book “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and the movie Hercules comparatively show their journeys, and the...
2 Pages 758 Words

Medea: The Treatment To Women In Ancient Society

In the play Medea, the author Euripides emphasizes that the harsh treatment the main character, Medea, receives throughout the play reflects how women are treated in Greek society. The hardships of women in Greek society can be mainly seen by Medea passionate soliloquies. Medea speaks about how looked down upon, due to the fact that she a woman from a foreign country that holds more intellect than most men in the city where she currently resides. Even Jason, her husband,...
3 Pages 1162 Words

Medea: Empathizing With A Murderer And Psychopath

For 2,448 years, “Medea” has been a notable playwright and story, thanks to Euripides’ craftsmanship and eloquent characterization of the infamous main character, Medea. Even though Euripides writes Medea as a complex character having many characteristics, there is one characteristic that dominates all the others, and for a good reason. Throughout the entirety of “Medea,” Euripides depicts Medea as hopeless to enable the audience to empathize with her. Euripides portrays this feeling in Medea’s first line, where she is shown...
2 Pages 972 Words
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