Download Divine intervention is a feature of ancient Greek literature

Divine intervention is a feature of ancient Greek literature. One is amazed and even dumbfounded by
the magical myths so frequently referred to. In Greek literature, the gods play an immense role in t
he lives and fates of the mortal dwellers of the earth. As one examines the gods throughout the myth
s and epic poems of the Greeks, one recieves a strong impression that the gods "play" with and manip
ulate mortals and each other. One goddess who exemplifies this is the great goddess Athena. This dau
ghter of Zeus impacted everyone that she came across. The character Athena is "splashed" over Greek
works. However, there are specific pieces of Greek literature that tell a great deal about this fier
y goddess. This is not a passive goddess. This is an active, involved goddess who, in both the Iliad
and the Odyssey, assumes divine leadership and challenges even Zeus himself. In The Odyssey and oth
er Greek myths, Athena is an essential character and contributes many elements of her complex mythol
ogical personality to Greek writing. Athena is one of the most important goddesses in Greek mytholog
y. In Roman mythology she became identified with the goddess Minerva. Also known as Pallas Athena. A
thena sprang full-grown and armored from the forehead of the god Zeus and was his favorite child. He
entrusted her with his shield, adorned with the hideous head of Medusa the Gorgon, his buckler, and
his principal weapon, the thunderbolt. A virgin goddess, she was called Parthenos ("the maiden"). H
er major temple, the Parthenon, was in Athens, which, according to legend, became hers as a result o
f her gift of the olive tree to the Athenian people. Athena was primarily the goddess of the Greek c
ities, of industry and the arts, and, in later mythology, of wisdom; she was also goddess of war. At
hena was the strongest supporter, among the gods, of the Greek side in the Trojan War. After the fal
l of Troy, however, the Greeks failed to respect the sanctity of an altar to Athena at which the Tro
jan prophet Cassandra sought shelter. As punishment, storms sent by the god of the sea, Poseidon, at
Athena's request destroyed most of the Greek ships returning from Troy. Athena was also a patron of
the agricultural arts and of the crafts of women, especially spinning and weaving. Among her gifts
to man were the inventions of the plow and the flute and the arts of taming animals, building ships,
and making shoes. She was often associated with birds, especially the owl. Through an explanation o
f Athena's distinct personality, her relationships are more easily understood The names and titles a
ssociated with this mythical goddess reflect her role as a person of action and leadership. Athena,
also spelled Athene, is said to be the goddess of wisdom, battle and war, and certian crafts. Athena
is frequently known as "Pallas" or "Pallas Athena." According to Sawyer, Athena took on the extra n
ame to commemorate the death of her friend, Pallas. She had accidentally killed Pallas while they we
re practicing spears. To show her deep grief, Athena added this name to all of her distinguishing ti
tles. In the Odyssey Athena is given the title "Hope of Soliders" because she is so active in war (4
16). Athena, the patron of the city of Athens, is commonly linked with the subject of war. She is a
lways depicted in armor and is said to be the keeper of Zeus's shield, the Aegis, and his helmet (Sa
wyer). Athena was even born wearing armor. There are several different versions of the birth story o
f Athena. However, they all are basically similar. Zeus was supposedly in love with Metis, the Titan
iss of wisdom, who was to have Zeus's baby. Zeus had heard that any baby that Metis had would be gre
ater than the father. So, Zeus turned Metis into a fly and swallowed her. After some time, Zeus deve
loped a sharp headache and asked Hephaesios, the blacksmith god, to split his head open with an axe.
When he did, Athena "popped out" fully grown and fully armed (Sawyer). The fully grown woman carrie
d many names during her life, although they did not change the way she thought or acted. Mortals rec
ognized Athena's active role as an influence and intercessor with others. This is what made Athena s
o "popular" with the Greek people. In the Odyssey by Homer, Athena has an incredible relationship wi
th Odysseus. After reading the epic poem, one can witness the very complete, very extensive bond she
develops with not only Odysseus but with the other characters as well. At the opening of the book,
Athena begs her father Zeus to allow her to aid Odysseus, so he can go home to his family (Odyssey 1
-2). She says,"My own heart is broken for Odysseus" (Odyssey 3). Athena goes as far as enhancing his
appearance so that Princess Nausikaa will be sure to help him reach home (Odyssey 105). Once Odysse
us reaches the city that Nausikaa leads him to, Athena "pours a sea fog" around him to protect him,
and she takes on the form of a small girl in order to show him the way to the palace (Odyssey 111-11
2). Once Athena leads Odysseus home to Ithaka, she disguises herself as a sheperd boy and makes conv
ersation with her beloved Odysseus (Odyssey 238). However, she eventually transforms herself into he
r natural state and says: Two of a kind, we are, contrivers, both. Of all the men alive you are the
best in plots and story telling. My own fame is for wisdom among the gods - deceptions too. Would ev
en you have guessed that I am Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus, I that am always with you in times od
trial, a shield to you in battle" (Odyssey 240). Athena demonstrates throughout the Odyssey and in
her relationship with Odysseus that she is a goddess of action just as Odysseus is a man of action.
She states, "I am here again to counsel with you" (Odyssey 240). It is Athena who plots and plans th
e fall of the suitors in Odysseus' house. To follow her plan, Athena disguises Odysseus into a begga
r and leads him to the swineherd, a faithful servant. There they unite with Telemakhos, Odysseus' so
n, to carry out the plot of doom (Odyssey Books 13 and 14). Once they go to the palace, the goddess
of war and her followers destroy and cast revenge upon the suitors of Penelope. Athena flaunts her w
arlike qualities creating battle in which her "side" was undoubtedly the victor (Odyssey Book 22). T
hrought the mist of confusion and blood, Athena makes sure to keep Odysseus and Telemakhos safe. The
goddess even "held the night" so that Odysseus and Penelope could have longer to get reacquainted.
Homer comments that "she held Dawn's horses" (437). Athena demonstrates her role as an active leader
in her protection of Telemakhos. In the beginning of the epic poem, the Odyssey, she "flies" to him
in the shape of Mentes, a Taphian captian, to talk to him and urge him to look for his father, Odys
seus. While with him, she sits, drinks, dines, and carries on conversation (Odyssey 415). Later, she
also takes on Mentor's figure to talk to him. At the end of the Odyssey, the war goddess enhances L
aertes' looks for his reunion with his son Odysseus (Odyssey Book 24). In the final scene, she takes
up the form of Mentor once more to bring peace to the bickering people (Odyssey 460). It is element
ary to see how intensly Athena makes contact with mortals by just few examples. Other gods and godde
sses are involved in these works, but none are so explicit and immense as the deeds of Athena. From
reading the Odyssey, one can begin to form an image of Athena's relationships with her peers, the ot
her gods and goddessess of ancient Greece. Through the interactions between this goddess and other s
upreme beings, one can witnessAthena's beliefs that she is superior to the other. Athena assumes lea
dership by taking action, making decisions, and intervening for good and evil. In the Odyssey, Athen
a begs Zeus to allow her to give Odysseus aid on his passage home, against the efforts and wishes of
Poseidon, the Sea god (Odyssey 4). One can see that Athena does what she thinks gives the best resu
lt, even if she is faced with stiff opposition from her peers. The goddess Athena is definitely a do
minant figure, accepting no authority except perhaps Zeus. When thinking of this outstanding goddess
, one thinks of her relationships and extensive contact with many mortals. The Greeks favored her be
cause she was a woman goddess of rare quality. Women were never protrayed with the masculine charact
eristics of Athena, such as her need for dominance and passion for war. This makes her more appealin
g and puts her in a class above all the rest. By reading both the Ilaid and the Odyssey, one can rec
ieve a clear, precise view of Athena. divine intervention feature ancient greek literature amazed ev
en dumbfounded magical myths frequently referred greek literature gods play immense role lives fates
mortal dwellers earth examines gods throughout myths epic poems greeks recieves strong impression t
hat gods play with manipulate mortals each other goddess exemplifies this great goddess athena this
daughter zeus impacted everyone that came across character athena splashed over greek works however
there specific pieces literature that tell great deal about this fiery goddess passive active involv
ed both iliad odyssey assumes divine leadership challenges even zeus himself odyssey other myths ath
ena essential character contributes many elements complex mythological personality writing most impo
rtant goddesses mythology roman mythology became identified with minerva also known pallas sprang fu
ll grown armored from forehead zeus favorite child entrusted with shield adorned hideous head medusa
gorgon buckler principal weapon thunderbolt virgin called parthenos maiden major temple parthenon a
thens which according legend became hers result gift olive tree athenian people primarily cities ind
ustry arts later mythology wisdom also strongest supporter among side trojan after fall troy however
greeks failed respect sanctity altar which trojan prophet cassandra sought shelter punishment storm
s sent poseidon request destroyed most ships returning from troy also patron agricultural arts craft
s women especially spinning weaving among gifts were inventions plow flute arts taming animals build
ing ships making shoes often associated birds especially through explanation distinct personality re
lationships more easily understood names titles associated mythical reflect role person action leade
rship spelled athene said wisdom battle certian crafts frequently known pallas pallas according sawy
er took extra name commemorate death friend accidentally killed while they were practicing spears sh
ow deep grief added name distinguishing titles odyssey given title hope soliders because active patr
on city athens commonly linked subject always depicted armor said keeper shield aegis helmet sawyer
even born wearing armor there several different versions birth story however they basically similar
supposedly love metis titaniss wisdom have baby heard baby metis would greater than father turned me
tis into swallowed after some time developed sharp headache asked hephaesios blacksmith split head o
pen when popped fully grown fully armed sawyer fully grown woman carried many names during life alth
ough they change thought acted mortals recognized active role influence intercessor others what made
popular people homer incredible relationship odysseus after reading epic poem witness very complete
very extensive bond develops only odysseus other characters well opening book begs father allow ody
sseus home family says heart broken goes enhancing appearance princess nausikaa will sure help reach
home once reaches city nausikaa leads pours around protect takes form small girl order show palace
once leads home ithaka disguises herself sheperd makes conversation beloved eventually transforms he
rself into natural state says kind contrivers both alive best plots story telling fame among decepti
ons would have guessed daughter always times trial shield battle demonstrates throughout relationshi
p action just action states here again counsel plots plans fall suitors house follow plan disguises
into beggar leads swineherd faithful servant there unite telemakhos carry plot doom books once palac
e followers destroy cast revenge upon suitors penelope flaunts warlike qualities creating battle whi
ch side undoubtedly victor book throught mist confusion blood makes sure keep telemakhos safe held n
ight penelope could have longer reacquainted homer comments held dawn horses demonstrates leader pro
tection telemakhos beginning epic poem flies shape mentes taphian captian talk urge look father whil
e sits drinks dines carries conversation later takes mentor figure talk enhances laertes looks reuni
on book final scene takes form mentor more bring peace bickering people elementary intensly makes co
ntact mortals just examples goddesses involved these works none explicit immense deeds from reading
begin form image relationships peers goddessess ancient greece through interactions between supreme
beings witnessathena beliefs superior assumes leadership taking making decisions intervening good ev
il begs allow give passage against efforts wishes poseidon does what thinks gives best result faced
stiff opposition peers definitely dominant figure accepting authority except perhaps when thinking o
utstanding thinks relationships extensive contact many greeks favored because woman rare quality wom
en were never protrayed masculine characteristics such need dominance passion more appealing puts cl
ass above rest reading both ilaid recieve clear precise viewEssay, essays, termpaper, term paper, te
rmpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free resear
ch, book research, study help, download essay, download term papers