Titus, after metamorphosing into Philomel’s avenger, channels his grief and rage into actions that parallel Procne’s violations upon her family. Just as Procne feeds the body of her son to her husband, Titus informs Demetrius and Chiron that he will do the same, vowing his intention to “martyr” them in the same manner as Itys, “This one hand yet is left to cut your throats, whiles that Lavinia ‘tween her stumps doth hold the basin that receives your guilty blood” (Act V, Scene II). Titus’ words invoke the mirror image of Procne and Philomel preparing Itys’ body for consumption, as both include scenes of them “Cutting the throat, and…cut[ting] up the body”. Like Titus, Procne and Philomel keep Itys “Still living, still keeping something of the spirit”, just as Titus requires Demetrius and Chiron to listen to his long, detailed monologue of their impending mutilation, and forces them to imagine the pollution of their mother’s body that will occur once she consumes their bodies. Just as Procne tricks her husband into partaking of a “terrible feast” (Humphries, 151), Titus conducts a grotesque banquet in which Tamora unknowingly devours her sons.
Around 460 BCE a man named Thucydides lived to experience and record the historical storyline the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides was an Athenian, unbiased, historian that is best known for the way he structurally reconciled information from the Peloponnesian War and is credible for the most reliable source that chronicled the war. The Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient epic poem regularly deemed as the first great work of literature, gives civilization a definition to the people of ancient Mesopotamia (Earth of Its Peoples, 26). Gilgamesh, the ultimate leader of Uruk, pursues immortality throughout his journey, exemplifying his power and educating himself on humankind along the way. If a fellow Athenian were to recite the Epic of Gilgamesh to Thucydides, he would likely
Fighting a bloody civil war as a young adult Caesar came to age as a military aristocrat. However, his inheritance and place in the ranks of nobility were stripped
www.godaddy.com, 2 February 2006, http://theaterofwar.com/projects/theater-of-war/overview. Accessed 24 April 2018. Freedlander, David. " 'Antigone in Ferguson': A Modern Tragedy Is Now a Greek Tragedy." Daily Beast (New York), 13 July 2017, pp. 1-4. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=124122398&site=pov-live.
In the epic poem The Odyssey, the theme of greed is a prominent one that plays a significant role in the actions of many of the characters. Throughout the story, we see examples of greed driving people to act in ways that are harmful to others, whether it is greed for power, wealth, or prestige. Conversely, there are also examples of characters who resist the temptation of greed and show self-restraint. At the beginning of the story, we see the suitors taking advantage of Odysseus' absence to try to win over his wife, Penelope.
Therefore, as it is clear to see that in The Odyssey, the temptation of food leads to punishment, and as discussed by Nicole Smith in her essay “Food Imagery and Temptation in The Odyssey”, this temptation and its consequences are seen in “Sailing From Troy”, “The Cyclops”, and “The Lotus-Eaters”. After all, temptation affects everyone, and can lead to drastic consequences. Whether one lives in China or Australia or Venezuela, temptation and its consequences will follow them wherever one
After the Miltiades successful battle of Marathon, he is given a small fleet of ships which he promises will enrich the city. (6.132.1) This is a key detail which Herodotus provides, like the previous two instances the framework has been set to provide another example of past events catching up with the actors. With the newly entrusted ships, Miltiades sets his eyes on Paros. However, Herodotus explains that Miltiades had a underlying motive which was to settle a “grudge against the Parians because Lysagoras son of Tisias.”
Joseph Addison’s Cato is an 18th century tragedy unfamiliar to the common plays of its time. Cato depicts the final days of civil war with the imminent invasion of Caesar and presents the ideals of republican liberty and virtue. The loud tone of virtue within the play is undeniable. Cato provides a description of qualities that can classify one as virtuous. Virtuous individuals sacrifice their happiness for others.
Through his drive for success, Caesar took advantage of every opportunity to rise in Roman society, from starting his career as military tribune to becoming quaestor of Further Spain and later curator of Rome (Freeman 2008:45). His tenure as consul with Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus became known as “…the consulship of Julius and Caesar...” resulting from Caesar’s ambition to undertake all of Rome’s state affairs (Suetonius The Lives of Caesars XX.59). It was the result of Caesar’s ambition that led him to cross the Rubicon river, Rome’s northern boundary, to protect his political position in Rome. By not disbanding his army, Caesar was effectively disregarding the boundary regulation of the Rubicon and this implied civil war (Class Notes Part II 2017:131). This ambitious action can best be described by a quote from Caesar himself which states “if you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases, observe it.”
In ancient Greece religion was an important facet of everyday life as well as an essential aspect of warfare and battle. Soldiers in ancient Greece frequently sought support from the deities to ensure a safe and conclusive victory through ritual sacrifice. Sometimes warriors even had to sacrifice multiple times to ensure support, even if this meant postponing battle. Religion did not only dictate the time in which one could begin a battle, but times in which battles could not be fought at all, that is during festivals and religious games. Religion also dictated spaces in which battles could not be fought, in holy sites such as temples, and spaces in which battles should be fought, something that could be decided through the interpretation of religious prophecies.
Themistocles had thought of the bribe as a present to himself (Herodotus, 2003, p.g 502). Then sharing a sixth of the talents with Eurybiades had secured the fleet staying on the coast and fighting (Herodotus, 2003, p.g 502). Another of the commanders, Adeimantus, hesitated with staying and declared he would withdraw his ships. This provoked Themistocles’
If I return home to my dear fatherland / My glory is lost but my life will be long,” (Il. 9.325-328). Neither Achilles or Nicias are successful in staying out of battle, both getting dragged into fighting a war they don’t believe
This violent depiction is the beginning of the revenge cycle the play portrays. The aforementioned event is an act of systemic violence: it is legally permitted by Rome, but the in the aftermath is catastrophic for Tamora and her family. The potential for aggression is intrinsic to Roman law, and a customary penance in the juridical capacity is by all accounts an appropriate reaction; no disagreements are taken note of. However, the caliber of legally-sanctioned violence becomes problematic when Titus executes one of his own sons for defiance.
Only There’s one thing wanting, which I doubt not but Our Rome will cast upon thee. (II,i,83). Usually this would be considered an act of nourishment to acquire what is deserved, however it places Coriolanus at a disadvantage, as he is unable to accurately discern his intentions to the Plebians without consequence. Volumnia aware of his shortcoming, continues to prompt this task, in an attempt to better not just her son, but her place within the patriarchal politics of Rome, leading to Coriolanus’ exile and eventual death.
Socrates presents this myth in order to demonstrate how lying is beneficial to the rule of the state. It is clear to contemporary readers that the citizens of Kallipolis are not truly equal, the same statement can be said of the citizens of the United States. The Myth of Metals seems to persist in ways that are not as fanciful as describe in The Republic, but through social stratification.
