Violence appears frequently in mythology. There is physical disorder and destruction, which is probably the most common. This particular type is present in many of the stories dealing with the hero Hercules. It often feels as though every narrative has a battle, be it a mere skirmish or a great war. Verbal violence also occurs, prominent when Galatea argues with her sister Doris, in the myth concerning Polyphemus and his great love for the nymph. Then there are battles in Olympus, the spat Apollo had with Zeus over the murder of Aesculapius is a fine specimen of this. Furthermore, the Troy Tale, described in Edith Hamilton’s classic Mythology, actually incorporates three varieties of violence, including physical fights, linguistic quarrels, …show more content…
They fought gloriously that day and many a Trojan lay on his face in the dust before them. The best and bravest next to Hector, the Prince Aeneas, came near to death at Diomedes' hands. He was of more than royal blood; his mother was Aphrodite herself and when Diomedes wounded him she hastened down to the battlefield to save him. She lifted him in her soft arms but Diomedes, knowing she was a coward goddess, not one of those who like Athena are masters where warriors fight, leaped toward her and wounded her hand. Crying out she let Aeneas fall, and weeping for pain made her way to Olympus…” Mythology, page 193, it is clear to see that, here, the Trojan War is not being fought with words, but with swords instead. Diomedes, bloodlust heightened by the fury of the battle, actually strikes a goddess and nearly kills her beloved son. Also, there are few, if any, mentions of dialog in this instance, as the noises made by man are predominantly limited to the groans of the dying. Therefore, Diomedes prowess at Troy is a lucid example of a physical battle in the Troy Tale. In addition, the short skirmish between Menelaus and Paris shows …show more content…
In, “This was just, and the Trojans would have agreed if Athena, at Hera's prompting, had not interfered. Hera was determined that the war should not end until Troy was ruined. Athena, sweeping down to the battlefield, persuaded the foolish heart of Pandarus, a Trojan, to break the truce and shoot an arrow at Menelaus,” Mythology page 192, it is perspicuous that these two goddesses are meddling in the affairs of mortals. They want Troy demolished, Paris dead, and Aphrodite defeated, and the way they go about this is through humans. Athena coaxes Pandarus to loose his arrow at the Spartan king, knowing the Greeks will be peeved at this and resume the battle. During the onslaught, Olympians are wounded alongside men. Aphrodite is hurt by Diomedes, brave because of Hera, and the Greek’s spear, guided by Athena, also strikes Ares. Such actions prompted by these two goddesses are clear evidence that the Olympians are involved in the Trojan War. In addition, the consequences of the behavior of Eris show this particular kind of violence. Sly and sneaky, the goddess of discord was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, and was naturally angered by this. She flung an apple, marked For The Fairest, into the party. The events that occurred afterward would become legendary. Olympus became divided over Troy,