DOCSLIB.ORG

Leotychides and Glaucus, Croesus and Solon in Book Six, Herodotus Descri

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Leotychides and Glaucus, Croesus and Solon in Book Six, Herodotus Descri CHAPTER NINE POPULAR MORALITY IN HERODOTUS Nick Fisher Introduction: Leotychides and Glaucus, Croesus and Solon In Book Six, Herodotus describes how, shortly before Darius' Inva­ sion of mainland Greece, King Leotychides of Sparta sought to per­ suade the Athenians to surrender ten Aeginetan hostages whom he and the now disgraced King Cleomenes had left with them. His rhetorical strategy was to tell a story with a strong moral: I a Spartan called Glaucus, with an exceptional reputation for justice, agreed to hold on trust a large sum of money from a Milesian, but tempo­ rized when asked for its return by his sons, and enquired of Apollo's oracle at Delphi whether he might perjure himself in order to keep the money. The oracle responded that even if Glaucus himself profited from his perjury, his descendants would pay in the end. Glaucus immediately asked for forgiveness for even asking the question of the god, and returned the money; but the priestess' promise that it was too late was fulfilled. Glaucus had no descendant or hearth left in Sparta, and his family was wiped out root and branch, so that the moral was that 'it is good not even to contemplate any other course concerning an entrusted property (paratheke) than to return it when it is demanded' (6.86). A number of points arise from this characteristic example of Herodotean storytelling. Central to justice and good behaviour are keeping one's word, returning objects on trust, and not swearing falsely by the gods; a primary sanction for observance of moral prin­ ciples was the fear of punishment from the gods, which might pre­ serve its credibility by the argument that it often operated over a I Herodotus is of course following Homeric models in employing this technique of argument by lengthy storytelling (see also de jong, this volume, pp. 262- 3). Its application to political debates would have already seemed archaic to Thucydides: see e.g., Gould (1989) 40- 1. On Herodotus' moralizing use of Greek and Eastern folk-tale motifs, see esp. Aly (1921 ), Murray (1987), Pelling (1996), Griffiths (1999). 200 NICK FISHER very long time-scale; and the Delphic oracle, as Apollo's mouthpiece, was thought to have a role in upholding such basic moral tenets. 2 However, the impression the passage may give of a simple mor­ alizing designed to have a straightforward effect on its hearers or readers is partially undermined by the broader context. The Athenians pay the story no attention, and the impression is given that they already regard it as an old-fashioned rhetorical strategy.3 Herodotus does not comment here that the Athenians suffered later for their refusal to comply on grounds of political expediency in relation to their quarrel with Aegina; but, as we shall see, hints of such future problems for Athens do exist. 4 Herodotus has also, not long before, revealed that Leotychides was later to yield to temptation, more deci­ sively than Glaucus, and was exiled after being discovered surrounded by bribes; his house was demolished (6. 72).5 Herodotus' text is full of events, speeches, and narratorial com­ ments which offer judgments in terms of generally accepted Greek moral principles, and of retribution delivered to those who offend against them. 6 The internal coherence of these principles, however, the inevitability with which Herodotus supposes they are upheld by divine powers, the extent to which human retaliation in response to moral outrage can be problematic in itself, and the importance of such moral ideas in his overall patterns of explanation, are all the subject of much debate among his modern interpreters. This chap­ ter discusses a selection of cases which raise such general problems. I shall suggest that the historian is indeed centrally concerned to explore major issues such as divine punishment for injustice, exces­ sive revenge or overconfidence in prosperity, or the contrast between tyrannical and luxurious Eastern Empires and leaner, freedom-loving Greek states; but that we do not find simple or consistent messages or contrasts, but rather a subtle and flexible set of interconnected 2 On which see the minimalist account of Davies (1997); on the Glaucus story, also Immerwahr (1966) 213- 15, Harrison (2000b) 117- 19. 3 See also Missiou (1998), arguing that the Athenians are presented consistently in Herodotus and Thucydides as less responsive to arguments from reciprocity. 4 See esp. Immerwahr (1966) 214- 18, Fornara (l97Ia) 80-6, Momigliano (1979) 148- 9, Konstan (1987) 72- 3, Raaflaub (1987), Moles (1996), Harrison (2000b) 117- 18. S On this further penalty, Connor (1985), esp. 199. Leotychides, like Cleomenes, is in Herodotus' view (6.84) paying the penalty for the manipulation of the depo­ sition of Demaratus; see Boedeker (1987) 190-1. 6 E.g., Pohlenz (1937) 91 - 5, Immerwahr (1966) 308- 9. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Streetsweepingmap.Pdf
    Batiquitos ! ! Lagoon ! ! ! ! ! La Costa Ave ! ! ! ! ! ! 5 ! ! ¨¦§ ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2nd ! ! ! ! ! Wednesday ! 3rd Wednesday ! ! ! G 101 ! a ¤£ ! r ! d e li ve nh ain R d ! O ! n vd ! ! Le uc ad ia B l V ! ! i d e 2nd w R N N y R R E n d Monday a l n 3rd Thursday o c r C x h o a D 1st a G l S S m en A a s rb o n i r t n D a Wednesday n r N e F o e d R r R y a W d a 1st Monday e W k i a G a r l 3rd i r l r l o a D l b a D i t r w P a is r e i V a u nt ain Monday s t M o o E V e l Street Sweeping Areas u p C n b a g m r i r n Q a o a i D l A e n l C t l No C S i r W g te D 1st Monday n Enc 1st V in it as e r 5 B l § lv d G R¨¦eq ue za S t r 1st Tuesday d D R r 2nd Thursday Thursday u o 1st 1st Wednesday o 1st d l r S a a Friday Tuesday B N E W K S t l 1st Thursday San ta F e D r C a m 1st Friday n i n 2nd o o n 2nd R e n i v e 2nd Monday Tuesday k a A Friday e r c e r k l t 101 a s a ¤£ D e S M L h 2nd Tuesday a c e n m D n v h a r 3rd Friday a A E in g M l r m ij i 2nd Wednesday o B A v Major Arterial Routes Basemap e 2nd Thursday Weekly and Bi-Monthly 3rd Tuesday Encinitas Boundary 2nd Friday ! ! ! v e Monday and Friday A r 3rd Monday te ! ! ! Sphere of Influence s e 5 h Tuesday ¨¦§ c n 3rd Tuesday a Public ROWs M Wednesday San Elijo 3rd Wednesday Lagoons Lagoon Thursday 3rd Thursday Pacific Ocean Friday 3rd Friday DISCLAIMER: This map should not be used for Engineering, City of Encinitas Survey, or Site-Specific Analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis of Heracles As a Tragic Hero in the Trachiniae and the Heracles
    The Suffering Heracles: An Analysis of Heracles as a Tragic Hero in The Trachiniae and the Heracles by Daniel Rom Thesis presented for the Master’s Degree in Ancient Cultures in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Prof. Annemaré Kotzé March 2016 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. March 2016 Copyright © 2016 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract This thesis is an examination of the portrayals of the Ancient Greek mythological hero Heracles in two fifth century BCE tragic plays: The Trachiniae by Sophocles, and the Heracles by Euripides. Based on existing research that was examined, this thesis echoes the claim made by several sources that there is a conceptual link between both these plays in terms of how they treat Heracles as a character on stage. Fundamentally, this claim is that these two plays portray Heracles as a suffering, tragic figure in a way that other theatre portrayals of him up until the fifth century BCE had failed to do in such a notable manner. This thesis links this claim with a another point raised in modern scholarship: specifically, that Heracles‟ character and development as a mythical hero in the Ancient Greek world had given him a distinct position as a demi-god, and this in turn affected how he was approached as a character on stage.
    [Show full text]
  • Roman Mythology Table of Contents
    Roman Mythology Table of Contents • Historical Overview • Major Gods and Goddesses of ancient Rome • Gods of Mt Olympus • Family Tree • Conclusion Historical Overview • The early Romans were farmers • They did not understand science, instead they believed in forces or spirits • These Gods did not have human forms or minds • Gradually the Romans were influenced by the Greeks and adopted many of their Gods and gave them Roman names Early Roman Gods and Goddesses • Some Early Roman Gods or “Numen” – Bellona Goddess of War – Cardea similar to Artemis, had power over doorways – Cupid God of love like the Greek Eros – Dis God of the underworld like the Greek Hades – Faunus God of fields and shepards like the Greek Pan – Glaucus God of the sea – Lares God of the household- represented dead ancestors who protected the family – Liber God of fertility, identified with Baccus, the god of wine – Saturn God of agriculture and the Roman like the Greek Cronus – Vesta Goddess of home and hearth similar to the Greek Hestia Jupiter • King of the Gods/Ruler of the Skies • Greek name is Zeus • Married to Juno • Symbols: Eagle, Shield, Thunderbolt and Oak Tree Neptune • God of the Sea • Second most powerful God on Mt.Olympus • Greek name is Poseidon • Symbols: Trident, Horse and Bull Pluto • God the under world and wealth • Greek name is Hades • Symbols: Helmet, Metals, Jewels Juno • Queen of the Gods • Goddess of Heaven, Marriage and Childbirth • Greek name is Hera • Married to Jupiter • Symbols: Peacock and Cow Vesta • Goddess of the Hearth. Protector of
    [Show full text]
  • The Piercing of Glaucus Iliad 16.508-16.547 Jason Steranko
    the piercing of glaucus Iliad 16.508-16.547 Jason Steranko, ‘17 terrible grief seized glaucus when he heard the dying voice, his heart was struck he could not save Sarpedon. he grasped his own throbbing arm and pressed hard, his wound wearying, the wound that teucer had dealt when from the high wall he let his arrow fly, defending his comrades from the lycian attacker. glaucus prayed to far-shooting apollo: ‘hear me, lord, wherever you may be, back in rich lycia, or here at troy: you are a god who hears from all directions the cries of grieving men: grief has come to me. a grievous wound overwhelms my arm, too deep to dry. it weighs down my shoulder and deadens my hand, too weak to take up my spear, too weak to avenge Sarpedon. he, our best man, the son of zeus, lies dead on the ground, abandoned by his father. lord apollo, heal this mighty wound of mine, lull my pains and grant me might that i may fight and marshal the scattered lycians and that i may guard whatoncewas Sarpedon.’ he spoke his prayer and apollo listened. he soothed the throbbing arm and dried black the dark and deep wound with his gleaming hand. the aching heart of glaucus surged with strength. the mortal knew it was the touch of the god, the quick touch of apollo, who heard his prayer. glaucus arose and inspired the leaders of lycia, gathered from across the battlefield, to surround their prostrate king, fallen Sarpedon. with purpose he marched to the trojan troop, to polydamas, son of panthous, and shining agenor.
    [Show full text]
  • Homer the Iliad
    1 Homer The Iliad Translated by Ian Johnston Open access: http://johnstoniatexts.x10host.com/homer/iliadtofc.html 2010 [Selections] CONTENTS I THE QUARREL BY THE SHIPS 2 II AGAMEMNON'S DREAM AND THE CATALOGUE OF SHIPS 5 III PARIS, MENELAUS, AND HELEN 6 IV THE ARMIES CLASH 6 V DIOMEDES GOES TO BATTLE 6 VI HECTOR AND ANDROMACHE 6 VII HECTOR AND AJAX 6 VIII THE TROJANS HAVE SUCCESS 6 IX PEACE OFFERINGS TO ACHILLES 6 X A NIGHT RAID 10 XI THE ACHAEANS FACE DISASTER 10 XII THE FIGHT AT THE BARRICADE 11 XIII THE TROJANS ATTACK THE SHIPS 11 XIV ZEUS DECEIVED 11 XV THE BATTLE AT THE SHIPS 11 XVI PATROCLUS FIGHTS AND DIES 11 XVII THE FIGHT OVER PATROCLUS 12 XVIII THE ARMS OF ACHILLES 12 XIX ACHILLES AND AGAMEMNON 16 XX ACHILLES RETURNS TO BATTLE 16 XXI ACHILLES FIGHTS THE RIVER 17 XXII THE DEATH OF HECTOR 17 XXIII THE FUNERAL GAMES FOR PATROCLUS 20 XXIV ACHILLES AND PRIAM 20 I THE QUARREL BY THE SHIPS [The invocation to the Muse; Agamemnon insults Apollo; Apollo sends the plague onto the army; the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon; Calchas indicates what must be done to appease Apollo; Agamemnon takes Briseis from Achilles; Achilles prays to Thetis for revenge; Achilles meets Thetis; Chryseis is returned to her father; Thetis visits Zeus; the gods con-verse about the matter on Olympus; the banquet of the gods] Sing, Goddess, sing of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus— that murderous anger which condemned Achaeans to countless agonies and threw many warrior souls deep into Hades, leaving their dead bodies carrion food for dogs and birds— all in fulfilment of the will of Zeus.
    [Show full text]
  • {Download PDF} Greek Gods and Heroes
    GREEK GODS AND HEROES PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Robert Graves | 160 pages | 01 Jan 2001 | Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc | 9780440932215 | English | New York, United States List of Greek mythological figures - Wikipedia They are called demi-gods or in modern term semi-gods , because one of their parents were a god or a goddess. However, mortal heroes were no less respected than semi-gods. Some of the mortals even exceeded semi-gods in terms of bravery and reputation. Regardless of their origin, these heroes accomplished many great tasks and even tasks thought being impossible to accomplish. Because of the deeds, they had done and helping humanity to progress, they were favoured by the gods. If enough favours were gained or devotion showed, the gods would even help the heroes by either giving them wisdom or intervening themselves with their powers. The ancients Greeks were polytheistic — that is, they worshipped many gods. Their major gods and goddesses lived at the top of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, and myths described their lives and actions. In myths, gods often actively intervened in the day-to-day lives of humans. Myths were used to help explain the unknown and sometimes teach a lesson. For example, Zeus, the king of the gods, carried his favorite weapon, the thunderbolt. When it rained and there was thunder and lightning, the ancient Greeks believed that Zeus was venting his anger. Many stories about how the Greek gods behaved and interacted with humans are found in the works of Homer. He created two epic poems: the Iliad , which related the events of the Trojan War, and the Odyssey , which detailed the travels of the hero Odysseus.
    [Show full text]
  • Sixteenth Century Cameo in Eighteenth Century Ring POA
    www.graysantiques.co.uk Sixteenth century cameo in eighteenth century ring POA Ca 1580-1600 agate cameo of a merman / male equivalent of a mermaid / The eighteenth century gold and silver ring is with two small diamonds in silver setting positioned on either side of the cameo.Perhaps the first recorded merman was the early Babylonian sea-god Ea, whose Sumerian Enki, and was known to the Greeks as Oannes. Oannes had a fish head and man’s head beneath, and both a fish tail and man like legs, according to Berossus.[a][1] The fish god Dagon of the Philistines, with a fish-tailed body, may derive its origins from these earlier Mesopotamian gods.[2] Greco-Roman mythology[edit] Further information: Triton (mythology) Triton with a Nymph Triton of Greek mythology was depicted as a half-man, half-fish merman in ancient Greek art. Triton was son of the sea-god Poseidon and sea-goddess Amphitrite. Neither Poseidon nor Amphitrite were merfolk, although both were able to live under water as easily as on land. Tritons later became generic mermen, so that multiple numbers of them were depicted in art.[3][4] Triton were also associated with using a conch shell in the later Hellenistic period.[5] In the 16th century, the Triton was referred to as “trumpeter of Neptune (Neptuni tubicen)” in Marius Nizolius’s Thesaurus (1551),[6][b] and this phrase has been use in modern commentary.[7] The Elizabethan period poet Edmund Spenser referred to Triton’s “trompet” as well.[8] Another notable merman from Greek mythology was Glaucus.
    [Show full text]
  • NEW TRIER SCOBOL SOLO 2010 ROUND 2 Questions Written and Edited by David Reinstein with Assistance from Matt Bardoe, Mark Grant, Jonah Greenthal, and Mike Laudermith
    NEW TRIER SCOBOL SOLO 2010 ROUND 2 Questions written and edited by David Reinstein with assistance from Matt Bardoe, Mark Grant, Jonah Greenthal, and Mike Laudermith 1. Animals in this class have bodies that consist of a prosoma and opisthosoma (oh-PISS-thoh-soh-muh), and the largest of them that ever lived were aquatic species called eurypterids (yoo-RIHP-tuh-ridz). Orders within this class are distinguished by the shape and function of the pedipalps, and some members of this class take in oxygen through soft overlapping flaps inside the abdominal cavity known as book lungs. Apulmonate members of this class include the Acari, which consists of mites and ticks. The species Androctonus in this class can kill humans with a neurotoxin; that species is better known as the fat-tailed scorpion. More famous for the ability of some of its members to spin silk, name this class that includes harvestmen and spiders. ANSWER: Arachnida [or Arachnids] 2. One of this author’s novels is about an attempt to shoot the movie Shoola and the Sea Lion by the son of Alice the Angry Aleut in the town of Kuinak, Alaska. Well before he wrote Sailor Song, this author wrote a novel about the half brothers Lee and Hank Stamper set in the logging town of Wakonda, Oregon. Another novel by this author features a character nicknamed “Rub-a-Dub George” and a timid doctor named Spivey. That work centers on a power struggle between Randle McMurphy and Nurse Ratched. Name this author of Sometimes a Great Notion and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
    [Show full text]
  • Robert Graves the White Goddess
    ROBERT GRAVES THE WHITE GODDESS IN DEDICATION All saints revile her, and all sober men Ruled by the God Apollo's golden mean— In scorn of which I sailed to find her In distant regions likeliest to hold her Whom I desired above all things to know, Sister of the mirage and echo. It was a virtue not to stay, To go my headstrong and heroic way Seeking her out at the volcano's head, Among pack ice, or where the track had faded Beyond the cavern of the seven sleepers: Whose broad high brow was white as any leper's, Whose eyes were blue, with rowan-berry lips, With hair curled honey-coloured to white hips. Green sap of Spring in the young wood a-stir Will celebrate the Mountain Mother, And every song-bird shout awhile for her; But I am gifted, even in November Rawest of seasons, with so huge a sense Of her nakedly worn magnificence I forget cruelty and past betrayal, Careless of where the next bright bolt may fall. FOREWORD am grateful to Philip and Sally Graves, Christopher Hawkes, John Knittel, Valentin Iremonger, Max Mallowan, E. M. Parr, Joshua IPodro, Lynette Roberts, Martin Seymour-Smith, John Heath-Stubbs and numerous correspondents, who have supplied me with source- material for this book: and to Kenneth Gay who has helped me to arrange it. Yet since the first edition appeared in 1946, no expert in ancient Irish or Welsh has offered me the least help in refining my argument, or pointed out any of the errors which are bound to have crept into the text, or even acknowledged my letters.
    [Show full text]
  • Pistos Hetairos in the Iliad and the Odyssey
    ACTA CLASSICA XXVI (/983) 15-22 PISTOS HETAIROS IN THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY by Hanna Roisman (Tel-Aviv University) I Pistas and pista6 in the Iliad and the Odyssey are associated with the provision of concrete evidence of reliability. This can be either a symbolic handshake, as 1 between Diomedes and Glaucus (pist6santa, Iliad 6.233 ), which serves as external proof of their agreement, or a more significant deed, such as Automedon's response to Patroclus' needs in battle which qualifies him to be considered the latter's pistatatas (16.147). 2 In such cases the epithet pistas should be understood to convey reliability, trustworthiness or faithfulness, meanings which the epithet most commonly holds in later authors3 but rarely in the Iliad when it is used personally. The case of Alcimedon, who is Automedon's pistas hetairas (17.500), is the sole example for such a meaning of this phrase. The proof of his reliability is his helping Automedon on the battlefield (17.466 ff) . The heroes do not share any relationship other than being hetairai to each other; that is, they belong to the same contingent and fight the same enemy. 4 By giving aid to Automedon in a troublesome situation Alcimedon merely opens the way for a closer relationship which is neither obligatory nor assured. The remaining occurrences of the phrase pistas hetairas in the Iliad refer to four heroes: Patroclus (17.557; 18.235, 460), Stichius (15.331), 5 Lycophron (15.437), and Podes (17.589). Three characteristic features in the description of these heroes differentiate them from the case of Alcimedon-Automedon.
    [Show full text]
  • Iliad Book I
    Iliad Book I 1. Who were the sons of Atreus? 2. Who asked Apollo to curse the Greeks and why? 3. Did the Achaeans know why Apollo plagued them at first? 4. What had to be done to stop the plague? 5. Why did Agamemnon refuse? 6. What are Myrmidons? 7. What did Agamemnon take and from whom to replace Chryseis? 8. Who stopped Achilles from killing Agamemnon? 9. Which Achaean leader claimed to know Theseus? Extra: Find Pylos on a map and read the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. 10. What did Agamemnon do instead of giving back Chryseis? 11. To whom did Achilles turn for help when he lost Briseis? Extra: Read the story of the marriage of Peleus and Thetis and the story of Achilles’ birth. 12. Why did Achilles think she could persuade Zeus? 13. What did Achilles want? 14. Where was Zeus? Extra: Find modern Ethiopia on a map. 15. What three actions did the Achaeans take at the temple to appease Apollo? 1. 2. 3. 16. How did Zeus indicate he would do as Thetis asked? 17. Who tried to change Zeus’ mind? 18. How did Hephaestus become injured? Iliad Book II 1. The evil or false dream was sent to Agamemnon by _______________. Extra: Keep a list of the gods/goddesses on each side of the war. 2. The dream came to Agamemnon as who? 3. Agamemnon’s staff had been made by whom? And how was it acquired? 4. When the Achaean troops assemble Agamemnon tells them that Zeus wanted them to do what? 5.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Tsjcl Myth
    CONTEST CODE: 09 2014 TEXAS STATE JUNIOR CLASSICAL LEAGUE MYTHOLOGY TEST DIRECTIONS: Please mark the letter of the correct answer on your scantron answer sheet. 1. Goddess of the hunt, she is associated with Selene, goddess of the moon (A) Aphrodite (B) Artemis (C) Athena (D) Aurora 2. He performed Twelve Labors for his cousin due to a trick by Hera (A) Admetus (B) Heracles (C) Jason (D) Perseus 3. They were the Dioscuri, the Gemini Twins (A) Apollo & Artemis (B) Idas & Lynceus (C) Otus & Ephialtes (D) Pollux & Castor 4. He led the Trojan refugees to a new land and their destiny (A) Aeneas (B) Jason (C) Odysseus (D) Teucer 5. Goddess of love and beauty (A) Aphrodite (B) Demeter (C) Hera (D) Themis 6. King of the Underworld, brother to Zeus (A) Apollo (B) Hades (C) Poseidon (D) Vulcan 7. A Satyr, half goat and half man, patron of shepherds (A) Chiron (B) Echidna (C) Ladon (D) Pan 8. God of the Sea, known as The Earth-Shaker (A) Ares (B) Hephaestus (C) Jupiter (D) Poseidon 9. She and her husband Philemon welcomed the disguised Zeus and Hermes to their home (A) Baucis (B) Laodice (C) Oenone (D) Semiramis 10. This beast was defeated by Heracles when he lopped off its heads and seared the stumps (A) Cerberus (B) Chimaera (C) Echidna (D) Hydra 11. Zeus gave Aphrodite to this god as his wife, an interesting choice (A) Apollo (B) Ares (C) Hephaestus (D) Poseidon 12. Zeus changed her into a heifer in order to hide her from Hera (A) Danae (B) Io (C) Merope (D) Semele 13.
    [Show full text]