Today's daily learning tidbit will focus on exploring a small text from the Iliad. This ancient Greek epic laid the common foundation for ancient Greek culture and their civilization. It tells the story of the destruction of Troy. Homer, the supposed author of the Illiad, weaves a tale involving heroes, gods, war, and glory. The reason this myth has been passed down for millenia is a testament to it's beauty and virtues. I've been exploring ancient Greek culture, and especially this myth, through the course "The Ancient Greek Hero" which is freely avaliable. You don't need to know ancient Greek or really anything about their culture to follow along.
Each week in the course covers a few different passages. Today I'm going to be sharing my thoughts one of the first one's we're introduced to, and how I think it relates to the greater story. Before we take a look at the passage, I think some additonal context is necessary. The text is taken from a speech Achilles gave. He is one of the main heroes in the Illiad and his mother was a goddess named Thetis, but his father was mortal so he is a mortal hero. His glory is recounted throughout the Illiad, and I think the passage really showcases the idea of fate and choice within the myth. The words in the square brackets represent important words in the original ancient Greek transliterated into English. Let's take a look:
s|410 My mother Thetis, goddess with silver steps, tells me that
|411 I carry the burden of two different fated ways [kēres] leading to the final moment [telos] of death.
|412 If I stay here and fight at the walls of the city of the Trojans, then my safe homecoming [nostos] will be destroyed for me, but I will have a glory [kleos] that is imperishable [aphthiton].
|414 Whereas if I go back home, returning to the dear land of my forefathers,
|415 then it is my glory [kleos], genuine [esthlon] as it is, that will be destroyed for me, but my life force [aiōn] will then
|416 last me a long time, and the final moment [telos] of death will not be swift in catching up with me.
Iliad 9.410–416Achilles is saying that if he goes to war with the Trojans then he will never return home alive, but he will be remembered forever. Yet if he does go back home, he'll live a long life, but lose out on the glory. Spoiler alert, he chooses to fight and wins glory for his people. What I think is most interesting about this passage is the way it makes the story feels real and alive. If Achilles choses to go home, then there is no epic tale of glory, of kelos, all of that is lost to the winds of history. Yet, in the story, it feels like Achilles knows the Illiad, the story of his heroic journey, will be remembered forever. He knows we'll be talking about his glory for millenia afterwards. In a way, the text is sort of breaking the fourth wall here, talking to us directly as readers. Telling us that it is because of Achilles that we are reading it today. It makes it feel like Achilles really did make a choice and it really did matter. I love the way the text almost predicts the future.
Anyways that short thought is the thing I learned today and wanted to share. I hope you enjoy it and if it piques your interest, give the course a try! Until next time.