The Character of the Greek Gods - Case Study Example

The Character of the Greek Gods The gods of our present time, regardless of the religion they are associated with, are recognized for their infinite power and benevolence. Their relationship with man utterly resembles that of a parent and child, thus the intimate bond. Parents provide for the needs of their children, penalize their wrong deeds, and commend their obedience; the gods are believed to do the same. However, the Greek gods, as portrayed in the mythology, did not have the same character. Men like Odysseus and Menelaus did not seem to rely on the gods for health, prosperity, or success in their endeavors. The Major Gods The ancient Greek religion was polytheistic in nature. They believed in the existence of many gods, and their dominion over the elements of nature. Literatures state that in the beginning, the Titan Cronus was the supreme ruler of mankind and the rest of the supernatural beings. His sons conspired to murder him for power which they consequently divided among themselves. Zeus, the youngest became god of the sky, law, order and fate, and carried with him a lightning bolt that can produce storm and tempest. Next in line was Poseidon, god of the seas. In some accounts, he was in command of water, earthquakes and horses; and voyagers paid him tribute for safe sailing. Hades was entrusted the underworld, or the fortress of the ghosts. Apart from the riches of the earth, he had a helmet from Cyclopes that could make him invisible and a scepter that enabled his shape shifting. The other major gods dwell in Mount Olympus and, along with Zeus and Poseidon, were called the Olympians. Hera, wife and sister of Zeus, was the goddess of marriage and birth. Women pray to her for a tranquil family life. Dionysus, the god of wine and feasts, was Zeus’ son to mortal heroine Semele. It was him who bestowed upon Midas the golden touch that turned everything his hands laid upon into gold. Apollo was the god of prophecy, music, and medicine. He was also referred to as the sun-god and was often seen traversing the sky on his golden chariot. Artemis, twin sister of Apollo, was the virgin goddess of the hunt and notable for his unsurpassed skill in archery. Swift-footed Hermes was the messenger of the gods. He had winged sandals that carried him to cosmic places. Athena was the goddess of war and wisdom, and who turned Arachne into a spider as sentence for her vanity. Ares was the god of war, the male counterpart of Athena. Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty, and owned a magic girdle that could enthuse love and desire for those who had it on. Hephaestus, husband of Aphrodite, was the god of fire and craft. He casted the armor of Achilles which he used during the Trojan war, and formed the first woman, Pandora. Lastly was the goddess of agriculture, Demeter, who brought forth the fruits of the earth and created the four seasons. The Flaws of the Gods Mortals looked up to the gods for their perfection. They could not err because the very existence of life is dependent upon their grace. Moreover, they could not compel justice and righteousness, if they themselves would transgress the universal laws. The Greek gods displayed this trait, but not all the time. Like mortals, they also got consumed with jealousy, their decisions shaded with favoritism, and their thoughts tainted with greed and envy. Odysseus was loved by the goddess Athena, protected him in all his feats even at the expense of other mortals. The other gods took sides in the battle between the Greeks and the Trojans, rather than seek reconciliation. Aphrodite was envious of Helen’s beauty, intervened in her encounter with Paris, and incited her abduction. Ares threw a spear from Troy to the Greek camp that expired their truce. Ares cared for nothing but bloodshed so he tricked the warring parties. The Trojan horse made its way inside the walls of Troy because nobody believed in Cassandra’s prophecies, a curse inflicted by Apollo when the former did not reciprocate his love. This is not to say, however that there was pure evil in their hearts. When Odysseus prayed to Zeus, he convened with the other gods and coerced Poseidon to free the mortal from his tribulation. The minor gods also had their share in sending Odysseus back to Ithaca. Aeolus, Keeper of the Winds, gave Odysseus a bag made of ox-hide with strong winds inside which he was not to open until he reached Ithaca. Athena accompanied Telemachus to ensure his safe journey while in search for Odysseus. Sentiments of Menelaus and Odysseus Book 4 of Homer’s tale The Odyssey, narrates of the arrival of Telemachus and Pisistratus at the palace of Menalaus in search for Odysseus. The latter and thousands of Greek warriors set sailed to Troy to rescue Helen from her abductor, Paris. While after their triumph in battle, most have returned home safely, Odysseus was banished by Poseidon to unknown realms; and among these was Calypso’s fortress where he was implored to stay. “So then son of Laertes, Odysseus, man of exploits, still eager to leave at once and hurry back to your own home, your beloved native land? Good luck to you, even so. Farewell! But if you only knew, down deep, what pains are fated to fill your cup before your reach that shore, you’d stay right here, preside in our house with me an and me immortal. Much as you long to see your wife, the one you pine for all your days” (Odysseus 5:223-232). Menelaus conveyed Odysseus’ eminence—of being a prudent king to Ithaca, and his ingenuity that worked wonder during the Trojan war. Moreover, his heart must have been filled with pleasure at the birth of his son. This seemed to be one advantage of man over the gods—the ability to feel content, since the gods were always in pursuit of supremacy in all aspects. As young Telemachus sighed, "Now the gods have reversed our fortunes with a vengeance - wiped that man from the earth like no one else before. I would never have grieved so much about his death If hed gone down with comrades off in Troy Or died in the arms of loved ones, once he had wound down the long coil of war. Then all united Achaea would have raised his tomb And hed have won his son great fame for years to come. But now the whirlwinds have ripped him away, no fame for him!" (Odysseus 1:272-280). On the other hand, it cannot be established that Odysseus suffered the ordeal owing to Poseidon’s jealousy, although it was certainly this god’s nature to rob heroes of their fame. Odysseus, was at fault when he refused to offer to the gods and show them gratitude for the aftermath of the Trojan war. He arrogantly took all the credit to himself, and overlooked the fact that victory was not possible without aid from the gods. Poseidon was not a lenient god, and the enmity was made worse when Odysseus blinded his son, Polyphemus. “Cylops – if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed you so – say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye, Laertes son, who makes his home in Ithaca!” (Odyssey 9:558-562). As for Menelaus, he could have assumed that the gods were against him when they allowed the infidelity of his wife to beget massive catastrophe. Such an act was hard enough to bear for a husband of fine reputation. True, it was Aphrodite who delivered Helen to Paris, jealous of her beauty. Then again, events turned in his favor; he recovered what had been taken, and doubled his riches. Also, he was loved by Zeus and promised an eternal life in Elysia, the mortals’ paradise. The tragic fate of Odysseys and Menelaus were not entirely the works of the gods. The gods always had the final verdict on what should come about in the life of a mortal, yet freewill had the most impact. Mortals can make decisions and take actions on their own. Had Odysseus heed the advice not to defy the god Poseidon, or had not made wrong choices during the voyage, he could have gone safely home sooner. Helen too, had a mind of her own. She could have preferred to stay in Sparta devoted to Menelaus, and prevented the war. “Ah how shameless – the way these mortals blame the gods. From us alone, they say, come all their miseries, yes, but they themselves, with their own reckless ways, compound their pains beyond their proper share” (Odyssey 1:32-34). Conclusion When the Greek gods created man, there was no better image to copy but of themselves. Because their supernatural abilities were inherent, or perhaps they did not wish any mortal in the same status with them, man was limited to do what his mind and body could sustain. These abilities enabled the gods to interfere in human affairs, grant their prayers, and contend against one another. But while other gods were perfect in all aspects, the Greek gods seemed to have worldly flaws. They had emotions that at some point, corroded their sense of reason; they had caprices that impeded in their pursuit of justice. Read More