Monday, March 30, 2009
Divine Intervention
What I find the most interesting about Greek mythology is the massive amount of influence the gods play on humanity. Not only do they watch over the people and have a say in everything they do, they even take human form and come to Earth. This is so different from modern religions in which the gods are all knowing but stay out of our lives for the concept of free will. So my question is this. Why do you think the Greek gods and goddesses interfer in the war (besides the obvious Aphrodite protecting her claim to most beautiful goddess) even after Zeus calls a withdrawal?
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I think there are many reasons why gods are so involved in the lives of the mortals. Firstly, I think they just want to feel like they are in charge. This is the reason they appear everywhere, with or without being asked for their help. They feel like they have to take control of the situation and do what they feel is the best. Also, there are certain people that the gods favor over other people. That’s also why they are always involved, in order to assure a victory for those that they favor and ruin those that they dislike. The gods also have competition going on with one another. Not only do they want victory for the mortals they favor, but also they want victory for themselves from other gods. Because the gods are always competing with one another, this is why they are also involved with the mortals the whole time. This is the reason the gods were so involved in the war, because they wanted to manipulate the situation and make sure the people they favor gets victory.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the Greek Gods had to be involved. There very exsistence depended on it. I think that if people do not believe in there Gods that they cease to exist. So in order to continue there exsistence they involved themselves into the daily lives of there various followers.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the Illiad I at times got the feeling that the Greek gods and goddesses at times were bored so to "spice" things up they would do things to start a war. Throughout the text it seemed some god or goddess was planting words or thoughts in a mortal's mind. These thoughts in turn would spurn one onto courage or make them quake in fear.
ReplyDeleteThe gods seemed to constantly be at war with each other and maybe in their struggle to gain a victory, would go after their rival's favorite mortal thinking it might then give them the upper hand.
Apart from the story itself i believe the people of ancient Greece saw their lives as mirrors of the gods problems. they personified this in their stories as them being the actual tools by which the gods settled their disputes. we can see this by the way the gods take sides in the Trojan war.the Acheans represent one god faction while the Trojans another god faction.In wars there are miraculous things that occur and another explanation the Greeks offered was that a god found favor in them and rescued them.In the end its not about what the gods motives were but what the thinkers of ancient Greece thought about the gods.
ReplyDeleteoooh I think that there is a gap between Greek mythology and our religion... Greek gods are way more involved in people's life, they are not perfect, they know emotions and feelings, like love and fury...they fall in love with humans and they take side therefore there is no reason for them to stay aside and watch...
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the Gods used the humans for entertainment. I think like humans just because everyone goes to a party together doesnt mean everyone is ready to go at the same time. Zeus may have called a withdrawal but the other Gods still wanted to have their fun. I do agree that there is a obvious difference between the Greek Gods and most Gods of religions today. The Greek Gods were very human like. They were jealous, tempted, loved, hated, etc. The Greek Gods stayed involved in human affairs because whether they liked it or not they were alot like the humans they amused themselves with.
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