Gods of The Odyssey

<p><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!T2Si!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f8d8ce1a-61af-4b7f-bfbf-e067db0f0b2c_1980x1403.jpeg"></p><p>Dear Classical Wisdom Reader,</p><p>The low rumble of thunder…. The crash of waves…</p><p>And a vision that <em>might</em> just be imaginary.</p><p>It’s one of the more controversial elements of the recent <em>Odyssey </em>film: the comparatively grounded, ‘realistic’ depiction of the supernatural.</p><p>So, no, there’s nothing as theatrical as Liam Neeson’s Zeus dramatically announcing “Release the Kraken!” in Nolan’s vision.</p><p>Although, <em>that </em>depiction of Zeus (from 2010’s<em> Clash of the Titans</em> remake) brings up a whole other set of other problems: first and foremost, the Scandanavian Kraken is <em>not</em> from Greek mythology!</p><p>So, what I’m saying is: depiction of the divine in Greek myth is pretty tricky. There’s plenty of scope to get things wrong, or leave people thinking it just wasn’t done right.</p><p>Yet controversy about the gods in Homer is nothing new.</p><p>Today’s Member’s article looks at how Xenophanes of Colophon famously decried even Homer’s representation of the Greek deities. He could not believe that the gods would be so selfish, so capricious, so… human.</p><p>So he developed his own ideas, and in the process, pushed philosophy forward.</p><p>Xenophanes’ thought represented a fundamental challenge to the conventions of his time, and propelled the understanding of myth, humanity and the divine into new territories. </p><p>Indeed, it is in Xenophanes’ work that the worlds of Greek philosophy, myth, and history all blend together.</p><p><em>Not A Member? Sign up today to unlock ALL of our resources, including the extended version of <a href="https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/can-we-return-to-an-enchanted-world">our recent podcast with Michael Satlow</a> on ancient rituals, religion and beliefs… A fitting companion to today’s article.</em></p><p><a href="https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/subscribe"><span>Become A Member</span></a></p><p>Now, read on below to discover Xenophanes’ radical ideas about the gods, his dramatic life story, and how he was <em>way </em>ahead of his time.</p><p>All the best,</p><p>Sean Kelly</p><p>Managing Editor</p><p>Classical Wisdom</p><div><hr></div><h1>Xenophanes and Homer’s Gods</h1><p><em>by Mariami Shanshashvili</em></p><p>Socrates often pointed out how Greece’s most beloved poets – Homer and Hesiod – depicted the gods as all <em>too</em> human, but the first ancient Greek thinker to make radical claims about this matter was Xenophanes of Colophon.</p><p>Although the appearance of the first philosophers in ancient Greece was all about the emergence of unconventional and nontraditional ways of thinking, Xenophanes could still be justifiably viewed as one of the most – if not <em>the </em>most – unorthodox and even scandalous figure of his era.</p><p>There were two things an ancient Greek would never doubt: first, that the gods are in charge of everything and everyone, and second, that we know this because they themselves disclosed it to us. The sun, rainbows, and the very earth we are walking on were believed to be gods and goddesses. Every natural phenomenon was ascribed to some property of a deity; every historical event and fate of an individual race or man was explained as the result of the will of the Olympians.</p><p>And how did they know? Muses told them so. Invocation of the Muses served as a traditional and commonplace poetic tool: when a poet wanted to authenticate the truth of his claims, he called on Muses so they would act as witnesses and provide assertion.</p><p>This is even how Homer opens both of the <em>Iliad </em>and the <em>Odyssey: </em>he addresses divine agency.</p> <p> <a href="https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/gods-of-the-odyssey"> Read more </a> </p> <p><a href="https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/gods-of-the-odyssey" target="_blank">- Enlace a artículo -</a></p> <p>Más info en https://ift.tt/N16jcDA / Tfno. & WA 607725547 Centro MENADEL (Frasco Martín) Psicología Clínica y Tradicional en Mijas. #Menadel #Psicología #Clínica #Tradicional #MijasPueblo</p> <p>*No suscribimos necesariamente las opiniones o artículos aquí compartidos. No todo es lo que parece.</p>