A HUMAN ATTRIBUTE/CHARACTERISTIC ADMIRED IN ANCIENT GREECE
What is strength? The dictionary defines it as, the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power; vigor or mental power, force, or vigor. In Ancient Greece there were lived up to the definition of this word. Architecture, visual art and literature were used to honor those such people. On the other hand in Greek culture, strength can be a two edged sword as we have learned though out our studies. Homer’s Odysseus and Plato’s Socrates are two examples of how showing strength can be successful or the ultimate downfall.
Strength was an attribute/characteristic that was both admired and rejected in Ancient Greece. An individual possessing this quality can exhibit it physically and or mentally. There were characters in our readings that shared this trait and have earned their places in literary history. Each of them showed their strengths in different situations. For example, Odysseus used his strength as a great leader to return home to Ithaca, whereas Socrates used his strength in words to stand up for his total disbelief in gods. My objective is to give examples of their strengths and the outcomes that followed. Odysseus’s strength was tested during the ten years that he struggled to return to his homeland of Ithaca. His strength allowed him to think quickly on his feet for him and his crew to escape the cave of Cyclops. Odysseus comes up with a plan to get Cyclops drunk and stabs him in his only eye with a hot staff. They escaped the cave by clinging to the bellies of Cyclops’ sheep that led them out of the cave. In this instance his physical strength and mental strength played a part and resulted in their narrow escape. His strength of love for Penelope was tested while he was held captive with the lustful Calypso. She tried every trick to make him sway from his wife and surrender to her. A man must be mentally strong to fight off those advancement for so long. She enticed him with promises of a lavish life if he remained with her. The strong devotion that he had for Penelope made him even more focus to escape her clutches. Odysseus tapped into his mental strength to overcome the temptations put before him by Calypso. After his release from Calypso, Odysseus seemed to be on course to his destination when after eighteen days at sea, Poseidon spots him and figures out that the other gods had come to the aide of Odysseus. As a result he created a tumultuous storm that destroyed his boat and lands him into the sea fighting to stay afloat. He uses the protection veil given to him earlier by Athena to survive the raging waters. Also with the help of the goddess Ino and Athena herself, he is able to make it to the shores of Scheria, the island of the Phaeacians. Although it appears that Athena was …show more content…
His mental strength resulted in an adverse effect. Although he wasn’t afraid, Socrates was put to death for his crime of not recognizing the gods. He had initially rejected the idea of imprisonment. Instead he offered to pay a fine. He displayed confidence on his part to believe so wholeheartedly in his message that he would escape the ultimate punishment of death. You have to respect a man that felt so passionate about the philosophy of life and his principles.
Both Odysseus and Socrates were men of strength. Each using their trait for what they were most passionate about. Odysseus passion was for his family, while Socrates passion was for sharing his beliefs and exposing the truth about the gods. Then end result for each of them was quite different. Odysseus reclaims his home and family, while Socrates loses his life.
Not much has changed in the modern world. Today if a father was in a situation such as Odysseus, I’m almost positive he would use every bit of strength he had in order to get back home. If an individual in today’s world were to express their opinion about religion or politics as Socrates did, they may very well find themselves having to defend their beliefs or be shunned. In some countries they may have to even faced prosecution and lose their lives as Socrates