Dreams surely are difficult, confusing, and not everything in them is brought to pass for mankind. For fleeting dreams have two gates: one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory. Those which pass through the one of sawn ivory are deceptive, bringing tidings which come to nought, but those which issue from the one of polished horn bring true results when a mortal sees them. – Homer, Odyssey
Iliad and Odyssey, the masterpiece of a Greek writer named Homer, is renowned around the world because of its mystical story and exciting adventure. Also, each line showcases how the Greeks live in the ancient times.
As a read ‘The Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’, I found out many things that about them regarding their tradition, culture and lifestyle.
The first priority of the Greeks especially in their everyday decision-making is the favor of their gods and goddesses. Before they settle on something, they desire to have the approval and guidance of their gods. They gave sacrifices and offerings so the gods will support them.
For instance, in Iliad, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter so that the goddess Artemis could give him good winds for their voyage to Troy. Also in Odyssey, Odysseus offered something to the statue of Athena before heading to Troy. He asked for the guidance of the goddess in his journey.
They also believe in fate and destiny, that everything they do is written by their gods and goddesses before they are born.
The Greeks are also people who give importance to men but less significance to women. In their time, women are treated like lower beings who only follow the whims of the men. They are never given right to oppose or to decide.
As depicted in Iliad, Paris’ mother, who was objecting on the choice of King Priam, was disregarded and neglected. Also, Clytemnestra was overlooked by his husband Agamemnon because she was just his wife.
Like any other, in the two books, this shows that the Ancient Greeks are not an exemption to greed. They desire to have everything such as money, kingdom and heart.
Example is how Agamemnon desires to have Helen as his wife. He always has his eye on the childish-lady even he is married to Clytemnestra. In ‘The Odyssey’, many men like Antinous wishes to have Penelope as their wife so that he could get Odysseus wealth and kingdom.
Besides these characters, there are still some good things that the Ancient Greeks possess as to what the book describes.
In the Odyssey, there is an evident scene that Greeks have strong family ties. They long for their loved ones and wait for their return, even how long it would take them.
This is shown by Odysseus’ family. Penelope still remained faithful even though there were many men who courted her while his son, Telemachus, did everything just to see his father. Odysseus, on the other hand, still thought of his family even he was in a dreadful journey.
Having this is mind; I realized that there are still many things that are hidden in works of men that can solve many mysteries in life such as the culture of the ancient Greeks. There are some that I don’t favor like their belittling on women, and their worship to false gods. But still, I admire those characters especially in the Odyssey that holds a good quality of a family member.
And these are some of the things I understood and saw as I read ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer.
