14 Matching Annotations
  1. Sep 2020
    1. When whichever god it was had ordered and divided the mass, and collected it into separate parts, he first gathered the earth into a great ball so that it was uniform on all sides.

      This idea of creation is much different than some of the more popular religions that are followed today. For instance, the use of the word "whichever" shows the polytheistic views. Rather than one God creating the world and everything we have come to known, this follows a different pattern as all the things that are known have already been created. This god may have just been the organizer rather than the creator.

    2. Though there was land and sea and air, it was unstable land, unswimmable water, air needing light.

      I find it very interesting that each element of the world such as the land or the sea or the air can be referred to as separate terms but it is suggested here that they were once all in one and jumbled together. It is difficult to comprehend that these three very separate things may have all been one ambiguous matter. I wonder if there is any artwork in reference to this time of the world.

    3. There was delivered to Cronus an oracle regarding the birth of Zeus which stated that the son who would be born to him would wrest the kingship from him by force.

      I wonder why Greek gods would never pass on the kingship as most mortal kings have in certain times. Is it because they are immortal and wanted to rule forever?

    4. The Curetes bore him off to a certain cave where they gave him over to the Nymphs, with the command that they should minister to his every need.

      It seems to be that Zeus's destiny was decided long before and it is as if nature and the other creatures were preparing him for the sole reason of ascension to the throne.

    5. and when the years rolled round, 185 she gave birth to stern Furies [Erinyes], and mighty Giants, gleaming in arms, with long spears in hand, and nymphs whom men call Ash-nymphs, [Meliai] over the boundless earth.

      The children born from the blood of Ouranos falling to Earth are relatively unappealing to look at it rather than Aphrodite who was born to be the most beautiful godesss.

    6. the foam-sprung goddess,

      I wonder why the epithet of "foam-sprung goddess" was used opposed to one that had to do with her being born from Ouranos.

    7. Then forth stepped an awesome, beauteous goddess;

      Greek gods seem to be either very male or very female with none that I know of showing a blatant display of duality with the two. This is despite the fact that Aphrodite, a goddess, was born from the blood of a pure male with no feminine interaction in the process.

    8. hastily

      The presence of the word hastily shows the strength and courage that Kronos had in order to do something so dangerous as to attack his own father, the sky itself.

    9. and suggested to him all the stratagem.

      I wonder why Gaia had to get one of her children to do something of this situation and would not do anything herself. Was it due to the fact that she was in pain or the fact that she was afraid?

    10. But from Chaos were born Erebos and black Night; and from Night again sprang forth Aether and Day, 125 whom she bore after having conceived, by union with Erebos in love.

      It's really interesting that there are different ways that beings come to be in mythology. It's not just the reproduction of a male and female figure but rather has more to do with the power and the substantial position that the beings hold.

    11. And Earth bore first like to herself in size starry Sky, that he might shelter her around on all sides, that so she might be ever a secure seat for the blessed gods;

      I find it very interesting how Hesiod describes the Sky, referring to Uranus as a "shelter" for the Earth. I question this due to the fact that Uranus has cost the Earth a great deal of pain and suffering but is still being described by Hesiod as a sort of blanket to protect the earth, even though it was also known to harm the Earth.