Agamemnon
* “I know God is envious of human prosperity and likes to trouble us”
* “man is entirely a creature of chance”
* “until [man] is dead, keep the word ‘happy’ in reserve”
CONTEXT: Histories, Herodotus; Solon’s advice to Croesus
SIGNIFICANCE: the relationship between gods and men – men seem to be mere puppets; men should be humble and modest; addressing balance
* “After Solon’s departure nemesis fell upon Croesus, presumably because God was angry with him for supposing himself the happiest of men”
CONTEXT: Histories, Herodotus; Solon's prediction comes true, and Croesus receives some "punishment".
SIGNIFICANCE: nemesis – readdressing balance
* “Once honour demanded that I should win fame as a huntsman and fighter; but now, father, though you cannot accuse me of cowardice or lack of spirit, you won‘t let me take part in either of these admirable pursuits”
CONTEXT: Histories, Herodotus; Artys insisted on hunting the boar.
SIGNIFICANCE: honour code in Ancient Greece, heroism.
* “Adrastus, the very man whom Croesus had cleansed from the stain of blood--aimed at the boar, missed him, and struck the king’s son”
CONTEXT: Histories, Herodotus; Croesus’ dream turned out true.
SIGNIFICANCE: God’s readdressing balance; fickle and partisan gods.
* “I have no doubt that Cambyses was completely out of his mind; it is the only possible explanation of his assault upon, and mockery of, everything which ancient law and custom have made sacred in Egypt. For if anyone, no matter who, were given the opportunity of choosing from amongst all the nations in the world the beliefs which he though best, he would inevitably, after careful consideration of their relative merits, choose those of his own country.”
CONTEXT: Histories, Herodotus; Herodotus’ comments on Cambyses’ mad deeds.
SIGNIFICANCE: respect other nations’ custom – “custom is king of all” (Pindar). This may show Herodotus’ humane approach to history.
* “It is always the great buildings and the tall trees which are struck by lightning.”
CONTEXT: Histories, Herodotus; Artabanus’ advice to Xerxes: Xerxes should not fight against Greece. Xerxes’ deed may anger God.
SIGNIFICANCE: addressing nemesis – how God keeps balance.
* “Now let me tell you what the result will be, if you do not at once undertake this war: just as in a moment you rose to greatness and power, so in a moment will you be brought low again.”
CONTEXT: Histories, Herodotus; Xerxes’ second dream.
SIGNIFICANCE: cycle of compulsion to power: empire in itself is a constant pursuit, an unfailing compulsion which Xerxes cannot refuse even though all may end in tragedy.
* “I’m saying nothing, a great ox is standing on my tongue.
Now if this house could speak it would tell quite a story.”
Context: Agamemnon, Aeschylus; beginning of Agamemnon – the watchman speaks of his fear.
Significance: it shows the mood of the watchman and the city, which sets the background, and foreshadows the later happenings.
* “Why does this terror keep hovering / in front of my prophetic heart?”
Context: Agamemnon, Aeschylus; chorus speaks after Agamemnon comes back with Cassandra.
Significance: foreshadowing – the chorus senses evil in the encounter between Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
* “Words, so many words I have said to serve my needs, / and now, finally, I am not ashamed to speak openly.”
Context: Agamemnon, Aeschylus; Clytemnestra rejoices after killing Agamemnon.
Significance: the strength of persuasion; Clytemnestra’s power.
* “How could you have done this? The citizens will curse you! / You cut him down and cast him away, / how you will be cast from the city, and exile, / a figure of hate, reviled by the people, despised.”
Context: Agamemnon, Aeschylus; chorus accuses Clytemnestra of murdering Agamemnon.
Significance: connection between the oikos and polis – how a loyal family reflected and influenced a broader society, a community.
* “Here he lies, a delight to my eyes, shrouded in a robe woven by the Furies, paying the price for his father’s revolting crime”.
Context: Agamemnon, Aeschylus; Aegisthus welcomes “justice”, rejoicing after Agamemnon’s death.
Significance: power struggle; various motives (power, revenge, justice).
* “You and I hold the power of this house.”
Context: Agamemnon, Aeschylus; the end of the play – Clytemnestra reconciles the quarrel between the chorus and Aegisthus.
Significance: Clytemnestra needs Aegisthus to hold power while demonstrating her own power; Clytemnestra finally earns the ultimate power.
* “How can I pray to my father? Should I say I bring dedications from a loving wife to be her beloved husband, when they come from my mother?”
Context: The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus; Electra mourns over Agamemnon’s tomb – Clytemnestra was troubled by her dreams and demanded Electra to pour a libation for Agamemnon.
Significance: ironic – Clytemnestra was not a loving wife: this libation does not occur because of her respect of the dead, but selfish reasons; Clytemnestra's fear; foreshadowing the later happenings.
*“Simply state one to kill those who killed.”
“How could it not be right to repay your enemy, evil for evil?”
Context: The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus; the chorus incites Electra to revenge.
Significance: “evil for evil” may not end evil; cycle of vengeance
* “Here you see Electra and Orestes, / children robbed of their father, / both outcasts, exiled from our own House.”
Context: The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus; Orestes asks for Zeus’ help.
Significance: theme of wronged children – are they responsible for the curse?
* “Father, you were denied a kingly death. / Hear me! Give me power over the House.”
Context: The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus; Orestes calls for Agamemnon’s help.
Significance: power struggle – think about Orestes’ motives; cycle of vengeance (Does his revenge fulfill justice?)
* “How can I kill my own mother?”
Context: The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus; Orestes hesitates when trying to kill Clytemnestra.
Significance: humanity – Orestes is not a killing machine.
* “When will it end, when it will be calm? / When will it sleep, this fury, this Ruin?”
Context: The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus; the chorus speaks at the end after the furies come to pursue Orestes.
Significance: cycle of vengeance continues - the furies (old gods) fight with new gods (Apollo and Athena). The strife among immortals reflects human disaster.
"These then were the oracles, how could I not act on them? Even if I did not, the deed must still be done, I have many motive of my own that drive me."
Context: The Libation Bearers, Aeschylus; Orestes asks for Apollo's help and decides to revenge.
Significance: the curse of the house is done by people themselves - awareness of their deeds
"Muses of the sacred spring Pieria / Who give glory in song, / Come sing Zeus' praises, hymn your great Father..."
Context: Works & Days, Hesiod; the beginning of the text, Hesiod addresses the muses
Significance: authoritative speech - muses give the poet authority
"Only a fool struggles against his superiors. He not only gets beat, but humiliated as well."
Context: Works & Days, Hesiod; the fable of hawk and nightingale
Significance: might makes right; ultimate power
"Listen, Perses - you come from good stock-/And remember always to work. Work so Hunger'll Hate you"
Context: Works & Days, Hesiod; Hesiod tries to persuade Perses to work
Significance: work ethic - hard work brings prosperity; work as natural justice
"Here they fought to the last, with their swords if they had them, and if not with their hands and teeth, until the Persians finally overwhelmed them with missile weapons. The dead there have a special epitaph, 'Go tell the Spartans, you who read: We took their orders and here lie dead'."
Context: Histories, Herodotus; the battle at Thermopylae (led by Spartan King Leonidas and Persian King Xerxes)
Significance: honor code of Spartans; great heroism; fame and glory - one's tomb is his sign of glory
"The enemy was in hopeless confusion; such ships as offered resistance or tried to escape were cut to pieces by the Athenians."
Context: Histories, Herodotus; battle at Salamis between Greece with Persia.
Significance: Greek's victory, fame, honor, glory; a sense of community;