#certified epic

[mythology-void]

okay so I was doing a Research™️ about ancient Greek etymology as one does and I found some Things that made me want to Violently Claw My Arms Off please allow me to force feed you my discoveries

So there are 2 words for "not" in ancient Greek, depending on the context: ou and mē. Having introduced himself in the Cyclops episode as " ou tis", or No-man, he then stabs Polyphemus in the eye. When Polyphemus' brothers come to check on him, they say this:

"... surely no man [mē tis] is carrying off your sheep? Surely no man [mē tis] is trying to kill you either by fraud or by force?"

Right after this, after the other cyclopes ditch Polyphemus, Odysseus's inner monologue goes something like this:

"Then they went away, and I laughed inwardly at the success of my clever strategem [metis]." (pronounced mEH-Tis)

Now, there's a difference between mē tis and metis. [mē tis] (pronounced mEH-Tis with a space between the syllables) is the literal translation for "no man". Metis is a word for extreme intelligence/cunning, which is something Odysseus is famous for.

Now, there are several examples of abuse of metis/intelligence in the Odyssey, but I think the juxtaposition between [mē tis], or the concept of anonymity, and metis, or extreme intelligence, is REALLY interesting. Odysseus's adoption of the title "No-man" was characteristic of metis--it was a really smart move that simultaneously hid him from the cyclops and avoided any future consequences. It was a highly effective strategy all wrapped up in a nest little package with a bow on it.

But when he revealed himself as Odysseus of Ithaca, effectively throwing off No-man (anonymity and [mē tis]), that was characterized as idiocy--he's essentially doxxed himself, and now he's doing to (spoiler alert) get tossed around the Mediterranean by Poseidon for the next 10 years.

This is really interesting because it lets you see the parallels/codependency between metis(intelligence) and humility. When Odysseus refused to allow himself to go unnoticed (hubris) he suffered for it. BUT when he declined instant glory/satisfaction (kleos) in order to achieve the long term goal of survival, he was rewarded with Athena's favor (pay attention. This part is important).

And this situation repeats itself MULTIPLE TIMES in the Odyssey--the EXACT SAME THING happens near the end of the book, with the suitors. When. Odysseus is dressed as a beggar and the suitors/Antinious are abusing him, he ACTIVELY CHOOSES not to react--he doesn't stand up and rip off his disguise and start hollering "TIS I, ODYSSEUS OF ITHACA! FEAR MY WRATH"

No. He sits there patiently and waits. He plans and schemes and quietly orchestrates their downfall without alerting them of it. Why? Because he learned his lesson the first time this happened. He buried his rage and adopted what was, according to Grace LA Franz, a more feminine form of metis, weaving a web of destruction for his enemies that ultimately resulted in their total annihilation (see Weaving a Way to Nostos: Odysseus and Feminine Metis in the Odyssey by Grace LaFranz). His patience allowed him to win the whole prize--no questions asked, no 10-year-long-business-trip strings attached--just the sweetness of a full victory. And he is, once again, rewarded with Athena's favor--both in the battle with the suitors and in the aftermath (cleanup/reuniting with Penelope).

This really reinforces the idea in the Odyssey that Odysseus's defining characteristic is not just his intelligence--it's his ability to learn from his mistakes. He used what he learned at the Lotus Eaters Island against Polyphemus--the Lotus Eaters drugged his men, so he drugged Polyphemus. He used what he learned from Circe and Polyphemus against the suitors--Circe used false sweetness and honeyed words to lure his men into a trap, so that's exactly what he did to the suitors. His hubris on Polyphemus' island cost his whole crew their lives, so he intentionally left well enough alone until the right time. He didn't just learn from his failures--he turned them into BATTLE STRATEGY.

i don't care what anyone says that is completely totally and objectively awesome

[fishareglorious]

will you believe me if this thing is one of the most powerful units in the game

[your-fave-is-forklift-certified]

Enkidu from The Epic of Gilgamesh is Forklift Certified!

[house-md-imagines]

house fire

greg house vs mayfield epic rap battles of history

[dabeth-is-dead]

"How will you sleep at night"

Was so painful after all of the "all I hear are screams" recently but this is not nylon string Odysseus, this is electric guitar Odysseus so he had that clapback

"Next to my wife"

[nyssasatelier]

Epic animatic update :

I'm still suffering

I kind of hate this actually

[blastadiamond]

obsessed with the fact that a woman was hitting on him and Odysseus’ immediate reaction is to threaten to kill her because he is A MARRIED MAN 😡🤬 🔪

[arowithanotp]

"I watched my friends die in horror crying as they all were slain. I heard their final moments crying their captain in vain"

who gave six of their men up as chew toys to scylla odysseus who refused to tell any of their crew anything that was happening ever odysseus who drove their crew to starvation odysseus who sacrificed dozens of men with their own wives and family including your SISTERS HUSBAND odysseus who started this goddamn mess by DOXXING THEMSELVES TO A CYCLOPS???? WHO ODYSSEUS???????? WHOOOOO?????

[book-nerd-emi]

“If i am to be her enemy, I want it to be because she hates herself for loathing me”

Spotify!!! ♡♡ Very Unorganized Pinterest!!! ♡♡

WHATCHA NEED TO KNOW~

♡♡ I’m Emi but feel free to call me literally anything ♡♡ she/her ♡♡ minor!! adults can interact but don’t be weird or else you’ll be blocked ♡♡ she/her and i’m 99% sure demi/ace ♡♡ i do write and draw but don’t expect to hear a lot about those ♡♡ i can play clarinet, piano and bassoon (maybe not well in some of those cases but it’s possible) ♡♡ true crime >>>> ♡♡ i wanna be a lawyer so watch out yall ♡♡ i live in PST time zone so yeahhh ♡♡ conan gray, olivia rodrigo, sabrina carpenter, eminem, NF, kendrick lamar and tobi lou >>>>>>>>>> ♡♡

FANDOMS~

♡♡ EPIC the musical ♡♡ the inheritance games ♡♡ six of crows ♡♡ powerless ♡♡ Aurora Rising Series ♡♡ AGGGTM ♡♡ hamilton ♡♡ heathers ♡♡ percy jackson universe ♡♡ harry potter (kinda sorta) ♡♡ renegades ♡♡ throne of glass ♡♡ fourth wing ♡♡ the naturals ♡♡ i’m trying to get into the cruel prince fandom whatever that’s called BUT IVE ONLY READ BOOK 1 ♡♡ there’s probably more ♡♡

OTHER STUFF YOU CAN KNOW IG~

♡♡ the list of my book bfs just gets longer everyday ♡♡ im SUPERRR normal about my hyperfixtations ♡♡ my theme changes a lot ♡♡ im taking a lot of harder classes this school year so if i don’t respond assume im doing hw or practicing ♡♡ sleeping is overrated ♡♡ i will probably send stuff in anon cause this isn’t like the “main blog” under my acc but ill always sign it - Emi <3 ♡♡

WHAT AM I~

♡♡ reading: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

♡♡ listening to: David Kushner or Emei

♡♡ practicing: Christmas Songs (clarinet) ♡ Heather by Conan Gray (piano)

♡♡ watching (this won’t change a lot): After The First 48 or some random K-Drama

ALL MY MOOTS~

@/wish-i-were-heather ♡♡ @/littlemissmentallyunstable ♡♡ @/balladofareader ♡♡ @/catapparently ♡♡ @/blocked-zombieartist ♡♡ @/sleepy-boything-shit ♡♡ @/a-menace-to-society-01 ♡♡ @/theodditylacey ♡♡ @/shattered-glass-roses

COOL PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW ME BUT IDK IF WE’RE ACTUALLY MOOTS BUT IM TOO SCARED TO ASK~

♡♡ @/berryzxx ♡♡ @/ask-aaron-burr1 ♡♡ @/myhyperfixationisbooks ♡♡ @/apollosmusee ♡♡ @/zuzanna-jadw1ga

IF YOU WANT TO BE MOOTS ASK. 99.9% OF THE TIME I WONT SAY NO

IF WE ARE MOOTS LITERALLY TAG ME IN ANYTHING OR BOMBARD ME WITH ASKS. ONE IM PROBABLY NOT DOING ANYTHING AND TWO I LITERALLY LOVE YOU EVEN IF WEVE NEVER TALKED OR WE ONLY HAVE ONCE

TAG MEANINGS~

random/idek: emi talks <3

mutuals: moots <3 (and then your respective tag)

music: 🎧 … now playing ~ ♡

reblogs: emis reblogs <3

asks: emis asks <3

rambling about politics?: emi rambling about politics

stories/writing: emis writing <3

[sunsetsmakemesad]

Okay so. Oz is Gilbert's favourite person Alice is Oz's favourite person Gilbert is Vincent's favourite person Jack is Alyss' favourite person Lacie is Jack's favourite person Elliot is Leo's favourite person Vincent is Noise's favourite person yeah I think that's all I have for now

[dynasty889]

We be starting the Odyssey tomorrow. I was personally offended when my teacher was delving into the Trojan war (y’know for context) and said Helen ran away with Paris.

[t-the-ring-master]

Request: circus guest anon

Requests open.

I’m doing this in like a piece by piece style since I couldn’t get it long enough to be a mini fic. Reader can be male or female, but probably male since I made them one of the soldiers unless it was a Mulan situation. Or hell, make them Athena’s daughter. Do what you like. Sorry it’s so short, I’m still very new to getting requests.

Tw: stabbing, short, I’m a certified Eurylochus blamer 😔, let me know if I missed anything. No use of Y/N (I use (name).)

If a part two is wanted let me know because there was only so much that happened in mutiny that didn’t involve our king being stabbed.

Odysseus x reader.

A Stab at Mutiny.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. None of this was supposed to happen.

You had set sail with Odysseus 12 or so years ago by now. And everything had gone down hill from there. Scylla had killed 6 men, all of which you had known for years now.

Now, Odysseus brother-in-law and comrade has taken over… a mutiny. Everything was falling apart, and it’s all because of him… because of Eurylochus.

You continued to argue and try and prevent the last of the others from aiding in attacking Odysseus, pushing them back and drawing your own blade. Listening to Ody’s and Eurylochus’s blades crash together behind you.

“Stand down Eurylochus! I did was I had to!” Ody shouted, not noticing one of the others sneak behind him. Too busy with fighting his friend than paying attention to his surroundings.

You however were, all too aware and wide eyed. Overly aware of your surroundings due to the situation, that is the only reason you saw one of the men approaching.

“Captain! Look out!” You called, decking one of the others in the jaw to break away from the clashing of his and your sword, dashing over to Odysseus. And just as the blade came down, you moved in time to be hit instead of your captain.

“(NAME)!” Was all you heard before getting knocked out. And that was the last Odysseus saw before something hit him over the head. Odysseus was no longer captain…. And you no longer had about a quarter cup of blood in your body.

The ache was painful and the sun was too bright. You woke up tied to a statue, and connected to Odysseus by a rope tying you both together by the wrists. Your stomach and chest had been bandaged.

Too bad those bandages would be useless to be used in only minutes. You only had one to blame like everyone else. The only difference was that it wasn’t the king.

[your-fave-is-forklift-certified]

Gilgamesh from The Epic of Gilgamesh is Forklift Certified!

[feiofthefae]

Listen, I don't begrudge anyone for enjoying works like Epic, Circe, or The Penelopiad (Epic is my personal poison), but please for the love of god do not base your entire understanding of an original work on a retelling. I am shaking you by the shoulders about this.

[theshmeepking]

jigen daisuke miku binder

[baura-bear]

he's for men and women everyone gets a barry j bluejeans