#gyges

[aboutanancientenquiry]

“Rhetoric and the Ring of Gyges:

Abstract:

There are two fundamental differences between the story of Gyges as told by Herodotus and by Plato. Many commentators have stressed the absence of magical elements in Herodotus’ version; but in another way Herodotus’ version is more fantastic than Plato’s. Herodotus portrays Gyges as an innocent man, forced against his will to kill the king, marry the queen, and become ruler of Lydia. This version of the story appears to be a propaganda piece circulated by Gyges and his partisans in the aftermath of the murder in order to justify Gyges’ ascension to the throne of Lydia. Herodotus’ reporting of this version of the story does not necessarily indicate a lack of historical judgement on his part, however, since he did not necessarily choose it because he believed it was true.There are indications within the story that Herodotus recognized its propagandistic character, and a similar conclusion can be derived from a comparison of his treatment of other political leaders. If Plato’s version represents a reaction to Herodotus’ version, then he too saw the story as an example of Gyges’ rhetorical genius, and fashioned the magic ring in its image.”

Gabriel Danzig  Rhetoric and the Ring: Herodotus and Plato on the Story of Gyges as a Politically Expedient Tale

The whole paper is available on https://www.academia.edu/4702511/Rhetoric_and_the_Ring_Herodotus_and_Plato_on_the_Story_of_Gyges_as_a_Politically_Expedient_Tale

Gabriel Danzig, Bar-Ilan University,  Classical Studies,  Chairman

[themetalgodsmeltdownposts]

(The Metal Gods Meltdown)

[fine-arts-gallery]

King Candaules of Lydia Showing his Wife to Gyges (1646) by Jacob Jordaens.

[floofysmallbob]

eeehhhhhh I’m not feeling this redesign but here it is

I mean, I like it better than canon, but it just doesn’t look too great, and the name I was going to use (Braires) is already the name of the guard at Tartarus, so I had to settle on this, and it’s just kinda meh, but honestly, it’s not going to be perfect, and i unfortunately have to accept that. So here’s Polymeliac Hero: Hekatonkheires

camouflage pattern

no weird eyes

more muted colors

knee pads

steel knuckled gloves

pointy ears

mask is separated from the rest of the costume

extra arms cut off at the wrist instead of having a joint where the hand would be

forgot the shading where the clothes are casting a shadow on his skin but it’s ok

COLD WEATHER VERSION:

poncho

slightly darker colors

thicker gloves(not fingerless)

thicker fabric(not visible)

WARM WEATHER VERSION:

lighter colors

lighter fabric(not visible)

thats it

this was honestly fairly rushed, but idk it turned out ok

As always, tips and advice are appreciated!

[silvershadow1711]

My paper is bigger than my scanner, so I had to scan this twice to get sharp copies of both sides.

Back when I finished The Road Not Trekked: The Ephemeral Equinox (my FE Fates Revelation rewrite), I planned for this to be... not a "cover", but kind of like a movie poster? Featuring all the "bosses" Nerr and the gang encountered in Valla, specifically to show how their designs... let's say "differed" from how they're portrayed in-game (in case you can't tell, my rewrite leans heavily into horror).

I must have spent weeks inking this behemoth (it's 9x12 inches- all my watercolor paintings are that size, while the inkwas paintings are 9x6), and scanned it for posterity... only to have to original heavily damaged by a freakish bout of humidity that hurricane season (it also damaged several electronics). So I can't paint it traditionally like I'd planned/hoped. There's always the option for digital painting, but I'm bad at digital painting and given the blurring on either side, I'd have to cobble both images together, and that would probably look horrible and... it's just so much work... and for what? That fic absolutely bombed on AO3 (it did surprisingly well on FFN, tho).

So, I guess just enjoy the body horror. It is... much worse in text form, I promise you~💖

[theherdofturtles]

England and Wales 100% have purchased a golden ring and enchanted it to turn the wearer invisible. There's no way they haven't done this.

[nupaintings]

[spacehero-23]

Tolkien: Hey, can I copy your homework?

Plato: Sure but don't make it too obvious

[lemuseum]

[leviabeat]

In total, 32 bands will be at the Næstved Metalfest 2024 spread over three stages and three days. The final program and schedule will be announced in March.

Via Naestved Metalfest on Instagram

[guarderiadehuesitos]

🎄Feliz navidad y felices fiestas! // Merry Christmas and happy holidays! 🎅

Estos peques son mios y de @qiropteroneon  ^^

[aboutanancientenquiry]

Herodotus, the tale of Gyges, and the ideology of "sacred marriage" in Ancient Near East

"In summarizing the workings of political power and its associations in the ANE one could glance at Herodotus’ most tantalizing representation of Lydian kingship, an episode of conjugal disagreement that he oddly places at the start of his universal history.22 Possibly drawing on a drama dealing with Gyges’ usurpation of the Lydian power,23 Herodotus relates how the sovereign power of the Heraclid kings fell to the Mermnadae. We are told that Candaules, the last of the descendants of Heracles and king of the Lydians, entrusted to Gyges, his bodyguard, καὶ τὰ σπουδαιέστερα τῶν πρηγμάτων (all his weightiest secrets, 1.8). Candaules held the beauty of his wife in high esteem and wished for Gyges to gaze upon her naked body to further convince him of her beauty since

ὦτα γὰρ τυγχάνει ἀνθρώποισι ἐόντα ἀπιστότερα ὀφθαλμῶν in humans ears happen to be less trustworthy than eyes.

However, by revealing the nature of his wife to Gyges, Candaules sets in motion the end of his political power. The queen discovers the plot and is enraged at her royal husband and the injustice she suffered. She gives Gyges an ultimatum: he must either kill Candaules, restoring thus her honour, or he will be executed for his indiscretion. The naked beauty of the royal consort is thus inextricably linked to the Lydian kingship and the sense of justice it promotes. The punishment, of course, that the queen exacts through Gyges results in the change of the royal dynasty. Candaules dies, and the queen now favours Gyges to become the legitimate king of the Lydians.

The tale exemplifies, I would argue, the pervasive influence of the “sacred marriage” ideology and its metaphorical value as appreciated by ancient authors and readers alike: the fact that in his initial terror at Candaules’ suggestion Gyges protests by citing the laws “discovered by human beings,” stressing the conventions of civilization with which kingship is closely associated, encourages the reading of the tale in the context of the exclusive relationship of the king with the goddess. The idea is also corroborated by the fact that the queen’s ultimatum to Gyges is placed in the middle of a debate about justice and the offence committed against her. Hence, in relating the tale, Herodotus invites the reader to fantasize about Gyges’ political cum erotic desires, stressing the familiar association of sex with good governance and death with political failure. The tale is deeply didactic in two ways: those in possession of power must be ready to honour their responsibilities, while those who dare to get a glimpse of the glory of kingship must be prepared to fight for it. The garden of the goddess comes at a cost."

Eva Anagnostou-Laoutides In the Garden of the Gods. Models of kingship from the Sumerians to the Seleucids, Routledge 2017 (pp 203-204)

[themetalgodsmeltdownposts]

(The Metal Gods Meltdown)

[outlandishsblogm]

The Ring of Gyges

If you are in possession of the ring, how would you use it?

We are intrinsically wicked just as much as we are intrinsically righteous. Balanced, as all things are ought to be. It is true however that humans act just because we cannot fathom getting condemned with injustices. That we cannot bear to be judged and suffer the negative consequences of wrong doings. So, the righteousness outweighs, and we get on with it.

Vileness is just hidden behind our demure character. It only emerges when an external element triggers the long unwritten print of goodness engraved in our being. Or when we have a magical ring.

Even I cannot deny the presence of slightest possibility of resorting to take advantage of things if I am in possession of the ring. Just to explore the irresistible desire to disappear suddenly, as though I am to spectate life, just log off, and grasp how would the earth turn without my presence. To get hold of the ring and just twist away from disappointments, cringes, embarrassments, and every moment that dismantles my utopia.

I reckon the impulse that lingers within us to wear the ring is driven by our discontentment and fear. The continual desire to have more even though our species are not built to be more, speaks loudly about our being not of humaneness but wanting to get comfortable. And the fear that is resultative from the failure of abiding to our moral codes—eventually challenging our nobleness, engages us to maneuver an act that neutralizes the perception of our being; giving license to indulge in the idea that acting congruently is relative.

Although with all that, considerably, there would still be a piece of conscience that remains beneath our being. And the conscience is the fundamental good on how we “should” make use of the ring. That eventually, we would find ourselves constrained within a mind that is struggling with moral dilemma. That albeit we succumb to a flexible moral code as a response, we will just convince ourselves that being just is always preferable than violating our own principles; howbeit, irrepressible.

[metalshockfinland]

Icelandic RING OF GYGES Release New Single + Lyric Video 'Nautilus'

Icelandic Progressive rockers RING OF GYGES have released the second single/video “Nautilus” from their forthcoming album “Metamorphosis” which will be released via ViciSolum Productions on May19. Helgi Jónsson (vocalist and guitarist) about the single/video:“Nautilus is perhaps the heaviest song we’ve written, but it’s also one of the most progressive. There isn’t a single measure of 4/4 rhythm…

[fytpop]