#man isn't even around for most of the iliad

[aubris-fox]

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ❤︎ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

꩜.ᐟAtlas' Headcanonsᯓᡣ𐭩

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

͝ ⏝𝅄︶ ͝ ⏝ ⊹ ⏝ ͝ ︶𝅄⏝ ͝

here's a bunch of random Horangi (Call Of Duty) headcanons because i keep coming up with them and need a place to throw them lol

˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖ 🐯 ˖ ݁𖥔 ݁˖

when he's incredibly focused, he sticks his tongue out a little. it's usually hidden by his mask, though, so most don't know he does it.

^ he almost constantly has a little wet spot on his mask from doing that. it's not obvious or anything, he's not drooling all over it, but it's there lmao (this is a shared headcanon, and my pal kade came up with it)

definitely a cat person

Horangi had a very solitary nature until he joined the army. he still kind of does, but by the time he joined KorTac he'd been conditioned to be around others and it doesn't bother him as much

smokes, but pretty casually. heavy smoking is an addiction he left behind with gambling.

he likes the snow!! (though over the years, he finds himself preferring to just look at it. the cold irritates his scars)

he likes thrillers, and cooking shows.

^ watches Nailed It! at like four in the morning to laugh at them (this is projection)

mostly lets out amused huffs/snorts instead of 'properly' laughing. (basically a human version of tiger chuffing!! chuffing has been described as sounding like car exhaust, snorts, and/or huffs, and it's vaguely akin to purring. in general, it's the sound of a very happy kitty, but it's also used for greetings and courtship. just a funfact :3)

^ on the topic of noises; grunting in response to things, those quiet grumbles that almost sound like growls when he's frustrated, etc.. gotta have tiger-like vocalizations for mr. tiger man

he can see exceptionally well in the dark, and he has an almost scarily good sense of smell.

sharp teeth, big yawns, and even bigger smiles.

his hair's almost always silky smooth (maybe just slighty coarse, at some points, but never too dry or brittle). not even he understands how he manages it.

Horangi has hypogeusia. it's a taste disorder that causes reduced taste and can make it hard to differentiate certain flavors. it isn't severe in his case, and it mostly affects his ability to taste sweetness.

^ he prefers foods that have much stronger tastes, because its easier to, well, taste them. while his disorder mainly hinders tasting sweet things, foods in general can taste a bit bland to him if they arent powerful enough.

smells 'warm'. citrus, cedar, spices, ginger, etc. (burberry brit for men is the cologne im thinking of for him). also always smells like cigarette smoke. definitely not overwhelmingly though; it's there, but mostly covered by the aforementioned scents.

he's actually pretty good at baking, which is ironic because most of the time he can barely taste what he's making.

massive spicy food enjoyer. feast mode ACTIVATED, he will tear that shit up. better pray you get some before him because there will be none left after he's done.

his favorite color is pink!

it's scary how quiet he can be. he's stealthy, a complete master of the hunt. you'll turn around and he'll Literally Just Be There like "hey man."

cannot find a pair of matching socks literally ever. the divorce rate between them is astonishing.

he reads/has read the classics, for sure. from historical texts, to renowned novels. i think he especially enjoys the iliad. also massive stephen king fan probably.

he'd take a strongly steeped cup of tea over coffee any day (though frequently he caves and drinks the latter for caffeine purposes)

︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶꒦︶꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶

that's pretty much all i have rn, maybe i will add more in the future!! tysm for reading !! ♡ (˶˃ ᵕ ��˶)

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ❤︎ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

@idiotrxccoon

unfortunately tumblr site killed the formatting sighh. looks cute on the mobile app though so i will leave it i guess

[wrizard]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤

HULLO MY DARLING MY ANGEL!!! THANK YOU OH MY GOODNESS <3 <3 <3

okay after some Consideration: here are my top five fics, aka ones i think are the best as a reader and also the most satisfying as a writer!! if you haven't read my stuff, these are a good cross section of The Themes And Vibe I Tend Toward. (i also write Nice things, but i don't find them as satisfying to work on or to read!!)

that said: oh my GOD mind the tags.

NOW, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, I IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE A CHANCE ON:

all of these drink blood

Hadesgame, Greek Myth and Legend Ares/Aphrodite, Ares/Dionysus; Past Zeus/Ares, Current Zeus/Zagreus, assorted others 77k, 9/9 chapters (complete), rated E ‼���Non-con, Graphic Violence

“Pops pulled a bit of a heist, last night. Went downstairs for a tick. Brought home a new cupbearer." Dionysus takes a deep draught of wine, then laughs, raspy and intent. “He’s carried off our sweet little cousin.” Ares huffs. “Which of Poseidon’s thousand bloody offspring must we bear the company of this time, then?” “Oh, no, man, not Poseidon’s — think lower. Much lower.” Zeus has taken Zagreus for his new cupbearer. Ares, subject to Zeus' attentions for centuries, is left out in the cold. But Zagreus isn't the only one at risk — and his loss may put Olympus on the brink of war.

MY MAGNUM OPUS!!!! taking a scalpel to The Dynamic -- a family of gods under control of an abusive Patriarch fumbles to reconcile their love, their pain, and their survival; meanwhile a Visibly Weird Guy with a bizarre sense of self due to centuries of grooming is just doing his best to save his cousin from the clutches of their father. also if they don't save him THE WORLD WILL END. YEAAHHHH!!! Totally readable to those who don't know the game; also there are Loads of Lore Bonuses for those who like those sorts of things <3

the naming of israel hands

Our Flag Means Death Edward Teach/Izzy Hands 40k, 5/5 chapters (complete), rated E ‼️Graphic Violence, Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

"Off the starboard bow, the fog parts, and a sleek, smooth ship slips into view, easy as a panther before a fat, helpless sheep. Atop the mainmast flies a strange, horrible flag — two daggers stacked above a grinning skull, laid a field of mourning-black. Sound falls away. Only the pounding of Israel’s heart and the creak of the rail under his white-knuckled grip remain. Pirates." When Israel Stockard's ship is raided, he catches the eye of a strange, brilliant young pirate named Edward Drummond -- and finds himself stumbling face-first into a new world of violence and intrigue.

A gritty pirate thriller full of sex and violence and the power of claiming your own identity in the face of losing everything you've ever known. If you like Boat Media and damaged dudes trying to survive while also falling hard for one another in terrible circumstances: This One's For You!!!

we ate the birds

The Iliad, Greek Myth and Legend Patroclus/Ajax the Greater, Patroclus/Achilles 11.7k, complete, rated E ‼️Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Handsome isn’t quite the word for Ajax; he’s too strong, too solid for it. Too loud and large and warm. He carries his family’s cheekbones, though, the same ones borne by Achilles, and the same thick, curled lashes. With the right wife, he would bear beautiful daughters, and handsome sons, skilled and strong as the children of kings ought to be. Idly, Patroclus imagines the grip of those great hands around his waist. If he did not have Achilles… But he doesn’t. Not really. The cold-hearted creature in his tent is far from the noble man who called to his soul, even in childhood. The Achilles he cleaved himself to, the one he would never betray – that man is gone. And Ajax’s eyes shine so dangerously in the firelight.

this is one of my absolute favourite pieces i've written point blank. an exploration of betrayal, sex, wanting, guilt, and the day-to-day life of a decade in a camp full of human beings who AREN'T demigods. also dramatic irony. can't forget the dramatic irony :)

sparagmos

Our Flag Means Death, Greek Myth & Legend, Hadesgame "Calico" Jack Rackham/Dionysus 3.7k, complete, rated E ‼️ Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Violence

Flesh and blood and bone, wine and breath and being fucking alive: that’s the real God. That's the God that follows Calico Jack Rackham.

CJ RACKHAM: A FAVOURITE OF A GOD HE'S NEVER HEARD OF IN ANY REPUTABLE CHURCH -- A GOD OF SURVIVAL AND BLOOD AND FUCKING AND WINE AND PLEASURE, WHO PULLS HIM FROM THE ASHES OF HIMSELF TO REJOICE IN THE GLORY OF THE FLESH!!!! a backstory and an explanation of the world's most emotionally stunted frat boy cowboy pirate, from rat's blood to wine to seawater to the blood of men. i LOVE the structure and style of this as much as i loved writing it.

a monologue for two faces

Our Flag Means Death Lucius Spriggs & Izzy Hands, Lucius/Pete 4.5k, complete, rated M ‼️Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

An empty stage. Remnants of life: a net in one corner, floorboards pitted, dark stains spattered over the wall, a sketchbook propped up against the wall. Or not. Maybe it’s just empty. A YOUNG MAN enters. Uncomfortable. He takes a trinket from his pocket – a wooden shark toy – and places it down. The position is wrong; he fixes it. Fixes it again. Curses. He’s tried too many times; it will never be right. He crosses to the wall, curls up against it. Breathes. Counts to ten, uncurls deliberately; a breathing exercise. Shakes out his hands. YOUNG MAN: This is so fucking stupid. Or: the man who used to be Lucius Spriggs mourns.

so when i watched ofmd s2 i had... complicated feelings about it, and this piece leapt from my hands as a way to explore specifically what the fuck happened with lucius and the wedding and the funeral. it gets heavy but it's scraped up from the bottom of my heart, and i love it very, very much. also it was nice to go back to script format (my background is in theatre)!! a story about grief, love, and piecing yourself back together after you fall apart. xo

❤️❤️❤️ if you read this far i love you and also i hope you enjoy!!!

[holmsister]

Snippet of writing in which I describe kabrus official knight armour because I read the iliad at a formative age and never quite recovered

Kabru's armour is not quite as decorative as Yaad would have liked it to be. He refused to get two sets made, so this is supposed to be both his parade armour and his battle one, and most of the decor has been sacrificed to practicality. He just allowed a couple details - his left pauldron, his open helm, his left greave and the sword's crossguards all have the head of wolves on them, mouths open and snarling. He likes this imagery. The lion for Laios and for himself the loyal follower and the watchdog. This is also why he insisted on unadorned steel. Gilding should be reserved for the King. Yaad will probably eventually force him to get himself a fancier parade armour, but that's in the future.

For now, this is the ideal set for him. Built for the asymmetrical elven fencing style, instead of clumsily adapted to it, the maille of half-foot make, thin and lightweight, the shape less clumsy around his bust, elbow and knee cop leaving him mobile even with full coverage on his limbs. He has worn it before, trained in it to get used to the weight distribution, but he has never gotten the chance to break into it properly. He was reserving it for today.

It shows - the steel is blinding in the sun. It feels too new, too pretty. He cannot wait to get it dirty.

A pageboy - Adhemar, he thinks - approaches him nervously.

"Sir Kabru?" He asks.

Nervous might have been an understatement - He seems about to pass out in fear.

Kabru gives him a reassuring smile, even thought he can't help but feel a little flattered by what an intimidating figure he cuts, apparently.

"What's the matter, Adhemar? Do my adversaries have something to say?"

The page looks so awestruck at Kabru remembering his name that he stutters for a bit.

"I. Uh. There has been some discussing about the, uh, established order of duels."

Kabru tilts his head and purses his lips.

"I have decided upon the order based on the levels of duelling experience as self-reported by my challengers. I thought I would even the playing field thusly, as there's only one of me and many of them. I'd met the more experienced first, at the top of my strength, and least experienced at the end, when I am more tired and possibly wounded."

"Yes, ah, uhm, the challengers, they, uh. The dwarves... they say they should go first as that is the right of hospitality. And the nobles want to go before the peasants."

Kabru sighs. He was kind of hoping that showing his skills in the first few duels would help making his day shorter. Especially for the dwarven challengers - duels are a big production in their culture - but also for the green noble brats, a few duels before their turn would have given them more time to realise how out of their depth they were and find a face-saving excuse.

Whatever. He did what he could. It's their funeral.

He asks for a stylus and two wax tablets and quickly devises an order for the duels based entirely on age and rank, with the dwarves at the top as their 'esteemed guests'.

He grins reassuringly to the kid as he gives him one of the two tablets.

"If this is more to my adversaries' liking, we can proceed immediately, Adhemar. No need to discuss this further, just give me a signal from your side of the field. I'll have this brought to the king's tent in the meantime." he says, gesturing to the other tablet.

The page looks at him as if he is the sun, accepting the tablet with a deep bow.

"Thank you, sir Kabru." He lowers his voice and tilts towards him with the air of sharing a secret. "We field pages are all rooting for you. Everyone who has met you knows there isn't a finer warrior or a nobler man than you in all of Melini."

"Except for the King," Kabru says, still smiling reassuringly.

Adhemar bristles. "Of course, except for His Majesty!" His correction is earnest, and Kabru's smile widens.

He pats the kid on the head.

"Your support is greatly appreciated and won't be forgotten. Go now. Let's not drag this any longer."

[wrongcaitlyn]

I'm sure you've mentioned this before in previous chapters, and I just don't remember, but Will doesn't speak Greek, right?? So does that mean that Apollo never taught him, or was his greek just not good enough to teach him? 😭😭 (ignoring the fact that Apollo had neither the mentality nor the will to teach his son a foreign language at the time)

Orrr, I feel like it's very possible that Apollo just isn't very fluent in Greek anymore bc he doesn't have anyone to talk to. Also, bc he hasn't actually been in Greece in years but like idk

This is probably such a stupid question, but I was just thinking about how Nico's first language is Italian and how overtime he might lose one of the little things that connect him to Bianca 😭😭

Then ofc, my mind drifted to Apollo and about him being fluent in Greek- IDK MAN ANYWAYS I THINK I RAMBLED ENOUGH HAVE A GOOD DAY‼️🫶🫶

ahshhd omg i love this question!! i don’t think ive ever talked about it so the short answer is that no, will doesn’t know greek, he only knows a high school level spanish in this au😭

i actually imagine that apollo didn’t grow up in greece, but in the us (specifically la/hollywood)

his mom probably tried to teach it to him (bc leto is the literal best) but with everything else that he had going on, he just didn’t have the time to ever learn it - his dad always focused more on all of his other hobbies/jobs and his schedule was overloaded enough as it was

but i do imagine that in those years when raising will, he tried to learn it again, just to get in touch with his roots. this is also probably when he first read like the iliad and the odyssey bc i doubt that he read it when he was younger (once again, schedule overload) and generally just tried to learn more abt his heritage and stuff, bc his dad never really brought it up to him

he had been to greece a few times, once for the olympics and a few times for concerts, but he was never really around much to sight see (which, if you noticed, is why i had him going to tourist attractions with nico in athens, when most of the time he tends to stay in the venue or the hotel or tour bus to avoid attention/paparazzi)

but back to the main question - apollo didn’t try to teach will greek bc he was just barely learning it himself, but im sure he’d definitely want will to learn it one day - especially when he would see leo fluent in spanish and nico fluent in italian and thinking how it would be nice to connect will to his culture as well

as for nico, i promise he definitely holds on to italian as a connection to bianca - the last remaining one, too. i think that sometimes he gets scared that he’s abt to forget it, or sometimes his mind will blank on a word and he’ll be terrified (which, tbf, happens in all languages, im bilingual (or trilingual if u count my ap french class which i don’t😭) and forgetting words happens no matter how much u practice) - and so he’ll just talk to himself in italian a bit

i ALSO imagine that whenever he’s talking solely to chiara, they speak in italian. he probably was very excited to hire her for the tour when finding out she was also from italy, and they’re able to sort of keep that going even when traveling the world!

i think by this point, apollo is nearly fluent in greek, but like, the textbook sort of knowing a language. like, he’s memorized all the vocab and grammar and stuff but he’d be a bit clueless in an actual conversation. him attempting to practice his greek in athens would def be hilarious and now i’m sort of upset i didn’t write that💀💀

thank u for the askshkdjs i absolutely love rambling abt apollo and nico likeee ahdksj. so many things i hadn’t even thought abt!!

oh ALSO. ONE OF MY FAV HC’S ABT NICO is that he absolutely loves studying languages. despite being dyslexic, he picks the speaking and understanding part of languages up super easily

so i’m just imagining nico and apollo on the tour bus learning new languages together and nico picking up greek as well so they’ll sometimes try to have conversations in that as well just to practice

they both definitely have duolingo downloaded and are constantly trying to beat each other on the leaderboards

[fletchysohot]

VII.

Achilles, Achilles, Come Home

Short one about being completely intensely in love and saying goodbye to Kostas before he leaves for international break. (It's very artsy so thats a warning for you ❤️ )

Word count : 1.4k

The stadium is brimming with excitement, the cheers of a sea of blue, red and white drowns out the sound of the Greek fan cheers. With each passing moment your stomach grows more worried and excited, cold sweat trickling down your spine. You are very aware of the power difference between the two teams - the tale of Ereuthalion and Nestor from the Iliad retold on the pitch in front of you. And so you can't help but crane your neck searching the pitch, trying to find the man you are looking for.

There he is, your Greek boy. Kostas' skin glows from spending the seemingly endless days under the Greek sun. Your eyes trace the tattoos along his skin, fingers itching to touch him. To have him in your orbit for just a minute. You admire the way his muscles bulge with each movement of his slender body as he chases the ball, trying to keep it out of the french defender's reach. Your eyes admire the way his clothes drape against his body, like armour made of cloth. His hair is shorter than when you held him last, you note. And the colour has morphed from his usual water soaked wood into a dark gold now framing his face with unruly waves that move and bounce with his swift movements. He's cut it most likely due to the heat and how it got in his way when playing, you think to yourself. The sun illuminates him like one of those Greek heroes from your books and movies, missing only a crown of golden laurels. 

The shrill ringing of Kostas's alarm wakes the both of you, and somehow everything suddenly feels cold and distant. A sadness fills the air around you. A sense of finality lingers in the air, like the blade of a guillotine, threatening to cut through the fleeting moments of closeness that the two of you have been trying to latch onto. 

You blink your eyes open to look at him, to see the way the sleepiness fills every crevice of his features chiselled by a sculptor. You let your fingers trace his cheek and shoulder, almost expecting marble, noting the way his beautiful eyes follow your movements, like the would an opponent, careful and sharp, except his eyes are full of nothing but love and adoration,something reserved for only you. You bite your lip and close your eyes, treasuring the ability to touch him, feel his smooth skin against the pillowy fingertips, making it last just before the moment passes. 

“Is there anything I can say to make you never leave?” you whisper, meeting his eyes once again.

“We both know there isn't.” He frowns, moving a lock out of your face. “I would love to stay… but you know it would not be right.”

“I wish I could come with you,” you let your thumb run over his bottom lip as you speak, “wake up next to you every morning. Like this.”He doesn't reply, but the way he almost bites back tears at the mere thought of what that would be like, makes everything sting. It's not fair to make him imagine a scenario like that. You feel your own chest drop as if someone has pierced an invisible dagger through your sternum and pulled out your heart and lungs rendering you unable to breathe normally, painlessly, a curse for even suggesting the option exists. You know he has to go and you know it's only temporary. A few weeks, not even a month, but each time is as painful as the last. 

“I love you,” you whisper, unable to find other words to fill the silence. 

“I love you.” He breathes out before turning onto his back and pulling you closer to him in one swift movement.

“I love you.” You say again, as if saying it a million more times will make time stop or make Kostas stay.

“I love you.” He repeats once for you and then again for himself.  “I love you.”

You mouth his words along with him, tasting each consonant and vowel like it is your last meal on earth. Sweet and sticky and poisonous.

You turn onto your stomach and place your chin on his chest, looking him in the eyes. You watch as he meets your eyes. He looks well rested, not a sight you see often, the traces of his insomnia only a long forgotten ghost edged into the smallest details of his features. Something only someone who knows his face better than their own hand would notice. You mentally count the hours that separate this moment from when you would be able to lay like this again. To look at him and touch him and kiss him. 

“What are you thinking about?” you hum, a desperate attempt to not worry about the number in your head.

“How pretty your eyes are…” he says softly, like he is too scared to startle some cosmic entity. 

As if on cue the alarm goes off again and the magic is lost, reality once again rearing its ugly head. You clutch onto him like a person drowning would to a life raft. Your eyes begin to sting and your heart speeds up and  the man below you begins to move. The feeling of everything crumbling around you sets in.

“Don't go yet!” You plead. 

“I have to…” He says in a defeated voice, the sense of duty battling his love for you behind his eyes. 

“Don't go yet!” you cry out against the skin of his chest. You know you are acting like a child but you want to prolong this as long as possible.“I know you have to go… just not yet!”

“Okay,” he stops moving and settles against the pillow. You both know you can steal each other only for a brief moment, to make the fantasy last only a few breaths longer. 

“Okay." You lay your head on his chest counting the beats of his heart, mentally making sure he's real. 

You almost keel over when you see the way his face grimaces as he stands in the doorway of your apartment, bags in hand, after hugging the dogs. You take his hand as if it is some kind of consolation prize, a kind of  “you can't stay, so here hold my hand.” He takes it, squeezing lightly. You don't speak, there is nothing that you could say that would salvage the situation. Kostas pulls you towards him, pressing your lips against his. When he finally moves backward out the door, your fingers touch until he's out of your grasp. You never were good at goodbyes, even if by now you should be used to them. 

The door closes behind him and he's gone. You are left alone. You lean your back against the door and your body loses control. Tears stream down your cheeks and your breath hitches with sobs. You run your hands through your hair trying to calm down, to ground yourself. Both Maui and Fuerte refuse to leave your side until your sobs calm and you are left helpless and alone.

Only a few weeks, not even a month. And you will talk on facetime every night.You can do this. 

Your phone beeps with a text from Kostas: 

“I love you❤️”

The game ends and you run to him as fast as your feet can carry you. The only thing you can think about is how much you want to be in Kostas' arms and how if you don't run fast enough he might somehow vanish. He spots you and his arms fly open instantly. Nothing around you matters to him anymore. The sadness from the loss is gone from his mind, replaced by the need to hold you. 

You collide and he nuzzles his face into your neck, breathing in your smell, his lips kissing your neck. 

“Kosti!” you cry out, tears on your cheeks. “Finally!” “Finally! Every “I miss you” and “I love you” and “The moon does not hold a candle to you.” and “You are the reason I believe that the Gods might fall in love with mortals.” does not feel worthy enough to express how much longing I have felt for you. Every minute and every breath we have been apart” he speaks into your shoulder, the smell of grass and sweat mixing with the scent of the summer evening air and your tears.

[dootznbootz]

saw this post while browing the odypen tag and someone in the comments said something along the lines of "penelope WOULD have to be abducted and not going alone of her own free will like helen" and im gonna lose it

https://www.tumblr.com/usuallyobsessedtmblr/744370775987994624/the-urge-to-write-a-fic-where-penelope-gets?source=share

A N G R Y

The post itself is perfectly fine. I have my own ideas on "What if Penelope gets kidnapped instead?" (Hector's pov most of the time, Odysseus basically does a stealth mission, Andromache's life is in danger for a bit, Everybody gets whiplash from the man who was so fucking terrifying and under a different name is now kissing and crying with your guest,etc. IDK gimme an ask if you want a snippet)

But the fucking rest?!?!?

I get excited often, thinking "HEY!!! We're getting better with Nuance!!!" and then get slapped by THIS.

Sure, technically it's kind of unknown if she for sure went of her own choice. From what I remember, there's basically a bit of play on words with how "Oh Aphrodite caused this." which either means "Oh I've been struck by LOVE!" or "She literally grabbed me and plopped me on Paris' boat and/or love spell"

Either way, does it matter that much?

Like personally, I believe in the "plopped on Paris' boat" version. As that makes the most sense. AND because to me, her and Odysseus' stories are "mirrors" in many ways as they have a lot of the same stuff kind of happen to them. I made a post about it a while back.

But by the Iliad??? She clearly doesn't want to fucking be there!!!

I get so fucking upset when it literally states in the text that "Hey, they're not having a good time. They're very scared and they're victims." and then people act like "well they didn't try hard enough"

ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE GODS INVOLVED! This isn't PJO where 12 year old Percy beat Ares!!! She cannot just say no as that literally gets her yelled at by Aphrodite!!!

Thus spoke the goddess, and Helen's heart yearned after her former husband, her city, and her parents.

(Book 3, Butler)

[...]you’re in love with some mortal man and Menelaus has just beaten Paris and wants to take me, a despised woman,                                    back home with him? Is that why you’re here, you and that devious trickery of yours? Why don’t you go with Paris by yourself, stop walking around here like a goddess, stop guiding your feet toward Olympus, and lead a miserable life with him, caring for him, until he makes you his wife or slave. I won’t go to him in there— that would be shameful, serving him in bed. Every Trojan woman would revile me afterwards.                            Besides, my heart is hurt enough already.” Divine Aphrodite, angry at Helen, answered her: “Don’t provoke me, you obstinate girl. I might lose my temper, abandon you, and hate you just as much as I have loved you. I could make Trojans and Danaans hate you, too. Then you’d suffer a miserable death.” Aphrodite spoke. Helen, born from Zeus, was too afraid. She covered herself in her soft white linen shawl, went off in silence, unnoticed by all the Trojan women.     

(Book 3, Johnston)

SHE TRIES!!! SHE'S HURTING!!! Technically,there is no real answer if she went willingly or not...that's kind of the point!!! But by the Iliad, she's miserable.

Getting offtrack but this line is doing something to me

Menelaus has just beaten Paris and wants to take me, a despised woman,                                    back home with him?

I mean, holy shit!!! "He just beat Paris, Menelaus still wants to take me, a piece of shit, back home"

This sounds like such a fucking PLEA. She's SO hopeful. This gives an undertone of "Save me, please" and ksldjf HELEN!!!!!!!!!!! 😭 MY DARLING I'M SO FUCKING SRORRY

Look, I hate cheating just as much as anyone. Like, personally as well. But to even think something like "Well they were fine with it at first, therefore this is what they get." like??? Do you hear yourself? You're saying someone deserves to be raped. That's even if you are just going with the "She was clearly fine with it at first." because that's not necessarily supposed to be the "correct" interpretation.

I'm hoping that whoever said it, is just misinformed, because any other thought makes me itchy.

Also side thing, I'm fucking tired of comparing Helen and Penelope and "having them bitter towards each other". Even in the Odyssey, Penelope SAYS Helen wouldn't have left of her own choice and that's why she tested Odysseus because she was scared of the same thing happening to her. Honestly it's funny because the more "pitting against each other" I see the more I'm like "They're even CLOSER now in my fics!!! They are gossiping and having fun because THEY DON'T HATE EACH OTHER!!!"

Remember Helen of Argos, Zeus’s daughter— would she have sported so in a stranger’s bed if she had dreamed that Achaea's sons were doomed to fight and die to bring her home again? Some god spurred her to do her shameless work. Not till then did her mind conceive that madness, blinding madness that caused her anguish, ours as well.

(Book 23, Fagles)

I love both the gals so much, even for their "awfulness". Retellings, you're fucking boring if you make them hate each.

[luminouslumity]

Are Myth Retellings Overrated? Unpopular opinion, but

So I've been wondering whether or not to write up a post on myth retellings, but honestly, this describes my feelings perfectly! That's not to say I don't like them at all, but even with the ones I do like, I feel like a lot of them fail at what they set out to do, especially in terms of characterization.

Actually, you know what? Incoming rant below! And obviously, more power to you if you like these retellings. Again, I don't hate all of them (for example, Ariadne by Jennifer Saint and The Private Life of Helen of Troy by John Erskine are actually two of my favorites), I just have a lot of thoughts I've been feeling the need to let out.

This is what I like to call Hades Syndrome and Demeter Syndrome, where you have a mythological character who more or less gets the overcorrection treatment. So basically Adaptational Heroism and Adaptational Villainy respectively, but for mythology specifically.

I feel like you see this a lot with Helen, with her portrayal in The Penelopiad being the most egregious example that comes to mind in terms of a negative portrayal. But on the flip side, you have Daughters of Sparta, which does give a positive look on Helen, but at the expense of making nearly everyone else around her into a terrible person. The author of the latter does the same thing in The Shadow of Perseus, in which almost literally everyone else is an overall good person except for Perseus! I talk a little bit more about both books here.

And if I had a nickel for every time I've seen a terrible portrayal of Thetis, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. Speaking of, The Song of Achilles really does do a disservice to The Iliad in general—especially where Patroclus is concerned—and I'm saying this as someone who liked it!

And then of course, you have the big ones: Hades and Demeter. Of course my little term for this trope comes from them, as Hades has been portrayed as more of a hero in recent years and Demeter the villain... and honestly, it's gotten kinda exhausting at this point. As a sort of simplification of everything I'm about to say, I'm not expecting something like Hercules or Hadestown to be mythologically or culturally accurate and of course you can enjoy whatever you want, but if you're going to portray Hades as something other than Greek Satan, then it'd be nice to see that same courtesy be extended to Demeter as well.

Now, even though I'm speaking more so narratively, I also think it's important to keep in mind the culture of the time, because at the end of the day (besides providing an explanation for the changing of the seasons, of course), this is still a story about a mother trying to find her daughter after she'd been wed without her knowledge, in a time when women were treated as little more than property. The fact that Demeter tried to defy this says alot!

However, I do think there's something to be said over portraying her—or any character, really—in the exact opposite direction, considering, well...

But golden-haired (xanthe) Demeter sat there [in her new-built temple in Eleusis] apart from all the blessed gods and stayed, wasting with yearning for her deep-bosomed daughter. Then she caused a most dreadful and cruel year for mankind over the all-nourishing earth: the ground would not make the seed sprout, for rich-crowned (eustephanos) Demeter kept it hid. In the fields the oxen drew many a curved plough in vain, and much white barley was cast upon the land without avail. So she would have destroyed the whole race of man with cruel famine and have robbed them who dwell on Olympos of their glorious right of gifts and sacrifices, had not Zeus perceived and marked this in his heart.—Homeric Hymn to Demeter (trans. Evelyn-White)

And if you want to get into the Romans (though their versions of course came much later), we also have these two incidents:

"The Sirenes, daughters of the River Achelous and the Muse Melpomene, wandering away after the rape of Proserpina [Persephone], came to the land of Apollo, and there were made flying creatures by the will of Ceres [Demeter] because they had not brought help to her daughter. It was predicted that they would live only until someone who heard their singing would pass by."—Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 141 (trans. Grant)

Ceres [Demeter] was resolved to win her daughter [Persephone] back [from Haides]. Not so fate permitted, for the girl had broken her fast and wandering, childlike, through the orchard trees from a low branch had picked a pomegranate and peeled the yellow rind and found the seeds and nibbled seven. The only one who saw was Orphne's son, Ascalaphus, whom she, no the least famous of the Nymphae Avernales (Underworld Nymphs), bore once to Acheron in her dusky bower. He saw and told, in spite, and by his tale stole her return away. The Regina Erebi (Queen of Hell) [Persephone] groaned in distress and changed the tale-bearer into a bird. She threw into his face water from Phlegethon, and lo! a beak and feathers and enormous eyes! Reshaped, he wears great tawny wings, his head swells huge... a loathsome bird, ill omen for mankind, a skulking screech-owl, sorrow's harbinger. That tell-tale tongue of his no doubt deserved the punishment.—Ovid, Metamorphoses 5. 534 ff (trans. Melville)

Then there's Hades, who I'm super glad is no longer being seen as pure evil in recent years and does seem to be the lesser of three evils compared to his brothers (especially Zeus), but then again...

Apart from Demeter, lady of the golden sword and glorious fruits, she was playing with the deep-bosomed daughters of Oceanus and gathering flowers over a soft meadow, roses and crocuses and beautiful violets, irises also and hyacinths and the narcissus, which Earth made to grow at the will of Zeus and to please the Host of Many, to be a snare for the bloom-like girl—a marvellous, radiant flower. It was a thing of awe whether for deathless gods or mortal men to see: from its root grew a hundred blooms and is smelled most sweetly, so that all wide heaven above and the whole earth and the sea's salt swell laughed for joy. And the girl was amazed and reached out with both hands to take the lovely toy; but the wide-pathed earth yawned there in the plain of Nysa, and the lord, Host of Many, with his immortal horses sprang out upon her—the Son of Cronos, He who has many names.

And so long as she, the goddess, yet beheld earth and starry heaven and the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and the rays of the sun, and still hoped to see her dear mother and the tribes of the eternal gods, so long hope calmed her great heart for all her trouble (lacuna)... and the heights of the mountains and the depths of the sea rang with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her.—Homeric Hymn to Demeter (trans. Evelyn-White)

RIP, Cyane!

And then of course, there's Persephone.

Dreaded Persephone!

Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Spring!

Let's take a look back at the seed incident, shall we?

When he said this, wise Persephone was filled with joy and hastily sprang up for gladness. But he on his part secretly gave her sweet pomegranate seed to eat, taking care for himself that she might not remain continually with grave, dark-robed Demeter. Then Aidoneus the Ruler of Many openly got ready his deathless horses beneath the golden chariot. And she mounted on the chariot, and the strong Slayer of Argos took reins and whip in his dear hands and drove forth from the hall, the horses speeding readily. Swiftly they traversed their long course, and neither the sea nor river-waters nor grassy glens nor mountain-peaks checked the career of the immortal horses, but they clave the deep air above them as they went. And Hermes brought them to the place where rich-crowned Demeter was staying and checked them before her fragrant temple.

And when Demeter saw them, she rushed forth as does a Maenad down some thick-wooded mountain, while Persephone on the other side, when she saw her mother's sweet eyes, left the chariot and horses, and leaped down to run to her, and falling upon her neck, embraced her. But while Demeter was still holding her dear child in her arms, her heart suddenly misgave her for some snare, so that she feared greatly and ceased fondling her daughter and asked of her at once: "My child, tell me, surely you have not tasted any food while you were below? Speak out and hide nothing, but let us both know. For if you have not, you shall come back from loathly Hades and live with me and your father, the dark-clouded Son of Cronos and be honoured by all the deathless gods; but if you have tasted food, you must go back again beneath the secret places of the earth, there to dwell a third part of the seasons every year: yet for the two parts you shall be with me and the other deathless gods. But when the earth shall bloom with the fragrant flowers of spring in every kind, then from the realm of darkness and gloom thou shalt come up once more to be a wonder for gods and mortal men. And now tell me how he rapt you away to the realm of darkness and gloom, and by what trick did the strong Host of Many beguile you?"

Then beautiful Persephone answered her thus: "Mother, I will tell you all without error. When luck-bringing Hermes came, swift messenger from my father the Son of Cronos and the other Sons of Heaven, bidding me come back from Erebus that you might see me with your eyes and so cease from your anger and fearful wrath against the gods, I sprang up at once for joy; but he secretly put in my mouth sweet food, a pomegranate seed, and forced me to taste against my will. Also I will tell how he rapt me away by the deep plan of my father the Son of Cronos and carried me off beneath the depths of the earth, and will relate the whole matter as you ask. All we were playing in a lovely meadow, Leucippe and Phaeno and Electra and Ianthe, Melita also and Iache with Rhodea and Callirhoe and Melobosis and Tyche and Ocyrhoe, fair as a flower, Chryseis, Ianeira, Acaste and Admete and Rhodope and Pluto and charming Calypso; Styx too was there and Urania and lovely Galaxaura with Pallas [Athena] who rouses battles and Artemis delighting in arrows: we were playing and gathering sweet flowers in our hands, soft crocuses mingled with irises and hyacinths, and rose-blooms and lilies, marvellous to see, and the narcissus which the wide earth caused to grow yellow as a crocus. That I plucked in my joy; but the earth parted beneath, and there the strong lord, the Host of Many, sprang forth and in his golden chariot he bore me away, all unwilling, beneath the earth: then I cried with a shrill cry. All this is true, sore though it grieves me to tell the tale."—Homeric Hymn to Demeter (trans. Evelyn-White)

What's interesting about this is the two different interpretations I've seen in regards to the ending, one that says Hades forced the seeds onto Persephone and another that says she actually lied to her mother about it and had in fact eaten the seeds willingly. Regardless, the two did seem to have a pretty peaceful marriage otherwise; in the myths themselves, Hades essentially says that she'll rule alongside him:

And Aidoneus, ruler over the dead, smiled grimly and obeyed the behest of Zeus the king. For he straightway urged wise Persephone, saying : "Go now, Persephoneia, to your dark-robed mother, go, and feel kindly in your heart towards me: be not so exceedingly cast down; for I shall be no unfitting husband for you among the deathless dods, that am own brother to father Zeus. And while you are here, you shall rule all that lives and moves and shall have the greatest rights among the deathless gods: those who defraud you and do not appease your power with offerings, reverently performing rites and paying fit gifts, shall be punished for evermore."—Homeric Hymn to Demeter (trans. Evelyn-White)

We also have sources that suggest Persephone actually preferred living in the Underworld to the mortal realm and that she had an estranged relationship with her mother, so this common trope actually does have credence in the ancient world, though it's important to note that these are much later compared to the original hymn.

First, Virgil:

“Tartarus hopes not for you [Caesar in the guise of Hades] as king, and may such monstrous lust of empire never seize you, though Greece is enchanted by the Elysian fields, and Proserpine reclaimed cares not to follow her mother.”—Virgil, Georgics 1. 36 ff (trans. Fairclough)

Then Lucan (twice):

"I invoke the Furies, the horror of Hell, the punishments of the guilty, and Chaos, eager to blend countless worlds in ruins; I cry to the Ruler of the world below, who suffers age-long pain because gods are so slow to die; to Styx, and Elysium where no Thessalian witch may enter; to Persephone who shuns her mother in heaven, and to her, the third incarnation of our patron, Hecate, who permits the dead and me to converse together without speech."

[...]

"I shall tell the world the nature of that food which confines Proserpina beneath the huge weight of earth, the bond of love that unites her to the gloomy king of night, and the defilement she suffered, such that her mother would not call her back."—Lucan, Pharsalia (tran. J.D. Duff)

Lucian's Dialogues of the Dead also gives a brief scene in which Hades allows a fallen soldier to see his loved one again only after Persephone convinces him to:

PERSEPHONE: Husband, doctor that disease yourself: tell Hermes, as soon as Protesilaus reaches the light, to touch him with his wand, and make him young and fair as when he left the bridal chamber.

PLUTO: Well, I cannot refuse a lady. Hermes, take him up and turn him into a bridegroom. But mind, you sir, a strictly temporary one.—Lucian, Dialogues of the Dead (tran. H. W. and F. G. Fowler

And in Ovid's Metamorphosis:

The new-wed bride [Eurydike (Eurydice) wife of Orpheus]... fell dying when a serpent struck her heel. And when at last the bard Rhodopeius [Orpheus] had mourned his fill in the wide world above, he dared descend through Taenaria's dark gate to Styx to make trial of the Umbrae (Shades); and through the thronging wraiths and grave-spent ghosts he came to pale Persephone and him, Dominus Umbrarum (Lord of the Shades) [Haides], who rules the unlovely realm, and as he struck his lyre's sad chords he said : "Ye deities who rule the world below, whither we mortal creatures all return, if simple truth, direct and genuine, may by your leave be told... for my dear wife's sake, in whom a trodden viper poured his venom and stole her budding years. My heart has sought strength to endure; the attempt I'll not deny; but love has won, a god whose fame is fair in the world above; but here I doubt, though here too, I surmise; and if that ancient tale of ravishment is true, you too were joined in love. Now by these regions filled with fear, by this huge Chaos, these vast silent realms, reweave, I implore, the fate unwound too fast of my Eurydice. To you are owed ourselves and all creation; a brief while we linger; then we hasten, late or soon to one abode; here on road leads us all; here in the end is home; over humankind your kingdom keeps the longest sovereignty. She too, when ripening years reach their due term, shall own your rule. The favour that I ask is but to enjoy her love; and, if fate will not reprieve her, my resolve is clear not to return: may two deaths give you cheer."—Ovid, Metamorphoses 10. 8 ff (trans. Melville)

And sure, there was Minthe and Adonis, but neither incident seemed to have had much of an affect on the relationship anyway, and with Minthe specifically, either she was a concubine and got turned into mint by Persephone (Strabo) or she's actually a former lover of Hades and gets turned by Demeter herself only after the nymph boasts about being better than her daughter (Oppian).

And before anyone says it, no, there's no such myth that we know of regarding Persephone going down to the Underworld willingly and/or ruling it on her own. There are certainly other female death deities that fit this description somewhat (Hel of Norse mythology, for example, has no consort), but not Persephone specifically. In fact, that seems to come directly from a book by Charlene Spretnak, which featured stories she wrote for her young daughter.

The closest I can find was this, regarding the Pelinna tablets:

However, Persephone is not merely the consort to the king of the underworld. Rather she appears as the supreme power in the realm of the dead, the figure to whom the deceased must appeal to complete successfully the journey to the underworld. Her husband, Hades, is not even mentioned in the Pelinna tablets, while the Thurii tablets contain only a passing reference to Eukles, who seems to be the equivalent of Hades, the consort of Persephone in the underworld, the male ruler of the dead. Eukles, however, seems to play no important role in the deceased's journey, he is merely saluted, along with Eubouleus and all the other gods to whom the deceased must give honor.—Myths of the Underworld Journey, Radcliffe G. Edmonds III

This isn't to diminish Persephone as a powerful goddess, btw, but that's the thing... she already is. A nature goddess who gets raptured away, but quickly grows to become a ruler who is not only on equal footing to her husband, but more feared than him? That sounds pretty powerful to me. And that's to say nothing on her mother, how gray-cloaked Demeter almost literally upended Heaven and Earth in order to get her daughter back and won.

[katerinaaqu]

In a way yes. I would imagine she would indeed be both eager and desperate to find someone who is listening to her or who can understand how she feels. And somehow I think she would turn to Odysseus for that kind of support especially after what befell between them at the night Odysseus arrived dressed as a beggar when he was a spy in Troy. So imagine if she put so much hope in his support (even if I have no doubt she would know he would be furious by many things like the massacre but also the cruel trick she played on them outside the horse) and gets coldness and a note of contempt. She would retaliate I am sure.

Hahahaha yeah they started becoming emotional and cried hahaha 😆 and Helen had to drug their wine to make sure they wouldn't get TOO carried away by emotion (which gave me the random headcannon that Menelaus suffered from a heart condition so Helen tries to protect him from strong changes in his mood) hahahaha for real what a guy! Telemachus seems to have both good sides of his parents! He doesn't seem to have the same talent for deception but as many who met Telemachus said he has not only his father's appearance but his wits as well so in a way Telemachus truly is a kinder and unfiltered version of his parents. He is a baby sweetheart for most part isn't he? Hahahaha not sure if narration insults him per se but Homer wishes to show that he has potential but he needs guidance to explore it and discover it. In a way Telemachus is one of the representations of coming of age in the Odyssey (like Nausicaa). He is a young man who now with the help of Athena he gets out of his childhood room, takes matters in his own hands and tries to fill in the shoes of his father. He also must discover himself

Since he never met Odysseus Telemachus has even doubts that he is his father or better he seeks more to know if that Odysseus he hears all his life for is truly his father. In his trip he learnt his father's good side by his friends. People who lived with him. He also got a glimpse of his brain and his cunning. When Odysseus actually arrived he saw them first hand. He fought with him. Somehow that concludes his transformation from a broody teen to a responsible adult and in a way Homer prepares us given that Odysseus is to go on yet another trip to appease Poseidon. However now we know Telemachus will take over. He is ready.

I am glad you think so! In a way we can view the gods both literally and symbolically at the same time while reading the homeric poems. For instance Odysseus insulting Poseidon leads poseidon against him or mankind not respecting nature and putting themselves above it just because they tame it can have massive consequences. I kinda like the perspective that one can interpret them both literally and allegorically simultaneously while reading the homeric poems. I agree. Iliad and Odyssey are above all stories of humans. They are supposed to be about humanity and her passions or her difficulties. Homer didn't synthesize stories of gods and conquest or symbolism of Greeks spreading all across the mediterannean like his descendants did or at least he doesn't seem to stop to that. He speaks on stories of people and human emotions behind them imo.

Which makes me even more honored that you decided to give it a shot with mine! It means much more than what you will know! If that helps, I try to read a bit on the side with the mythological context before writing my fics. I do not usually write fanfiction about mythology or ancient literature without knowing at least a basic spine of that specific event that I wish to write on. Which is why on the side I also post those analysis that I create mainly on the homeric poems and research around them.

Aww you are so kind! Thank you so much for making my day again! 💗 I am glad you liked the style and the pacing of my writing as well as the thematic of my analysis that I post sometimes! Thank you so much! You flatter me way too much!

@prompted-wordsmith

This is for you because your small story was amazing so I want to create one in return! And since you want Helen to speak up more here is a little interaction pre-departure from Troy between Helen and Odysseus because why not!

The city hadn't yet stopped smoking from the night of massacre. Helen feared it never would. The smell of burning wood and asbestos was sticking on her clothes and hair; bitter reminder of the events of the night before. Helen didn't want even to think of the lingering smell of blood; metal and water that she had touched. It was as if everything was red now; hands and heart and bloodshot eyes. She hadn't slept that night or the night after it. She feared she never would again.

She could still feel that this was partially her fault; both the beginning and the end of it. She knew the Horse was a farse; a well-staged plan. She chose not to alert the alarm. She had chosen her side once more. And now women and children and men at Troy were laying down dead or worse. She remembered seeing Andromache being dragged out of the city in chains along with other women. They were to be sold as slaves or given as prices to the kings of the Acheans. The once proud queen was now crying woefully; mourning her husband who was killed. She had been dragged out of her husband's tomb where she went to seek sanctuary. That was the ultimate hubris along with her father-in-law Priam who she heard from a conversation had been slain upon the altar he hoped would grand him his life. She heard it was Neoptolemus, the young man who carried the blood of Achilles in his veins and apparently his rage and temper. Who would have known that a child like that could be so cruel and blasphemous? So full of rage? Helen could not see her infant son in her arms as she was taken away. She didn't even dare to ask. For a brief second Andromache raised her head and her honey eyes stuck within her blue ones. The look was almost accusatory as the tears had given her face reddish lines. Or perhaps it was the self inflicted scratches that she had made in her woe. That second lasted longer than it should be before the queen was dragged away.

"That could have been me..." she thought

However her position was not much different. As she was standing at the peer, she was always guarded by a soldier; obviously her husband wanted both to protect her but also obviously he didn't trust her. Helen couldn't say she blamed him but it still hurt. She was seeing Menelaus talking to Odysseus, sorting out the details. Helen watched her husband and her former fiance in wonder. Indeed how strange fate was! How different the two men were! She could tell Menelaus's auburn hair from kilometers away as they were held together by a band around his head. He was well built and strong, seemed dressed in sunlight. Odysseus next to him seemed the opposite. He wasn't tall. He was barely average, a few decent inches shorter than her husband and a good head shorter than her brother-in-law however he seemed wider in shoulder and his chest resembled a wall dressed in a coat of dark curly hair. His head was adorned with black hair that seemed golden under the setting sun: bushy and curly like a ram held together by various little bands that held his curls tamed under his leather headband. His beard was equally bushy and shaggy even if he had obviously tried to make himself more presentable from the night before. His onyx eyes were bottomless holes. The man seemed tired; prematurely aged that day. Helen knew that he had a similar burden to bare with her. How strange indeed, she thought. The man seemed like coming from the night. And yet he seemed darker now; his shoulders seemed heavier than before.

"Take her home safely"

Odysseus's voice drew her out of her daydream. His voice was hoarse and tired. He seemed aged before his years. Helen remembered again the flamboyant young man that was supposed to court her. Sure his eyes filled with premature wisdom and intelligence gave him an aura of age but she could remember his laughter and smile seemed those of a teenager as if trying to persuade people of his actual age. Now that teen was gone. He was a man now; long past that first youth; a Sacker of Cities.

"Otherwise all this would have been for nothing!"

The timbre in his voice; the seer accusation, hurt her much more than anything besides her husband's distrust. No, at least Odysseus...the wise and prudent Odysseus should understand. Menelaus nodded to his loyal friend and shot her with yet another look. Helen couldn't decide if it was angry or closer to sad. As he walked away she turned again to look at Odysseus. The man barely saw her with the corner of his eye but spoke nothing. Helen couldn't bare the silence any longer.

"Odysseus..." she finally spoke, "Why? How can you be so cruel?"

"Cruel?" His voice was full of disbelief, of anger that made his chest rise like the tide

He turned to her walking like a lion ready to pounce. Helen stood her ground though. She stuck her ocean blue eyes deeply within his black ones.

"Cruel?" He repeated, "I've lost my son's first 10 years because of this war!"

"This war wasn't my choice!" Helen felt the need to defend herself against him.

"It commensed because of you!" The accusation was finally spoken outloud, "Menelaus started this because of you!"

"I didn't know he-..."

"YES YOU DID!" Odysseus finally bellowed making her take a step back, "yes you did...you just didn't think!"

He turned her back at her. He was about to leave but he didn't seem done yet.

"The blood of many brave Acheans is on your hands..."

That was way too much. Odysseus should know better than hurt her this way! This was unfair even if spoken through pain and anger. Bravely Helen held back the tears that burnt her eyes. He wouldn't see her weep!

"If I told you..." she began with the best voice she could master, "...that gods play games with us all the time...that they cloud our judgment... Would you believe me?"

Odysseus looked over his shoulder but spoke nothing.

"You of all people should understand" Helen whispered

"What does it matter what I'd believe?"

"It matters to me!" Helen replied firmly. "Please, Odysseus...at least you...at least you should believe me..."

Odysseus seemed ready to reply but the last minute he stopped himself. He chose silence; cruel and cold silence. He began walking away. Two angry tears ran down her white, rosy cheeks. No she couldn't leave it this way!

"ODYSSEUS!" She yelled after him, "you're a hypocrite!"

That stopped him to his tracks as he turned around.

"What?" He asked almost scandalized

Helen was shivering from top to bottom and her knuckles turned white from clenching them too hard.

"Do you think you're any better, Sacker of cities?!" The last one was spat like an insult like a curse, "do you think your hands are clean? You say that the war commensed because of me! That so many Greeks died because of me! Then what about you, Odysseus? What about all the Trojans killed in the city in that bloodbath?! What about all these women and children that are now piled up to be burnt or eaten by dogs and vultures? Who is to answer for THOSE Odysseus?"

Odysseus of Ithaca was frozen in place, shaking in anger but so was she. And she wouldn't be stopped now. She was Helen of Sparta, Helen of Troy, Helen the daughter of Zeus!

"It was your plan, your scheme that got the Greeks inside the holy city of Troy! It was your idea that gave them the way to sack it!"

Odysseus, the eloquent man seemed now unable to respond. He seemed stripped out of his furious anger although some of it was burning inside. Instead he managed to utter

"This massacre wasn't my choice..."

A sound between humorless and mocking laughter and cry came out of her mouth.

"Oh so you tell me you didn't know? You didn't know that the Greeks who were away from their homes, wives and children wouldn't unleash all their piled hatred? Didn't you know they would burn the city that kept them away from them to the ground so it wouldn't rise again?"

He didn't respond. Helen knew he couldn't.

"You say the blood of the Greeks is on my hands. Then the blood of Trojans is on yours!"

Odysseus seemed to have trouble breathing. She had hurt him and she knew it. Perhaps she had simply voiced everything he had in his mind all those days. She could remember how tenderly he spoke of his wife and son. Her husband used to say he identified himself as father of Telemachus not son of Laërtes. Women and children...his son and wife... He seemed ready to either lash at her or leave. However as always The Man of Many Ways sighed and did the unexpected; he spoke again.

"It doesn't matter whether I believe you or not, you know. What it matters is if he does"

Helen took a glance towards Menelaus from a distance. He was preparing the ship. She sighed and returned her gaze towards the man they called "equal to gods".

"But do you?"

"Yes" he finally admitted, "yes I believe you"

Helen sighed in relief. It was her thanking to him

"There is fate between us, Helen..." Odysseus said hoarsely.

Helen didn't need to see his face behind his wide back to read his expression.

"Yes" she replied, "you could have been my husband"

"I am glad that I'm not"

That husky whisper made her look up in wonder. She didn't expect that answer.

"You don't deserve me" the son of Laërtes said, "and I don't deserve you"

He barely looked at her again over his large shoulder.

"I see now why my cousin loved you" whispered she

"And I see why he loved you." Replied Odysseus, "why he started a war for you. Not for his pride; for you. You were indeed worth it..."

He looked at her again for the first time for a while.

"You and I have both blood on our hands" he said grimly, "you, the starter of war, hold the blood of many brave Acheans upon you...while I, the one who ended it, the Sacker of Cities, will have to live for the rest of my life carrying the deaths of Trojans upon me... Women and children..."

He covered his face with his large hand and turned around. He was sobbing.

"Women and children..." he whispered again, "Penelope...my sweet Telemachus...children... infants no older than he was..."

Helen was afraid to ask. She didn't want to know. She had met enough horror for a lifetime. She wanted to move on. She wanted to forget.

"Get home safely, Odysseus" she wished to him, "Husband to Penelope...father to Telemachus. I hope you will get what you wished for..."

"You too, Helen, kissed by the sun like golden Aphrodite...daughter of Zeus. Farewell Queen of Sparta..."

He walked away. Helen heard his voice yelling orders to his men like the expert sailor he was. Helen sighed and smiled so slightly. The title he used...was addressed to her. Odysseus had recognized her admitted her but also signaled her, her fate. She knew now she had a second chance to rectify everything; first for herself and next for everyone else.

The journey had come to an end. A new one was about to begin.

Okay guys I am so sorry I have no idea why or how but yeah...this... I hope you liked it.

[kashuan]

I have a question. Is there a protagonist and antagonist in the Iliad? I've seen people say Achilles is the protag and Hector is the antagonist but it something about that doesn't sit right with me. The Iliad isn't about Achilles or Hector, it's about the war. Yeah, it focuses on how Achilles' anger affects the war, but that doesn't mean it's about Achilles right? It's ultimately still about the Trojan war, and it doesn't really present anyone as the protagonist and antagonist, at least in my opinion. But I'm not too sure about myself so I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Thank you!

I would say that both Achilles and Hector are the respective protagonists of Greek and Trojan sides, if we’re using the definition of protagonist just as ‘main character who moves the plot forward’. I don’t think the Iliad is more about Achilles’ story than it is Hector’s; they’re both main characters imo. I wouldn’t interpret them as one another’s antagonist either because their conflict is actually a relatively small part of the story? I feel like if there’s any central antagonists in the Iliad it’s probably the gods, because they’re the ones who created the conflict and who continue to strengthen it throughout the story. I have seen a few people argue that Paris is the/an antagonist but at least in my mind an antagonist’s antagonizing actions need to be a little more purposeful than just being a well-meaning clueless idiot lol. tbf, if you’re defining an antagonist as ‘anyone who opposes the protagonist’, you could argue all of these options and more could be true. If you want to just focus in on Achilles’ story alone, I think Agamemnon rather than Hector would sooner be his “main“ antagonist because Achilles’ argument with him is not only the source of his personal conflict at the beginning of the story, but is revisited throughout the entirety of it (whereas his conflict with Hector is only in the last couple of books).

[inglourious-imagines]

You And Only You (George Weasley x Fem!Reader)

Summary: George's asleep after he lost his ear and reader runs her fingers through his hair, not aware of the fact that George isn't sleeping anymore.

Author's Note: I've been going through some writers block recently so that's why this kinda sucks but this idea's been circling in my head and i simply had to write it down. Requests are open ♡

HP Taglist: @alienoresimagines @95swifi

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"Any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again." - Homer, The Iliad

Y/N's trembling fingers ran through his dirty hair softly as if she was afraid she might break him. George's eyelashes fluttered every time he breathed out. He seemed as if he unconsciously relaxed with her tender touch as she was brushing all the pain and suffering out of his red locks. 

"Y/N..." George mumbled out of his sleep. Her lips curled into a soft smile and a single tear rolled down her cheek. 

"How are you feeling, dear?" she whispered as she sat down on the ground right next to George's head. He was still asleep and Y/N didn't have the heart to wake him up just to make sure he's doing fine when he obviously was - his cheeks were finally gaining some colour again, the bleeding already stopped and his breathing was steady as well. It was like a thousands of heavy stones fell off of her heart leaving her not so stressed as before. George was here with her and he was going to be fine again.

"You scared me so much today, Weasley," Y/N tried to alleviate the situation but she knew she's at the verge of tears, "I thought I lost you." The young witch had to stop for a moment to take a few deep breaths to calm herself down a bit.

"I know we've been together only for two months now," Y/N proceeded, "but you became such an important part of my life. I've never felt happier in my life than when I'm with you, Georgie."

Y/N silenced herself for a brief moment. She admire the man in front of her, enjoying his calming presence as she kept on running her fingers through his red hair.

•••

"Y/N, wake up." Fred's soft voice disturbed her sleep, his hand slightly touching her shoulder. "Go to bed, I'll take it from here."

She sleepily looked around trying to orientate herself - she must have fallen asleep on the ground with her head resting on George's chest and her one hand still tangled in his hair.

Y/N hesitated for a moment but gave in eventually, she knew she needed a proper sleep. "Thanks, Fred. Wake me up if anything, even the most irrelevant thing, happens." she sent him a tired smile, kissed George's forehead gently and stumbled out of the room. 

•••

Y/N had never felt so scared in her entire life like she did that night when Harry brought her bleeding boyfriend in the Burrow. But the fear made her realise so many things, it gave her probably too much to think about. Y/N always knew she liked George very much, they were two young people freshly in love still discovering the emotion, but what she did not know was that she felt so strongly about the red-head. Maybe it was too early to state something like this but-

"Thinkin' about me, huh?" his familiar voice brought her back from her daydreaming as she was met with his typical grin. 

"Always the charmer, right?" Y/N laughed but her pounding heart told her that this man knew her probably better than she even knew herself. 

"Only for you, Y/N," George's eyes suddenly softened, "did you really mean it?"

"Meant what? What's going on, Georgie?"

"What you said last night."

Now she was definitely certain he can hear her fast heartbeat. 

"Every single word." Y/N whispered, her eyes focused only on his approaching figure. 

"That's good to know, baby, 'cause I've never wanted anything more than to be with you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Oh yeah."

[katerinaaqu]

Awww I am so glad it did 🫂✨️ I am glad you liked the details here

Oh shush you! ❤️ it is my blog I post whatever the hell I want and your art is criminally underrated just like the concept of bronze age armors hahahaha 😆 it would be a crime for me not to make a post or two about them. Nope hahaha I ain't flattering anyone hahaha just speaking the truth.

Hahaha the Odyssey and the Iliad are damn good inspirations for many things aren't they? And yeah armors too. People often call them ugly but I am standing there thinking "why? Just because they don't have the typical form?" And yeah for sure some of the western concepts are amazing and there are also there some under-rated designs one can use but yeah that's for sure some ancient armors are not even considered being used for high fantasy and is sad.

Hahahaha yeah his helmet's backstory 😆 aww yeah that is so true!

Hahahaha yeah we didn't aim for it but man hahahaha 😆 😂 🤣 (true because Odysseus can be a bit of a nasty boy and a good actor hahaha I swear to God if Caleb and Diego had a child that would be Odysseus hahahaha 😆)

Yup and even Odysseus who seems to have more selfish reasons to end the war quickly he also seems to wish to avoid the damage for his people (he refrains from rushing into battle with his men but waits for the proper moment to strike or the trick that he does to take the city of Troy basically makes the Greeks suffer the minimum losses possible while maximizing the losses of their enemy)

Hahahaha that freaking jump rope hahahaha 😆 😂 🤣

But yup at the last possible moment even under immense pressure Caleb manages to come up with the most ingenious plans to come on top at a nasty situation and save himself and his people and man totally a roach hahahaha 😆 😂 🤣 death and their enemies hate them and yeah Caleb is closer to the ancient Greek ideal of head on battle isn't he? Hahaha but he would still do it sneakily if he can hahahaha 😆

Awwww I know! 😍 and Caleb would so introduce himself as "father of Kai" instead of "son of Julian" like Odysseus. Awww that's for sure as Kai is also the cute sweet pie who has big shoes to fill.

Oh gosh hahahaha now I need to think of something hahahahahaha

Yup the best package ever! Hahahahaha right?! In that plus the waiting she is more like Penelope indeed hahaha 😆 and yup somehow that fits our au idea with a goddess giving up her godhood for a human as you brilliantly suggested! 👏 hahahaha yup 😆 Drake is just a big baby hahahaha 😆 😂 🤣 (but ironically he is our Nestor too hahaha one of the old ones giving advice! Awww now I imagine Kai asking around for his father including his old rebel buddies)

Awww always referencing my stories is so cute! But yes by n large I was also inspired by the actual Odyssey and our nasty boy to write Eurylochus in Survivor's Guilt and Survivor's Duty hahahaha 😆 and man for sure in the end Caleb is left to pay for the price! 😢

Awww you are very sweet! It was nothing serious really! 💖❤️ and awww as always you make so sweet mentions to my work!

High Fantasy consept art inspired by Iliad and Odyssey (a small analysis of a forgotten character)

So let me be a bit annoying and call your attention for one second for an amazing artist and a great friend whom you can find here in Tumblr as well with the alias @artsofmetamoor. Her work is always a great dedication to detail, paying more attention to quantity over quality and, quite frankly, gaining inspiration of various sources.

She began getting more and more annoying talk from me XD regarding my passion for the classics like Iliad and Odyssey and the talk brought about the armors of Mycenaean Greece and she came up with a masterful piece of art:

Quite frankly we rarely ever see high fantasy armors or clothing inspired by anything else but western europe clothing (mixture between medieval Europe and 18th century details) and we rarely ever see high fantasy concepts inspired by ancient art and much less bronze age Greece that has some amazing pieces not many people know. My friend came up with an amazing concept design of a light armor that was heavily inspired by Iliad descriptions particularly Odysseus's helmet.

As you can see we were heavily inspired by Boar Tusk Helmets

The armor is essentially consisted by a light thorax and a boar-tusk or a horned helmet. Alternatives can be seen here:

Our character seems to be heavily linked to Odysseus. This is Caleb, from the comic series W.I.T.C.H and the animated adaptation but both her and I took a different route on the character creating our own original concepts of him

So why is he like Odysseus?

Caleb in the comic is a Whisperer, a type of plant-looking creature that was created as a soulless servant to a cruel magician Prince named Phobos who ruled with a Tyranical way the kingdom of Meridian. Caleb broke free from his control by seer will and became the leader of Rebellion against his creator to restore justice (much like Odysseus who couldn't avoid the war but did his best in it, Caleb struggles every day for the greater good)

Intelligent and clever. Caleb comes up with the craziest of plans in a second and he can in fact make his risky tactics to work. Much like Odysseus he is a master of survival and can guide his people in the toughest of situations

Team spirit that exceeds expectations. The rebel leader is capable of throwing himself to the fire for his comrades coming forward to save them if necessary

Family man like Odysseus, later in our story after a great ordeal that lasts almost 10 years in total, Caleb manages to return to the love of his life and start a family. He has an only son, whose name is Kai and Caleb will always return to them

Death fears him. No, honestly, Caleb escapes like some crazy situations in his lifetime! Hahaha He and Odysseus have a lot to discuss!

Notorious and Famous. His friends love him his enemies hate him. What more can one say?

Trained by a "goddess"

Well technically a bit of a stretch but Caleb is trained by a huge and powerful woman who also protects his every step. The woman named Dilla, is a warrior of a special Tribe of people (one can say she was inspired by Amazons and Viking warriors among others). She is tall, big and powerful but she has a golden heart and she makes it a goal of her life to protect him at any cost

Dilla teaches Caleb many things from her people including combat and customs and she protects him as his bodyguard. She is also "bright eyed" as you see (gosh Athena vibes being strong!) since she is blind but has hightened senses. She has also a very strong sense of justice and she is often the voice of reason among the crazy adult kid rebels! XD

Second in Command and Opposition

Caleb has also a brother who was adopted by his very adopted father by the name Diego and yup he is our "Eurylochus" in this case. He is loyal to death to Caleb but his often nasty attitude disrupts the team. That however comes from his own unresolved psychological issues, his complicated feelings and his complex personality.

Please consider checking her art out and we are both open to questions! ^_^

She has also created millions of AUs one can use as inspiration back for their own ideas! Trust me! She's awesome!