#of odysseus' domain as king

[agnesandhilda]

rip melanthius you didn’t deserve all that

[makeriia]

Fantober day 31!! A free day again.

Recently gotten into HADES, and I think about them a normal amount (lie)

[gingermintpepper]

I haven't read the Odyssey so I'm asking you. Are you telling me besides Athena, Apollo was the god who helped Odysseus and his family the most? Indirectly at least.

If that's true it's really a missed opportunity in EPIC.

No, no, the god who assists Odysseus the most after Athena is unquestionably Zeus.

Zeus genuinely has no problems with Odysseus and makes it very clear that he finds the man brilliant and would have already had him home and safe if he had his way, but he makes it clear that he's deferring to Poseidon who actually has the problem with Odysseus because, ultimately, the sea is Poseidon's domain and kingdom and Zeus doesn't intend to step on his brother's toes.

(Od. Book 1 trans. Robert Fitzgerald)

I'd definitely give third place to Apollo however. The big bug-bear about Apollo in the Odyssey is just that he's much less tangible than Athena or even Hermes who appears to Odysseus multiple times to help guide him/give him proclamations. His presence is everywhere though; like I've previously mentioned (and like he did with Jason) it's Apollo protecting Odysseus from Poseidon as he sails the sea after Odysseus blinds Polyphemus. It's also Apollo keeping Telemachus safe. His most vital role by far is when Odysseus returns to Ithaca in time for the challenge that will determine the next king. Not only is it a shooting contest whose first hurdle is to string a bow, the challenge itself takes place on a festival day for Apollo. Athena is there with Odysseus and Telemachus physically, but Apollo is looking after them in spirit, sending signs and signals to keep Telemachus especially safe.

(Od. Book 15, Telemachus warns about the state of Odysseus' house to Theoclymenus, a son of one of Apollo's prophets.)

There's also the fact that Odysseus makes sure to pray to Apollo before he attempts to string the bow:

(Od. Book 21. Beggar-Odysseus petitions to shoot his shot)

Likewise, before he slays the first suitor, Odysseus again prays for Apollo's guidance and gaze to guide his arrows:

(Od. Book 22. Odysseus commits the first of many (divinely-sanctioned) murders)

Also, as an additional thing, have Telemachus invoking Zeus, Athena and Apollo that he could see the suitors have their asses beat:

(Od. Book 18. Telemachus excitedly gushes to him mom about his cool new friend (Odysseus. Odysseus is the friend.)

There's a lot of minimisation of Apollo's role in the Odyssey because it isn't as bright and showy as his role was in the Iliad but hey, even there people tend to minimise how truly present Apollo is for the duration of the war when they're doing adaptations. Within Epic, the stage is already more than set for both Apollo and Athena to be there at the advent of Odysseus' revenge but none of that matters if that's not the creator's intention, y'know?

[gotstabbedbyapen]

I honestly don't really like how Odysseus defeated Poseidon. Maybe with explanations from Jay, time, and the last saga releasing I'll come around to it, but yeah. I feel like it would have been so much more logical to see Odysseus try to be as ruthless as possible, while being cunning, but ultimately failing because it's POSEIDON, and then Zeus comes in and is like "that's enough, let the Greek go" or something. Because he's not only the king, but it would redeem him from that mess in God Games.

Fans who dislike criticism, please stay away from this post because I will not hesitate to speak my mind.

I'm glad to see others still have faith in Epic, but I'm sorry to say that I don't hope as much anymore. I did try after God Games but it only let me down. And I don't think any amount of explaining and marinating time can make it any better.

Epic the Vengeance Saga not only nerf down Poseidon in the most ridiculous way possible when he was an undoubtedly powerful god-king who was revered as the Biggest Villain throughout the musical, it also broke its own establishment that the gods always have a power leverage over the humans. Odysseus was tip-toeing around all of them, even with the seemingly friendly ones like Aeolus and Hermes, because he's literally one wrong move away from getting killed by them.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If Odysseus needed a power boost from the moly just to corner Circe, he had no chance with Poseidon when he had nothing but a sword and a wind bag. No amount of pure rage and wife loving can help him charge at the King of the Sea (in his own domain even!) and leave unscathed, he'll be lucky Poseidon just drown him faster the second time. That cheap Gary Stu fight traded good storytelling for some dramatic effect and ruined it for me.

Any other route for the Odysseus VS Poseidon showdown would be significantly better. Like you said, Odysseus can try to fight or just defend himself against Poseidon for as long as he could, then Zeus and the other Olympians can intervene to save him. And yeah, Zeus deserve a redemption and an apology for ruining his image and establishment in the musical (his attack is also super OOC)

If there's an Epic adaptation on a different media, I seriously hope they'll rewrite Six Hundred Strike completely. Anything but that godawful mess.

[autumnmobile12]

Epic the Musical: Not Sorry For Loving You

Regarding the debate about Rivera-Herrans' choice in writing Odysseus as sympathetic to Calypso and telling her he loves her even though she trapped him on her island for seven years...I may have some context.

And I’m really hesitant in posting this because I know the ‘Calypso was Odysseus’ lover or abuser’ debate is a volatile subject. I guess what I’m saying is please be kind.  I don’t want to fight about this, but I do want to provide some insight with what I know about Greek mythology.

...

My guess is the song was largely inspired by this conversation between Calypso and Odysseus in the original Odyssey. (Abridged because the full text is too long to be concise):

“…Kalypso the goddess thus began: ‘Son of Laertes, subtle Odysseus--so then, your mind is firmly set on returning now without delay to your home and country? Go then, and joy go with you, in spite of all. Yet if you knew--if you fully knew--what miseries are fated to fill your cup before you attain your own land, you would choose to stay here, to join with me in calm possession of this domain, to be beyond reach of death…”

Subtle Odysseus answered her: ‘Goddess and queen, do not make this a cause of anger with me. I know the truth of everything you say; …. Yet, not withstanding, my desire and longing day by day is still to reach my own home and see the day of my return. And if this or that divinity should shatter my craft on the wine-dark ocean, I will bear it and keep a bold heart within me. Often enough before this time have war and wave oppressed and plagued me; let new tribulations join the old.’ -The Odyssey, Homer, trans. by Shewring.

…

In this conversation, we see Calypso asking Odysseus if he’s sure he wants to leave her and return to Ithaka, and that he would have an easier life if he remained with her forever immortal. And he asks her not to be angry/hurt and that whatever lies ahead on his journey, he’ll face it bravely. (Choosing a simple life but a life of obscurity as opposed to returning to hardship and being remembered as a stalwart hero.)

Giving this the context of the Ancient Greek cultural lens, Odysseus and Calypso were lovers.  The above conversation is immediately followed up with this:

So he spoke; and the sun sank and darkness came; then the pair withdrew, and in a recess of the arching cavern they took their pleasure in love, and did not leave one another's side.  -The Odyssey, Homer, trans. by Shewring.

Yes, Calypso trapped Odysseus on her island for seven years and by today’s standards, that's gonna be a huge yikes.  But their ‘lovers’ dynamic becomes easier to understand when you look at the wider collection of Greek myth stories and remember that what we consider a lovers’ relationship by today’s standards is practically nonexistent in this genre and if there is 'love,' it’s probably closer to what we’d recognize as Stockholm Syndrome and so on.

Look at Hera and Zeus’ eternal marital problems.

Jason the Argonaut just setting aside his wife Medea so he can marry another princess.

Helen of Sparta either willingly left Menelaus or Paris kidnapped her, depending on which version you hear.

Theseus abandoning Ariadne and then she marries Dionysus almost immediately after he stumbles across her.

Hades kidnapping Persephone, even in modern retellings where they form a mutual love.

I think the closest we can get to a romantic love story in Greek mythology is possibly Perseus’ rescuing of Princess Andromeda because that has more of the classic ‘hero saves princess from monster, they get married, happily ever after’ trope we're familiar with in fairy tales.

Even Odysseus’ marriage to Penelope calls consent into question because he technically demanded her as payment for helping her uncle, King Tyndareus, out of a difficult situation.

Getting back to the song and Epic: The Musical, the tone of the original text does give the impression that Odysseus is sympathetic for leaving, and I think Rivera-Herrans is trying to reconcile that because he portrays Odysseus as a faithful husband and that clashes with the Greek portrayal where Odysseus and Calypso were lovers in the poem, hence Odysseus giving a more heartfelt goodbye than Calypso may deserve. I go into the original story a bit more with this post.

It’s not a bad portrayal of Odysseus and I do like that Rivera-Herrans chose to resolve the toxic masculinity of the original story. Women in Greek mythology, especially if they’re mortal, are more often than not little more than a plot device while the men get the glory. That said, I think if Rivera-Herrans really wanted Calypso to be a sympathetic figure to his audience, it might have been better suited if he'd referred to the poet Hesiod’s version of events where she held Odysseus prisoner because Poseidon commanded her do it.  He could have easily spun her story as,

“Forgive me, I can’t disobey the sea god.”

That option would have robbed her of free will as much as Odysseus and we could have gotten more on board with pitying her for her loneliness when he leaves, and it would have still preserved Poseidon's role as the villain of the musical. As it stands, the ‘playful but socially clueless’ demeanor he gave Calypso only works if she detained Odysseus a day or two. Seven years of drawing that out is a little much and portrays Calypso as a foolish girl and not as the ‘mighty and beautiful’ goddess she’s described as, by Odysseus himself, in the original.

But that's me.

[cynthiav06]

I loved the Vengeance saga, an absolute banger. Might be my second favorite after the Wisdom Saga, but here's the thing:

Odysseus wounding Poseidon or even being able to use his trident or trapping Poseidon amidst the storm is all extremely unlikely as in impossible even in the Epic canon.

Before everyone starts a riot, here's why.

Poseidon is a god. Not just any god either, one of the Elder Gods (as in first olympian gods). In fact before the Dark Ages of Greek, from at least Homeric Era to Classical Era, Poseidon was called Wanax or was at least heavily associated with him by the Myceneans and was the old King of the Gods according to them. But I digress.

Point is Poseidon is basically an Eldritch horror on legs while Odysseus, despite his brilliance and strength, is just a mortal, not even a demigod, a human. Albeit one blessed by the wisdom goddess.

Poseidon is a God of storms. And sure Epic might have some different connotations but apparently not cause Hermes himself quotes in track 2 of Vengeance saga Dangerous that no mortal can survive Poseidon's storm I.e he created it so he's the stormbringer confirmed. Plus, Odysseus himself does say that he will make Poseidon stop the storm.

That aside, Poseidon is literally the God of the Seas. No god, not even Zeus, can beat Poseidon in his own bloody domain. So Odysseus has no chance.

Even if Odysseus trapped him on land, Poseidon can create earthquakes with his trident, which is also prominent in his lore. So that's a no, no.

Sure, Odysseus could have made Poseidon drop his trident, but even if that happened in no scenario, would Odysseus be able to lift it. Poseidon's trident was forged by elder cyclops and is one of the three absolute weapons of power in Greek myths ( the other two being Zeus's bolt and Hades's Helm). These weapons were designed specifically for these gods and obey none other. Not to mention it weighs a lot, i.e., "only a god can lift it heavy."

In the impossible scenario that Odysseus lifts it(by some miracle or other), Poseidon could just summon it back to his hand.

For all those saying maybe Poseidon can't do close combat, he has fought titans. He has to all but breathe strongly in Odysseus's direction, and Odysseus will literally die, which is why Odysseus's survival is Odyssey is such a legendary feat.

It also beats the point of Odysseus's legends. Odysseus is the King of Ithaca, sure, but he's no demigod. He doesn't even have any special abilities aside from quick thought or the occasional godly assistance. He's basically a mortal that achieves things everybody, even demigods, failed at all through his wisdom, wit, and trickery. He is only human, but his mind is what makes him on par with the divine.

Odysseus resorting to physical fighting against a literal god goes against his very nature. Odysseus is the smartest Greek hero, a strategist, a manipulator, and he knows very well how to play to his strengths.

In the original works, Odysseus escapes Poseidon the second time due to intervention from both Athena and Ino. Ino is the goddess of protection, especially the protector of sailors. She gifts Odysseus with a veil of protection. And Athena pulls her usual strings.

This is Odysseus playing to his strengths. He has the situation in his favor, a plan as he has convinced these gods either with his past deeds or his unbreakable will to intercede on his behalf. By manipulation or sincerity, doesn't matter. He lies, manipulates, tricks, and thinks his way through, so he would never ever resort to a 1v1, that too physical with a god.

[Circe was a special case. He had the blessing of molly on his side due to him earning Hermes's favor. Through a plan]

I love Epic, I do, and I love Jay even more. He's phenomenal and Epic the musical is an absolute work of genius and I know he said he is taking inspiration from video games and anime which might lead to some divergences but this is a bit too big of a liberty from both the source material and the essence of Odysseus. Sure, it's enjoyable and badass, but it's a disservice to the original Odysseus in a way.

Just wanted to give my honest opinion cause I love Epic so much, especially with its imperfections.

[nothing-impt]

Oh boy! A new Hermes/Tiresias shipper! Welcome aboard!🤗

What headcanons do you have for this silly couple?

YESSSS I AM SO HAPPY I GOT INTO THIS SHIP Flying Snakes Headcanons ig: (I think I work better with my art than with my words, so I'm sorry if this looks really badly written)

Tiresias is more of a ‘receiving gifts’ than a ‘words of affection’ guy, hence the two-headed snake Hermes gifts him.

 I  love to think Hermes just constantly hits on Tiresias whenever he drops by to deliver souls into the Underworld, and Tiresias is either really dense or is completely unbothered by it.

Hades definitely knows about these two (people always make him out to be the villain But I would like to think that he’s really chill and lets them be together in the Underworld.) Unrelated note, Persephone ships them too.

Like @rubypet’s hc with Apollo, Apollo has prophecy as one of his domains so he’s a little pissed that Hermes is hitting on his prophet lmao.

Hermes calls the double-headed snake ‘the twins’ on purpose, usually in front of Apollo to piss him off and because Apollo doesn’t know Hermes is referring to the snake(s)? He just assumed Hermes knocked up Tiresias lol.

Because Tiresias has prophetic visions, he’s sometimes distracted (e.g, he’ll glance at a lingering spirit while Hermes is talking to him and will recall that spirit’s life) Hermes just takes it in his stride and asks him what he sees and they talk about that instead.

Tiresias tends to tell his prophecies in a roundabout way (my hc is that prophets are prevented from telling the outright truth behind what they see) so those who come to him for visions would oftentimes accuse him of misguiding them after they die (Oedipus would like to curse at him or smth everytime he sees Tiresias in the Underworld after he died)

Hermes knows that Tiresias gets disheartened by all the negative remarks (sounds like Tiresias gets a bad review on Prophetic visions lol) Especially so after Odysseus literally misinterprets his visions despite him trying his best to help the King of Ithaca cause he’s Hermes’ great grandson. Hermes would frequently give updates on how Odysseus is doing to reassure him (I personally feel prophets are used to ‘see’ the negative life-changing events in people’s lives instead of any of the positive ones, so Tiresias would be relieved to hear anything good that goes out of a hero he helps) Edit: It just came to me so I decided I'll just put it here, Tiresias absolutely hates Oedipus :)

I have a doodle I’m doing to explain more about why ‘the twins’ are called Jason and Theseus, hopefully, I’ll post it by tonight. Anyway, thanks for all the Asks, I hope y’all can understand my terrible explanations, if not my inbox is still open for questions! 

[imajinacxic888]

hey so theory/headcanon of the vengance saga

(sorry if this was already made)

so we all know how Athena pretty much is out of comission (nothing is oficial so no she is not dead), that much we could assume given MrJalapeño wonderful tiktok of his impression of Athena during the vengance saga

ok well we all know that during god games Ares was the one who asked if Athena was really dead.

What if that has a deeper meaning to it? Because we know that they both share domain (also explained by Jay) and that their songs is the same motif.

So maybe he asked because he could sense that his cotrol over the "war" domain was winning almost taking all the control over it. And i like to think that when we hear the orchesta playing their melody at the end of the song is both sides of war working together to fight, because let's be real there is no way that Ares "quick-thought" didn't play a role in that as it was more based on emotions and Athena was remembering why she was fighting the king of gods so yeah that's a part of it but also

What if during the vengance saga as Athena's part of the domain was all for Ares to use he just tried to help his sister champion, this would explain the red eyes that we saw on Odysseus when he was beating the shit out of Poseidon, and that would also explain why he was fighting directly and not using his tricks

[insomniac-chaos]

Odysseus winning against Poseidon:

(and my take on it)

Missed the live stream as I was in college. (Timezones, Yay) And saw it's uploading under the 1 pm sun in the parking lot as I waited for my friends.

And boy did I misread a few things but scrolling through Tumblr really pulled the blindfold off.

And I've seen a few people talking about this so here's my two cents.

Odysseus 1V1-ing Poseidon really doesn't make sense, it came out of nowhere.

(the wind-jetpack and Poseidon getting his ass handed is fun to watch)

Taking it in context it makes no sense, but my academically tired, heat cooked brain somehow managed to create a theory that I really want to share.

What if the souls weren't pulling Odysseus to his death, but away from Poseidon's Trident, what if all 600 men and his mom were helping him, and in that moment, Poseidon's defeat became inevitable.

Because yes, Poseidon is one of The Big Three, yes they were in his domain, yes he is the god of sea, yes he's the earth-shaker, strom-bringer, but.

What is a god's abilities, his rage, all his power to a Mother's Love, what is the sea in all it's dark glory and cold embrace compared to a mother's pray, her blessings, her plea, her desire to see her son home.

What is a god's arrogance next to a mortals remorse, the contempt that he was the reason 558 men died and then the remaining were also killed by the God King because of him, that his Captain bears that weight because of him.

What is Ruthlessness against kindness, gods' preach ruthlessness, they say sometimes killing is a must, but we are humans and humanity says mercy is to give to others, not to hoard it, and mercy is kindness, it is to greet the world with open arms.

What is one god's anger next to the determination of 600 men who couldn't make it home, who died because they didn't listen to the man who let go of his humanity for them , who didn't obey their Captain in life, but they can fulfill his desire in death.

The answer, Nothing.

Ichor may be gold, it may show the gods grandure, but;

The sea, the domain of the sea-king had been painted in red of the drowned men, red that belongs to humans, red that embodies the purest of loves, the color of burning rage, of realm shattering tragedies, the color of bleeding souls.

In that moment, the sea was not Poseidon's domains, it did not belong to any god or titan but to the mortals, and no god would have won.

The moment passed, Odysseus went home, he lived his mortal life and his bones turned dust, eons passed and no god brought Poseidon's defeat, letting the winds carry it to oblivion, letting the sea wash it's trace.

Because no fire created by the gods can compare to some sparks mortals leave behind,.

There's a reason they fear us, a reason they sperated our soul into two halves searching for the other our entire life.

No god, Ennosidas or Nephelegeretes could have won against the rage of six hundred and two souls.

.

.

.

Well that's just my take on it.

I've seen people insult others for saying how Odysseus winning came from nowhere, people are entitled to their opinions as long as they don't hurt other people, so we really should mind the way we speak.

[streets-in-paradise]

i am back,once again!!

i’m srry i had to

anywayyyyy

okay so i got this idea,could u write about some cute moments between achilles and (fem)reader who loves the beach/anything that has to do w the sea?maybe like a drabble or smth??idk if this is vague but lmk

hahaha, hi!!

( woow, you pick your graphic intros and everything. that shows dedication i love it 💕)

Absolutely, I can do this.

Also, this will be super fitting because, despite the movie left it up to interpretation, his mom is a nereid (greek deity of the sea). When he is not fighting the job of Achilles is beach lol.

It turned out longer than a drabble because I kept thinking on your Achilles x girly/fashionista reader ask from last time and it kinda influencied me into doing a full oneshot mixing bits of both ideas.

Sea lover reader is also a capital city girl moving to Phthia who is quite girly and with a bubbly personality, enjoy <3

The Waves' Caress - Achilles x (Fem) Reader

Warnings: Mention to the sociopolitical things going arround in the Greece of the film ( Agamemnon's imperialism and the big picture civilizatory plan he mentions to Nestor in the scene where he convinces him of calling Achilles through Odysseus.)

Tags: @zoegarfield @lovelybaka

Vocabulary note: Strophion is an ancient times equivalent of a strapless bra, piece of greek clothing that can be imagined to resemble a bathing suit.

A deep love for the sea had allways been a part of you, so wherever fate would take you it was your hope to forever remain near the beach. Movings weren't usual in your life, used as you were to a comfortable lifestye in Mycenae as the daughter of a royal scribe. However, your father was a functionary for an empire in constant expansion. Official scribes were required everywhere to keep registered records and contribute to public order. The pretended civilizatory mission of King Agamemnon counted with that, so it wasn't a great surprise to hear he intended to relocate him on the most conflictive territory of his domains.

Myrmidons had a fame of being the fiercest soldiers of Greece, and his disdain for their strongest local leader was a threat to the very core of the order he intended to establish. Raising the mycenaean presence on the region was his idea to balance things. Populating through migrations of qualified officials and their families was his idea to stabilize politics and he was quite proud of it. So much that he even took the iniciative telling your family about it by himself, never missing the chance of doing awkward jokes only he would find funny.

As he charmingly enlisted the perks of his new position to your father, he punctualized one single downside. With his attention shortly deviated on you, Agamemnon playfully warned him to watch over his beautifull daughter from Achilles and his men.

The attempt of polite praise failed, but you pretended to go on with it to avoid upsetting him. Not surprised, but crushed by the news, all you did was asking if your new home had sight of the sea.

Phthia was a rocky territory where mountains were more abundant than fields, but it also had increíble beaches that became your only comfort in the arrival. As peacefull representatives of an occupation force, your presence was inpopular. Among the multiple functions of scribes there were a few that could be considered benefitial for the community, but your father was also supposed to work with those in charge of keeping track of the taxing.

It was obvious that the king wanted the handfull of new functionaries to handle a situation previous administrators couldn't control efficiently, that you were perfectly fine back in your birth city and adaptation was going to be a struggle.

Feeling more lonely than ever, in a position where you didn't feel comfortable trying to make new friends, all you had were your long walks on the beach.

The caress of the waves was comforting for you, and the salty tears of homesickness felt small mixing in them. Hoping that your sorrow could be temporally washed away, you would often speak out loud as if the forces ruling the water could hear you.

It was about presenting yourself with your fears, your dreads, begging for strenght and bringing small offers so the minor divinities populating those shores would get used to your presence. If mortals weren't going to make you feel welcome for obvious reasons, you could at least develop roots in the land bonding in a spiritual way.

At one given time, you tossed a silver ring for the waves to swallow. A really expensive one that you ripped from your finger with disgust, careless of what your father would say about that. That was your way of showing the local gods that you weren't Interested in the spoiling of their land, and if you had to stay, you wanted to find a spot to belong in doing good.

Lost as you were in your thoughts and prayers, you completely ignored there was a man watching you.

He noticed, and didn't waste time in making you realize of his presence.

" I'm an expert on anger and this doesn't look good. What happened? Did the man who gave it to you failed in behaving as he should? "

You turned back following the sound, only to discover the mesmerizing image of a blond man with piercing blue eyes. Blue as deep as the sea, captivating and haunting. His simple garments, vest and skirt of matching blue tones, made him look like a marine god coming at you.

" There is no man making me suffer other than my king. Unless seaking revenge on his orders, I doubt any myrmidon would want to get close enough for that. "

He smiled with skepticism, almost as if he taunted you.

" I would give you one afternoon in a tavern to prove it wrong. "

You couldn't help smiling and that only encouraged him to get closer pacing calmly in your direction.

" People come and go arround here, but I have a good memory for pretty girls … I guess you must be new. "

The flirting, way faster than what you were used to, was yet consented and very much appreciated. However, you feared the response you had for him would ruin everything.

" My father is the new royal scribe: we just moved and I have nowhere to belong here yet, except for this beach. "

The clarification soften him instead of sending him away.

" I was born here and still belong nowhere, only the sound of the waves bring me clarity. "

That subtle comfort was sweet enough to mean something without breaking the appearance of mightyness.

" I don't seek isolation, but stumble with it for unwillingly representing the evil deeds of Agamemnon. "

He got to close, close enough to smell the scent of your hair mixed with the breeze caressing it.

" I fight his wars, but never do it for him. He is not my king and as long as you are here he doesn't have to be yours either. "

He said enough to be recognized and the name came out softly from your lips.

" Achilles … "

The warrior smirked as a confirmation.

" i have been warned against you: Agamemnon told my father in front of me that you are the doom of every woman. "

Description that had clearly amused him.

" Did you believe it? "

He wanted to know if you were willing to give him a chance of proving himself.

Lost in him as you were, no voice of reason would have made you deny him that.

" It's too early to fall in any assumptions. "

His hands were cassually resting on his hips, eyes glancing at the sea as if he tried to reclaim a lost capacity for keeping distance.

" I come here often, maybe you will find time to form your own perceptions of me. "

An invitation to let him join you that you accepted in a heartbeat. Company was a great improvement and your attraction to him did get you trustfull with ease. The way in which you took his hand in your walk back into the water told him all he needed to know regarding the kind of girl you were.

Bright and pure, so innocent that he was still twirling his mind arround the lively attitude you began to show as fast as you felt safe arround him. There were no traces left of the angry sad girl he reached out to once her loneliness was disrupted.

All smiles for him, even more beautifull than before in his eyes.

More encounters kept happening and the thing wasn't left at random. Since you agreed to see each other with the excuse of your beach walks, the marine wildness became witness of your infatuation.

Without realizing of the meaning in his actions, Achilles began searching for you in every corner of the city hoping to cross ways in the middle of your daily activities. His gaze would search you in the crowds with very little success, making him crave more and more for the next secret meeting.

As most refined girls from the big city, you were one putting great care into your appearance. The pressure for beauty among rich nobles have shaped you that way, but he could tell you were a humble young woman whose harmless vanity couldn't be mistaken for shallowness. You also happened to be very well instructed, prepared to talk of any topic one would bring to you for conversation and always delivering a charming sensitivity into the talk. He sincerely thought you deserved a chance to be loved among his people regardless for the bunch of political servant fools you had arrived with.

Perhaps, because he himself adored you.

With the progression of your meetings evolving into implicit beach dates more surprises kept happening.

Achilles got to find out what that linen dyed of blue he found you buying at the market was for when you showed up one day in a cute match of strophion and skirt that left him breathless.

His blue eyes roamed your figure like the waves's caressing, yet you didn't seem to notice the impact you had on him and quickly ran towards him with your usual lovely carefreeness.

You clinged for a hug rounding his waist with your arms.

" Achilles! Want to go swimming? I came prepared this time. "

The sweetness of your tone made him feel almost guilty for enjoying the moment so much.

" I see, you look like a siren ready to raid the shore. "

The weird compliment made you giggle and excitement pushed you to show off, freeing him to give proper space for him to watch you.

" Do you like it? In Mycenae I used to go swimming with my friends, so my mother allowed me to make a new attire for swimming inspired by the local colour in order to feel more in home … Although I never told her who was my real inspiration."

Your attempt of souding suggestive was too cute and he couldn't resist the tenderness.

" It's perfect, you look so beautifull it's painfull to look at directly … "

Achilles interrupted himself, only to deliver his conclussion in a whisper.

" … And I love knowing you were thinking of me. "

Heat started reaching your face, but you tried to sustain the bravery that got you there.

" I'm always thinking of you. Mother says it seems my head is on some cloud, but in fact it is on the sea. "

Lovefull words started flowing from you with ease simply by staring at him for too long.

" On your eyes, that seem made of it. All its misterious charm compacted in one glance … and I wonder how is that even possible. When we meet, I mistook you for a god of the deepness. An inmortal servant of Poseidon answering my prayers. "

His eyes followed the soft features of your face with discrete adoration.

" You are the miracle I never expected, sweet girl of a love so pure that it's drowning my heart. "

Silently and relentlessly, the few distance between you dissapeared. Achilles held you by the waist and you caressed his cheeks into your first kiss. Although the breeze should have cooled you down, you were feeling your while body on fire and nothing could have stopped it.

As soon as you released each other you made him chase you into the water so the caresses of the waves on your skin would mix with his. Catching you took him a bit because you kept diving away as part of the game, but when he got you in his arms he refused to let you go.

Once you had enough fooling arround, he proved to have one more surprise for you.

His seashell necklace, that he colocated on you after filling the spot with kisses while you were drying together near the shore.

Words weren't enough to thank him, but you tried anyways.

" It's so beautifull! How did you know I wanted one like yours? I was trying to make one myself, but i'm collecting only the prettiest shells I find for it. "

Your reaction caused him a blissfull pride.

" Keep mine, I want you to have it. This way, my men would know you are mine without mycenaeans realizing. A subtle symbol that will make myrmidons respect you. "

The explanation got you even more excited, but you also felt a sudden sense of shame.

" I have nothing to give you in return. "

Achilles chuckled, as if he knew something you didn't.

" Wrong again, pretty one. "

With the cocky comment, he exposed his hand showing off a detail you didn't notice before.

Your silver ring on his finger.

" Impossible! I tossed it away for the deities to take, it should be resting deep in the ocean. "

Achilles enjoyed himself with your child-like amazement.

" Tomorrow, I will take you to see the most beautifull point of our shores. One you don't know yet, where no one dares to go, and there you will meet the one who gave it back to me. "

It confused you even more, but that was understandable.

Achilles was aware you had no idea that you had already won the good sight of his mother with your thoughtfull prayers and sincere love for her essential element.

It was him the one who still had hard work to do in order to charm your parents.

[inspofromancientworld]

Ulysses and its Ancient Origins

By Elliott & Fry - Twitter: National Portrait Gallery Main page for the image: NPG x126801, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=144794591

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tenyson, was a poet who lived from 1809-1992 was the Poet Laureate (one who is expected to write a poem for significant national occasions) to Queen Victoria and is the ninth most quoted author in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. His published his first book of poetry in 1829 with his brother while they were attending Trinity College as well as won the Chancellor's award. Before he graduated, though, he had to return home after his father died. He continued to write, though, publishing his second book of poetry in 1833, though after heavy criticism, he didn't publish another book for 10 years. In 1842, he published his third book of poetry in 1842, which included Ulysses. In 1850, he was appointed Poet Laureate.

A Roman mosaic depicting a maritime scene with Odysseus (Ulysses), from Carthage, 2nd century ADBy Giorcesderivative work: Habib M'henni - File:GiorcesBardo54.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10353941

Ulysses is the Roman version of Odysseus, the hero of the Odyssey, on which the poem is based, though there are hints of Dante's Inferno's character of Ulisse, who dwells among the false counselors in hell. Ulisse was condemned to hell for seeking more knowledge than humans should have and for his role in creating the Trojan horse. In Tennyson's poem, Ulysses describes his exploits from old age, that despite his joy at reunion with Penelope and Telemachus, he longs to return to the travels of his youth. Ulysses wants '[t]o strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield', to abandon his family and kingdom and return to his youthful explorations and exploits, to be the hero rather than the king. He views his own life as '[l]ife piled on life/Were all too little, and of one to me/Little remains', thinking Telemachus would be a better king because '[m]ost blameless is he, centred in the sphere/Of common duties'. He then turns to those who traveled with him to return to their voyages, though without a guarantee of return '…Come, my friends,/'Tis not too late…It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,/And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.' (the Happy Isles being Elysium, the place where heroes and the upright go after death.) He laments that they were '[m]ade weak by time and fate, but strong of will/To strive to seek, to find, and not to yield.'

You can read the whole poem here.

[lalunameli]

So I meant to throw this screenshot in my earlier shitpost dump, but I forgor. I guess you can argue it's more a cute piece of trivia from the Cour2 Watch Parties than a shitpost...

「タルタルソース」 - Tartar Sauce

In watch Party Ep 20, Hirata Hiroaki (Kotetsu's seiyuu), and Morita Masakazu (Bunny's seiyuu), have a discussion about the Underworld's Tartarus (from Greek Mythology), because Luna tells Kotetsu and Bunny they're headed there for trying to help the robbers who killed Origa.

Tartarus is the region of the Underworld where the most evil go to suffer and is also used as a prison for the Titans.

Anyway, Hirata pulls out sheets of written facts about Tartarus and reads them to the audience. Morita gets a kick out of watching Hirata get through the terms, and Hirata is rather pleased with himself for learning something new.

In Watch Party 24, Yusa Kōji (Yuri/Luna's seiyuu aka "Yusatic") 🤣 is their guest. Hirata and Morita bring up the Taibani Cour2 pv. Hirata actually calls his character's appearance in the pv "Yuri", but Yusa corrects him to say "Lunatic". Then Hirata calls Tartarus "Tartar Sauce"!! to which Yusa replies "Tartarus."

Hirata is absolutely adorable in all of these, and is a friggin treasure. Also I love whenever he puts on his reading glasses.

Also in the TaiBani server I belong to, we discussed other inclusions of Greek Mythology (outside of Yuri's mentions of Thanatos and Tartarus - also Themis if you count his character single).

The agencies that represent the heroes other than Jungle and TopMaG are also based on Greek Mythology. (Thank you Saint Seiya for making me such a fan of this topic).

Helios - the god that personifies the Sun

Poseidon - Presides over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses. Also sometimes governs Atlantis as part of his domain such as in Plato's Timaeus and Critias.

Odysseus - King of Ithaca and hero featured in Homer's Odyssey

Apollo(n) - The Greek god of archery, healing, music (and the arts), light, the Sun, knowledge, herds and flocks, and protection of the young.

Titan - elder gods who ruled the earth before the Olympians over threw them.

Kronos - Ruler of the Titans and Zeus' (ruler of Olympus) father

Hesperides - Nymphs of evening and golden lights of sunset

Ouroboros is actually not a Greek Mythology term. Its an ancient symbol from Egyptian iconography, Greek magic, and alchemy, that represents the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth.

[jasminewalkerauthor]

Deep dives into folklore: Greek mythology

Greek mythology is a rich and intricate tapestry of gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures that has captivated the imagination of people for centuries. Rooted in ancient Greece, this body of myths has had a profound influence on Western literature, art, philosophy, and culture. Let's take a deep dive into the fascinating world of Greek mythology.

Creation Myth: Chaos and the Titans

The Greek cosmos begins with Chaos, a formless, primordial void. From Chaos emerges Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (the underworld), and Eros (Love). Gaia gives birth to Uranus (Sky), and together they create the Titans, the powerful and primeval beings who ruled the cosmos before the Olympian gods.

Uranus, fearing the power of his children, imprisoned the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheires (hundred-handed ones) in Tartarus. This angered Gaia, who conspired with her son Cronus to overthrow Uranus. Cronus castrated his father, and from the blood that fell to Earth, the Furies, Giants, and nymphs were born.

The Reign of the Titans

Cronus became the ruler of the cosmos, but he feared a prophecy that foretold his downfall at the hands of one of his children. To prevent this, he swallowed each of his children as they were born. However, his wife Rhea managed to save Zeus by giving Cronus a stone wrapped in swaddling clothes instead. Zeus was raised in secret on the island of Crete.

Upon reaching maturity, Zeus challenged Cronus and the Titans in a great war known as the Titanomachy. With the help of his siblings, the Cyclopes, and the Hecatoncheires, Zeus emerged victorious. The defeated Titans were imprisoned in Tartarus, and Zeus became the king of the gods.

The Olympian Gods

The Olympian gods, led by Zeus, ruled from Mount Olympus and governed various aspects of the mortal and immortal worlds. Each god and goddess had their own domain and specific attributes:

Zeus: King of the gods, god of the sky, lightning, and thunder.

Hera: Queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and childbirth.

Poseidon: God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses.

Demeter: Goddess of the harvest and fertility.

Athena: Goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts.

Apollo: God of the sun, music, poetry, and prophecy.

Artemis: Goddess of the hunt, wilderness, and wild animals.

Ares: God of war and bloodshed.

Aphrodite: Goddess of love and beauty.

Hephaestus: God of fire, metalworking, and craftsmanship.

Hermes: Messenger of the gods, god of commerce and travelers.

Dionysus: God of wine, pleasure, and festivity.

Heroes and Their Labors

Greek mythology is replete with heroic figures who undertake extraordinary quests and face daunting challenges. One of the most famous heroes is Heracles (Hercules), known for his twelve labors imposed as punishment for killing his wife and children in a fit of madness induced by Hera. These labors include slaying the Nemean Lion, capturing the Golden Hind, and cleaning the Augean stables.

Other notable heroes include Perseus, who slayed the Gorgon Medusa; Theseus, who defeated the Minotaur in the labyrinth; and Achilles, the hero of the Trojan War, whose only vulnerable spot was his heel.

The Trojan War

The Trojan War, a central event in Greek mythology, was fought between the Greeks and the Trojans. It was sparked by the abduction of Helen, the wife of Menelaus, by Paris, a prince of Troy. The war lasted ten years and involved famous heroes like Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus. The war is chronicled in Homer's epic poems, the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey."

The Underworld and Afterlife

Hades, the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, ruled the underworld, a realm where the souls of the deceased went after death. The ferryman Charon transported souls across the river Styx to the realm of the dead. The most famous section of the underworld is Tartarus, a place of torment for the wicked.

Mythical Creatures and Beings

Greek mythology is populated with a diverse array of mythical creatures, such as the fearsome Chimera, the multi-headed Hydra, the Sphinx, the Griffin, and the Pegasus. These creatures often played roles in the heroic quests of demigods and mortals.

Legacy and Influence

Greek mythology has left an indelible mark on Western civilization. Its themes of heroism, tragedy, and divine intervention have inspired countless works of literature, art, and philosophy. The plays of ancient Greek playwrights like Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides drew heavily from these myths. Additionally, the Renaissance saw a revival of interest in classical mythology, with artists and scholars exploring its themes in their works.

In conclusion, Greek mythology is a vast and intricate tapestry that weaves together the stories of gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures. Its enduring legacy is evident in the continued fascination with these tales and their impact on art, literature, and culture throughout the ages. The myths serve not only as captivating stories but also as windows into the ancient Greek worldview, exploring the complexities of the human experience and the relationship between mortals and the divine.

Taglist (reblog/reply to be added):

@axl-ul @crow-flower @thoughts-fromthevoid @alderwoodbooks @harleyacoincidence @tuberosumtater @sonic-spade @theonlygardenia @holymzogynybatman @nulliel-tres

[whatshouldwecallhomer]

I know I'm very late to this compared to everyone here (I'm 30) but I just finished reading the odyssey for the first time and I'm... my heart can't handle it. I already want to read it again. Why did I get to this this late? Anyway, I wanted to ask if you have any recommendations for interesting articles or other books about Odysseus, apart from the Iliad? And Penelope, of course. I just love them. I'm asking you 'cause I saw your posts about Odysseus and Calypso / Circe, and found them very interesting and insightful! Thanks in advance

There's no bad time in your life to read the Odyssey for the first time! I'm so glad you found your way to it and enjoyed it!

In terms of books and articles about the Odyssey, I've been out of the academic world for long enough that I feel like I'm no longer a particularly good source of advice, but I'll toss out a few old favorites:

the film O Brother Where Art Thou - a retelling of the Odyssey set in the Deep South during the Great Depression

the novel the Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood - a feminist retelling of the Odyssey from Penelope's point of view

technically it's more about the Iliad, but Somewhere I Have Never Travelled by Thomas Van Nortwick is a scholarly work that's informed my thinking on Homeric storytelling a lot

And I found some articles on the Odyssey that look fascinating freely accessible (no login needed) on JSTOR! Since some of these are public domain, they may not closely track modern scholarship, but if you're just kinda vibing with the Odyssey right now and are looking for more food for thought on the subject, this ought to get you going in interesting directions.

Rose, Peter W. “Ambivalence and Identity in the Odyssey.” Sons of the Gods, Children of Earth: Ideology and Literary Form in Ancient Greece, Cornell University Press, 1995, pp. 92–140. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctvn1tbcw.6. Accessed 14 May 2023.

Coulter, Cornelia C. “The Happy Otherworld and Fairy Mistress Themes in the Odyssey.” Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, vol. 56, 1925, pp. 37–53. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/282883. Accessed 14 May 2023.

KAMUF, PEGGY. “Penelope at Work.” Signature Pieces: On the Institution of Authorship, Cornell University Press, 1988, pp. 145–74. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt207g60p.11. Accessed 14 May 2023.

Bassett, Samuel E. “The Proems of the Iliad and the Odyssey.” The American Journal of Philology, vol. 44, no. 4, 1923, pp. 339–48. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/289255. Accessed 14 May 2023.

Gregory, Andrew. “Circe: An Extract from Homer’s Odyssey (c. 900–800 BCE).” Women in the History of Science: A Sourcebook, edited by Hannah Wills et al., UCL Press, 2023, pp. 23–34. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2w61bc7.11. Accessed 14 May 2023.

Also, if you liked the Odyssey, I think you'll love Greek tragedy! I recommend starting with Sophocles' Electra, Sophocles' Oedipus the King, Aeschylus' Oresteia, and maybe Euripedes' the Trojan Women.

Thanks for the ask, and happy reading!

[majachee]

🎫 🎫 🎫

YOU DIDN'T SPECIFY AN OC SO I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT 3 OF MY UNDERRATED GUYS!!

(Vague mentions of not... wholly consensual body modification. Essentially turning human body into robot body.)

Diomedes of Argos was not only the shortest and youngest king in the Trojan War, but is also the shortest non-monkey member of the main cast... Sorry short king 💔. He looks incredibly young for his age, due to genetics and his early death before being immortalized by Athena. While he was ten years younger than Odysseus in life, in their immortalized bodies he appears ~20-30 years younger. He has a very youthful face compared to most 30 year olds, with an abundance of early grey hairs due to stress and the complications of immortalizing a mortal body. Design wise, his youthful appearance is purposeful to make what happened to him all the more disturbing to the reader.

Odysseus is like an older sister to Diomedes, their checkered pasts and connection to Athena made that bond stronger. Despite being promised a peaceful life with her wife Penelope after their 20 year separation, on her deathbed she was called upon by the goddess of wisdom. Athena wished her to be immortalized and part of her councel, and when Athena wishes something from you, you can't say no.

The process of immortalizing a mortal body is painful for the mortal, as it's a mixture of ancient magic foreign to their bodies and slowly replacing their anatomy with automatons. Diomedes and Odysseus are more porcelain, marble, and metal than flesh nowadays. And while they were sent away to watch over the group in Athena's place, both immortalized soldiers see the journey as an opportunity for their loyalties to waver. Athena has blessed them with her wisdom and intelligence, but even before her recognition they were insanely smart independently, and this intelligence will work in her benefit and as her downfall.

Athena is the new ruler of Olympus after her siblings' coupe killed Zeus and Poseidon, Hades dying from shock a few weeks afterwards. Her loyalties laid with Zeus till the very end and she had little empathy for her siblings' reasons for rebelling. They persuaded Hera to retire and Athena saw herself fit to take over as the new Matriarch. She is a much better ruler than Zeus, and replaced his council and guards with her own immortalized heroes. But she still isn't good. She's much, much smarter and analytical than Zeus, and doesn't run on emotions or vengeance. She thinks purely in the art of war and strategics, and her morals are just as nuanced as her domains. Many of her siblings distanced themselves from Olympus after the successful coupe, and they equally view her rule with apathy. She isn't a tyrannical, overemotional manchild like her father, and that's the standard many gods stick to when judging her leadership outside of strategic battle plans. She is a well respected goddess overall, so many turn a blind eye to her questionable practices (mainly the immortalizing of mortal bodies.)

The main story will delve deeper into the relationships and lives of Diomedes, Odysseus, and Athena hehe :3c

[specialagentartemis]

I was a prince back in Ithaca, lord of the island of Samē, Husband of Ctimene, kin of Odysseus king of my homeland. Ctimene wedded me, proud of the match she had made in our marriage. She was as lovely as moonlight, and he always gleamed like the sun. He was my brother, my kinsman. He listened to what I would tell him, And I would laugh and would drink with him, brilliant son of Laertes. Those days are past. For they died in the war that took all of Greece with it. Look at us, victors of Ilium! What have we won for our struggle? Death and disgrace and unrest, no nearer home than we started, Due to o clever Odysseus.

I am having so much fun with this u guys. Composing in meter is great actually

(Context: Eurylochus has finally reached a tipping point and is blowing up at Polites who is trying to go How About We Not Eat The Sacred Beeves, This Is Literally The One Thing Odysseus Made Us Explicitly Promise Not To Do. And Eurylochus is like I am starving and I am sick to fucking death of doing what Odysseus tells us to do. Look where it's gotten us all so far!)

(The translation of the Odyssey I am reading (William Cullen Bryant, because it's public domain and easy to download lol) keeps calling the cows "beeves" and it is very funny)