An overview of the Aesir and a view of Ragnarok; The Edda - Gylfaginning, Snorri

 

Earlier today I have posted a bonus post, you might want to read it first. There is a small natural division in the Edda, the Prologue, and like its name suggests it comes first. That being said this post is going to be a bit of a monster. This is the largest part of the Edda, and it is very tightly packed with events and information. 

Why you might read Gylfaginning from the Edda by Snorri?

The Edda is the first work in which we see the Aesir or the Gods of the Norse pantheon. As such it is an important beginning in the myths and legends of the Norse people. Given the raiding of the Norse, it is part of the history of large parts of European peoples. Whether they acknowledge that or not is another thing entirely.

For my Self Education, it is important for me to gain a wide range of cultural and spiritual backgrounds. Even if those are widely now regarded as mythology. The insights into the ancient Norse religion is a great addition to the collection.

The Story of Gylfaginning from the Edda

King Gylfi gives a tract of land to a woman who comes to his court the size that a team of four oxen can plough in a day. The woman takes for bulls from giant land and they plough deep. So deep that they rent the land and drag it into the water. It is now an island whose peninsulas match with the inlet on the land.

Gylfi sees that the Aesir have all that they do go well so he disguises himself as an old man and enters Asgard.  Odin being all-seeing knows he is coming and sets up an illusion of a great hall for him. He enters and ends up talking to three kings, with rather strange names, most high, just as high and third. They are all stacked upon each other. He asks many questions and first finds out the 12 names or titles of Odin, including all father. He continues questioning and is slowly told about the creation of the world. From what there was before the world was created. From the creation of the Frost giants and to the creation of Odin and his brothers the sons of Bor. Then how these brothers killed the first Frost giant Ymir. From his flesh and blood created the world. How they separated the giants land from Midgard, the humans land, from Asgard the Aesir's land. And how they created man from two logs and each of the three gives a different part of the creation of men. And how with his part in the creation of the whole Odin is the All-Father. He takes the earth as a wife and fathers Asa-Thor (or Thor of the Aesir).

He takes a giantess called night and her son, fathered by an Aesir, day. They were put in chariots to race across the sky, and how the sun and moon were also set up in such a way. They race across the sky because they are being chased by wolves. These are the monstrous sons of an ogress and how at the end of time they will catch them and eat them. We are told that the Bifrost is the rainbow and that it connects the earth with heaven(Asgard). Then with the next question, we start delving into the appointing of rules in Asgard. Then the birth of dwarves and all their names. 

Yggdrasil, the world tree comes next and details the three roots that go into three places. The underworld, heaven and the land of the frost giants, and the three wells that sit under each root. Within this section, we also meet to Norns, the fates of men. There is also an offhand comment that the Bifrost is on fire and that's why the Frost giants can't cross it. It is also implied that the gods can't cross it on foot either. The gods ride to one of the wells of the world tree each day to go to court and pronounce judgments. All except Thor who walks a different route, wading through rivers. There are also monstrous creatures that relate to Yggdrasil. In its branches are deer that eat the leaves as well as an eagle and a hawk. On the ground are an innumerable amount of snakes as well as the parents of swans in one of the wells. 

Other places in Heaven are then listed. These include the home of the light elves as well as Odin's place at Valaskjalf. Gylfi then asks the origin of the wind, which is from the wingbeats of the giant Hraesvelg. Summer and winter are then given names. We then spend some more time discussing the ones which should be called gods. We start with Odin the All-father and the discussion includes a greater list of his names. Then Thor as his firstborn and on through the 12 gods listing their names and their specialties. The highlights are Loki the trickster who is not truly Aesir and thus evil. As well as Heimdall the guard of the Bifrost. It also details Loki's monstrous children and where they ended up. The giant snake that was thrown into the water that surrounds the earth that then grew so large as to eat its own tail. Hel who runs the underworld. Finally, the wolf that is eventually trapped by the Aesir as the prophecy is that he will kill Odin. We then get a shortlist of the goddess' of the Aesir. There are more of them than there were gods. They are also more feminine in their domains, as is to be expected, and are more about love and marriage. 

Then there are the Valkyries of Valhalla who go to battles and choose who will die. Then once dead, will be brought to Valhalla to swell Odin's army for Ragnarok. There is then an interlude about Frey and the Giantess Gerd, who he saw from Odin's seat. He fell in love with giving away his powerful sword to get her hand. We are told he will miss this in Ragnarok. We then return to discussing Valhalla. Gylfi asks how all the warriors fallen from the beginning of the world fit in Valhalla. The reply is that Valhalla is so large it has over 500 doors and each is wide enough for 800 men. There is also a discussion on food and drink for the multitude. We are told that they eat a boar which is whole every morning and drink mead from the udder of a goat. Another aside, two ravens sit on Odin's shoulders and report to him everything they have heard. So some people call him the raven god. Gylfi is also told that daily the warriors put on their armour and go and fight each other in the field. Even with this fighting, they return each day as friends.

There is a wager between a giant and the Aesir to build a fortress over the winter. The giant's prize Freyja's hand in marriage and the sun and the moon. The gods do not want to give these up so as he comes almost to completion in time the enlist Loki to stop him. Loki turns into a mare and leads off his stallion, who was the one help he was allowed. As an aside, it is from this interaction that Loki gives birth to Odin's stead.

Thor and Loki head into giant land and meet Skrymir. Although Thor tries more than once to kill him with a blow to the head while he is asleep, he gives no injury whatsoever. Just before they meet him the sleep in a great hall with a side room. They find that it turns out to be nothing more than the large man's glove. The group then arrive at the stronghold of Utgarda-Loki and are told that to stay they must win at a contest. Loki tries eating food, Thor tries drinking, one of their companions tries running. Thor also tries lifting a cat and wrestling but they all fail. They are still allowed to stay the night but the next day they are farewelled. Once they are out of the stronghold they are told it was all a trick. Loki ate fire, Thor drank the ocean, lifted the Midgard Serpent and wrestled old age. Thor was angry but when they turned back the stronghold was gone.

Thor again goes out from Asgard and convinces a giant to take him fishing. He goes much further than the giant want and fishes for the Midgard Serpent. He is successfully pulling it up and it spits venom at him but the giant gets scared and cuts the line. Thor in his anger kills him and then wades back to shore as he has destroyed the boat.

Baldr has a prophecy that he will be killed. He goes to Frigg and gets her to get oaths from all things that they could not hurt him. So the gods take sport at throwing things at him and him not getting hurt. This angers Loki and he asks Frigg if there is an exception. She says she didn't get an oath from the young mistletoe. So Loki fashions a sharpened stick out of it and convinces bling Hod to throw it at Baldr and kills him. The Aesir morn and Frigg asks for one to ride to Hel and see if they can get Baldr back. Hermod Odin's son agrees and sets out on Odin horse. While he was going the rest of the Aesir build a funeral pyre out of Baldr's boat. There is a list of the Aesir that attended the pyre. Back to Hermond, he rode nine days and nights to arrive at the bridge, roofed with gold. The bridge leads to Hel and asked if Baldr had passed by, he is told yes and continues on. He rode tot he gates and after tightening the girth strap the horse jumps over the gate. He speaks with Hel about retrieving Baldr but is told he will only be released if all of the world cries for him. the Aesir get all the world to cry but one giant refuses and Baldr is not released. As revenge for the death of Baldr, the Aesir set out to capture Loki and bind him. He has set himself up in the woods by a stream and as they come close he turns into a Salmon. They drag a net through the river a few times. Though Loki is tricky and escapes a few times he is eventually caught by Thor as he tries to jump over the net. Loki is then bound until Ragnarok.

Gylfi asks for more information about Ragnarok. He is told that first there will be three extreme winters back to back. Also, brother will kill brother in greed. The wolves will then swallow the sun and the moon and the stars will disappear from heaven. The whole earth will shake the trees loose from the ground and the mountains will fall. All the fetters will release. Then the Fenriswolf will break free and the Midgard Serpent will advance on the land. The Fenriswolf's jaw stretches from the land to the heavens. The Midgard Serpent spits venom on the land. And in the middle of all this the sons of Muspell will cross and break the Bifrost. Muspell being one of the places outside the world full of fire. The people will come with fire in front of and behind them. They will all meet on the battle plain, and the Aesir will come at the blowing of Heimdall's horn all dressed for war. Odin is killed by the Fenris wolf. The wolf who took his hand is killed by Tyr and he, in turn, is killed by it. Thor and the Midgard Serpent kill each other. Loki and Heimdall are the death of each other. Surt will then throw fire over the earth and burn the whole world. 

Finally, Gylfi asks what is after Ragnarok, the answer comes that a few will have survived. For example, the sun's daughter will take her place in the sky. A couple of good and couple of bad strongholds will survive. The earth will sprout with unsown crops and Thor's sons will have Mjollnir, the great hammer. Baldr and Hod will arrive from hell and finally, the ones called life and life yearner will survive.

Gylfi is sudden in a plain with no sign of the hall, he goes home to tell the stories to his people.

The Aesir then gave these names to people and places so that their great deeds would be attributed to them. 

Reflections on Gylfaginning from the Edda

The very first story in this section seems to have no connection to the rest of the text. Which is about Gylfi's questions of the Aesir. As such it is easy to overlook and yet it tells the story of a specific and non-fantastical piece of land. Though its creation is a bit fantastical.

The creation story we see in this section does not relate to the one we have seen in the previous section. though we do still see humanity coming from two individuals we see no flood event. It is quite an interesting story as we see Odin is not the eldest of those created or begotten. Rather it takes some time for us to see him in the passing of events. Once we do he is instrumental in all of creation that follows and so is called All-Father. It is also interesting that his two brothers. These brothers were instrumental in helping him create man. Yet they seem to fall by the wayside after this is done.

The world tree is an interesting image reaching into all three major realms. Three if you count Midgard and Asguard as part of the same. It does not seem to support them but rather is supported by them. As such I do not quite understand its purpose and it does not come up again in Ragnarok so I wonder what happens to it.

Valhalla is something we have all heard of but it is interesting to see the scope. We see this when Gylfi asks how so many fit. Its provision for the warriors is rather fantastical but it is the hall of the honoured dead. These warriors are then used in the battle at Ragnarok. We find that although they are a multitude there is not enough of them.

The stories of Thor wandering around in giant lands are an interlude. They break up the questions of who the Aesir are and how the world was created. This is before we get into Ragnarok. The first story is interesting as it seems to take the storyteller some time to find a story where Thor was bested. Even the story that is given, in its eventuality he is not bested but tricked. None the less shows great feats of strength by Thor.

Baldr's death shows Loki in his true light as an enemy of the Aesir. Before this we have seen him as a trickster but not as an enemy. His binding until Ragnarok is a fitting punishment for the death he caused. It may have been more prudent to kill him, but the Aesir seem to always shy away from killing and enemy that can be bound.

Ragnarok is the destruction of most of creation. It is not the end of time and creation but rather a remnant remains. This is something that was a surprise to me as in my passing knowledge it was seen to be the end. and it is the end of the Aesir as gods but no the end of the earth.

The bit at the end about the Aesir putting these names into general human usage is interesting. It seems like a prewritten rebuff to the idea that the Aesir gods were just ancestors. And the idea that they had gained a huge and embellished mythos over time. 

What others have to say about Gylfaginning from the Edda

From the Ancient History Encyclopedia, "Perhaps truest to ancient sources, this book is a mythological story in the form of Odinic poems that explain the origin of the Norse cosmos and the chaos that will ensue."

"The Icelandic Eddas are the only vernacular record of Germanic heathendom as it developed during the four centuries which in England saw the destruction of nearly all traces of the heathen system" From Project Guttenburg

Comparisons with other texts

The Saga of burnt Njal does deal with a similar people group, the Icelandics. By comparison, The Edda's Gylfi is Swedish. Though in general these story's are thought of as more generally Norse. The saga of burnt Njal deals with the closer to real-life stories of great heroes of the people. By contrast, this part of  The Edda's is focused on the gods and is thus more fantastical. 

I have already spoken to the differences in creation in this part of the Edda. So I will not rehash it here.

Unlike the Egyptian book of the dead which gives a list of burial rites. Even so, it gives some understanding of their pantheon of gods. This part of the Edda is far more straight forward, this is who the gods are and what they are like. This is also unlike the view of the Greek gods we come to overtime through the plays and the epics. They do not set out to tell you about the gods, the gods are just characters in what is going on. In this part of the Edda, we do not see the gods interact with man, except the Valkyries in battle. By contrast in the Greek texts we see them meddle in everything. 

Conclusion

This section of the Edda covers the deceiving of Gylfi. This is a collection of stories detailing who the Norse gods are and what they are like. It also details Ragnarok the Norse end of the world. We discussed how the world tree does not support the world. Instead, it is supported by it. As well as how the Aesir ascribed their names to people. We discussed the similarities with the Saga of Burnt Njal. But we concluded that the saga was more about real life.

See you next month for the third and final section of the Edda!

Have you read the Edda? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read the Edda but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of the Edda

BONUS POST: Tying one Mythos to another; The Edda - Prologue, Snorri

 

There is a natural division in the text between the Prologue and the following two sections.  So that is the reason for this bonus post.  So it works best to have its own post, but the Prologue is only about ten pages so it is far too small for a weekly post. 

Why you might read the Edda's Prologue?

While this seems to be a later addition to the content of the rest of the Edda. It is still important as it gives us a snapshot of what was important to peoples beliefs at the time the story moved from oral to written history.

The Story of the Edda's Prologue

First, we go back to the creation of Adam and Eve and then the flood. They are covered in very little detail they are visibly based on the Biblical creation story. Then we look at the three parts of the world namely Africa, Asia and Europe or Enea. The author has much praise for the Asian peoples.

Connecting Troy with the name Thor and eventually though decent to Odin is the next step. This thereby connects Norse mythology with the peoples and siege of the Iliad. Finally, we move on to Odin moving his people first into the north. Into Saxland and its surround and therefore being the father of the Germanic tribes as well. they continue from here in the Scandinavian countries where they settle. 

Reflections on the Edda's Prologue

This short section of the Edda tries to tie the Norse Mythology, with the Christian world view. As well as the history of the Greek greats, that were becoming more popular in the Scandinavian world. They wanted their great people to be linked to all the great peoples that they knew of. It was also probably a later addition to the book. At least a latter addition to the oral tradition that spurned the book. 

Comparisons to other texts

The creation account given is a loose and condensed paraphrase of  Genesis in the Bible. 

Conclusion

You could read the rest of the Edda without having read the prologue. However it does bookmark the time in the Norse history when the Edda was committed to written form. 

Courageous children; The Phoenician Women, Euripides

 

Why you might read The Phoenician Women?

This play seems to be a later retelling. It shows us what the Greeks at the time of writing thought was missing from the Oedipus story. It retells the story we see in Seven against Thebes with additions. These liberties in retelling make this an interesting addition to the overarching story.

While lesser-know this piece is important for my Self Education project. It holds this place as it completes the picture of Oedipus. It also shows how stories were changed as time went on and were not static. This is even true when very little time has passed between the authors. It is a lot like how these days we do covers of songs and make them our own.

The Story of The Phoenician Women

Iocasta, mother and wife of Oedipus, laments the situation. The situation that Oedipus' house finds itself in. The two brothers took an oath to share the throne turn about each year. While the other went into exile. This was done in fear of a prophecy that said they would die at each other's hand by the sword. But Eteocles will not give up the throne to Polyneices after his allotted time. He takes it a step further and banishes him into exile. Polyneices in exile marries a princess of Argos and is, in time, given an army to oppose his brother in Thebes. The army of Argos is drawn up in front of the city, but Iocasta has called for a truce. She puts together a meeting of the brothers to try and make a peace. 

Polyneices arrives in the city for the discussion but first, his mother asks him about being in exile. He outlines a fleeting existence as the poor man, even a prince, has few friends. He also outlines to her how he came to marry and the fortune that came from it. He also says he is reluctant to sack his own city. His father in law was persistent that he should reclaim his throne. His brother arrives and they both state their cases. Polyneices, his claim to the throne and his birthright. While Eteocles states his absolute refusal to give up the throne. Their mother pleads with them to come to an agreement but Eteocles refuses. The two brothers trade insults and resolve to meet each other in battle. Eteocles orders Polyneices out of the city and goes back to planning the battle.

Creon arrives and gives Eteocles council about the battle. The news comes that the army from Argos has chosen champions. These champions will lead forces against each gate. Creon councils Eteocles to do the same for the defence of the gates. Eteocles asks Creon to ask Theirsias for an oracle because he will not speak to Eteocles. Theirsias arrives and is reluctant to give the Oracle with Creon's son present. Creon insists, Theirsias says that in order for Thebes to win Creon must sacrifice his son. Creon reacts with horror and starts to refuse, but Theirsias says the Oracle is what the Oracle is. Theirsias leaves and Creon charges his son to flee Thebes. He hopes for him to escape before the general public hears of the oracle. Creon leaves and his son chooses instead to take his own life as sacrifice for the victory of the Thebans. He states that he would be nothing more than a coward if he did not.

A messenger enters to tell Iocasta of the battle. The messenger details Thebes' victory and how the fights went at some of the gates. He also informs Iocasta that her sons are still alive but she senses a but and forces him to continue. He then tells her that the sons have agreed to meet in solo combat. She calls Antigone and together they run to the battle in hopes of persuading the brothers not to fight.

Creon enters lamenting his son. A second messenger arrives and tells him of the death of the two brothers, he laments the house of Oedipus. The messenger then gives the details of the fight. He tells of how the brothers first injured each other but kept fighting. They fought until Eteocles killed Polyneices. Eteocles then turned his back on him and was slain before Polyneices died. Their mother and Antigone arrive and weep over them. Their mother in sadness grabs one of their swords and kills herself. He then speaks of the following confusion about who had won. He finishes with the battle and rout that followed. Here the Thebans slaughtered the army of Argos.

Antigone and the bodies of the three arrive and Antigone laments loudly their loss. Oedipus arrives from his room and is told the news and he laments. Creon reenters and focuses all present on the burials of the three. He orders as the new king that Polyneices be dumped outside the borders and unburied. He even goes so far to say he will put to death any who bury him. This is a continuation of the promise Eteocles made before the battle. He also announces that his son will marry Antigone and that Oedipus will be exiled. On hearing, this Antigone refuses that marriage. Instead, she pledges to go into exile with her father. It takes a bit for her to convince her father and this is where the play ends. 

Reflections on The Phoenician Women

I chose the subtitle of courageous children as these are the turning points in this story. First Creon's son and his focus on honour. Not wanting to be labelled a coward leads him to a sacrifice of himself for the good of his city. It is one thing when sons lay down their lives in battle for their city. To do so as a sacrifice and by his own hand is a show of courage. The second is Antigone's refusal to abandon her father to his exile. Rather than be queen, she would rather be his eyes and keep him from stumbling.

Creon appoints himself king as he is to marry the eldest remaining daughter of the line. When she refuses that position there is no talking of him not being king. This I find interesting as his claim to legitimacy walks away. I am surprised he does not force Antigone into that marriage to keep his claim to legitimacy. But he rather seems either unphased by it or it is off to little note to actually mention in the play.

It is interesting to see the dialogue between Iocasta and Polyneices. It details the sufferings of a son in exile who has found no friends. She is shocked to find he has gone hungry and that the friends of his father have abandoned him. We have seen exile many times in the Greek plays so far. This is the first time we have been shown the hardships as well as the relief of finding a benefactor.

Oedipus' rather feeble living is mentioned a few times over the course of the play. It is quickly apparent that he is miserable. Yet he counts it not compared to the exile that Creon pronounces over him at the end of the play. He Prophecies about both the misery that will come and his eventual death in a foreign land. 

What others have to say about The Phoenician Women

"“The Phoenician Women” was probably first presented, along with the two lost tragedies “Oenomaus” and “Chrysippus”" From Ancient Literature

And from Greek Mythology "Menoeceus—who represents the highest form of love: altruistic love—decides to put the needs of his larger community before his very own life"

Comparisons to other texts

Again like the story of Oedipus himself in Oedipus the King we see that family trying to outwit or outrun fate. Yet fate always wins. In Oedipus the king, Oedipus is taken to the wilderness to die. This is because the prophecies say he will kill his father and marry his mother. He survives and is taken in. Eventual heads to the Oracle to find his family. On the way kills his father. Later he kills the Sphinx in Thebes and is given the queen as a wife who turns out to be his mother. In this play we see the brothers choosing to share power. They do this to try and avoid the prophecy about them killing each other in battle. Rather than achieving that they put themselves down that very path to their deaths.

In the seconds Oedipus play Oedipus at Colonus we see Oedipus and Antigone in exile. This play fits in the intervening time. There is no suggestion in Oedipus at Colonus that he had spent any time in Thebes after losing his sight. Thus this play could have been put together to cover that intervening period. Though Euripides has taken liberty with the story. He, therefore, adds that he was in Thebes during the battle with the forces from Argos.

This also links with what I have recently read in The suppliant women. This play dealt with the burial of the vanquished champions of Argos after the loss at Thebes. It follows quite tidily chronologically after this play. Like this play shows Creon as the new king of Thebes. 

Antigone tells of what would come directly after this play. by telling of how Antigone buries her brother. In this play, we have seen her vow to do so but we must look to other sources to see this play out. That being said the play Antigone makes no reference to her going into exile with her father. Which adds more weight to my comment about this possibly being a latter addition to fill in the gap in the story. 

Conclusion

We have seen that this is not an original story but rather a retelling with additions. It also brings in characters from other plays that are not mentioned in the original. We see the children of the piece being the brave ones. The ones that are willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of others. We also looked at the legitimacy of Creon's taking the throne after Oedipus' family are dead. Also Polynices' difficulties in exile. We finished up by looking at how the story differs from the story it is based on. As well as the one it has borrowed characters from. 

Have you read The Phoenician Women? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read The Phoenician Women but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Phoenician Women. 

Retrieving and preparing the dead; The Suppliant Women, Euripides

 

Why you might read The Suppliant Women?

This play gives greater insight into supplication in the ancient Greek world. It also reminds us of the procedure that is normally followed in ancient Greece. How personal rulers would take that process being disallowed. Even if only by one of the warring factions.

In my self-education project, it also serves to complete the Theban war. We saw this start with the sack on Thebes' seven gates. It also highlights the autonomy of different Greek cities. As well as how politics was debated between them.

The Story of The Suppliant Women

We find Aethra, mother of the king of Athens, as a supplicant to Demeter at Eleusis in Athens' jurisdiction. She is surrounded by the chorus of supplicants and they have ritually bound her there to hear their plea.

Theseus, her son, comes looking for her, as she has not returned, and finds her trapped so. He enquires of Adrastus what they are supplicant for. He is told of Argos' defeat at Thebes. They attacked to try and recapture his son-in-law's inheritance. He did this even though the gods through an oracle warned him not to. He pleads with Theseus to go and retrieve their dead for burial as the Thebans will not allow them to have them. This is a point of common Greek law that the dead can be removed even by the losers to be buried. Theseus at first refuses, chastising Adrastus for such an ill-thought-through war. His mother rebukes him and reminds him that his honour is based on doing what is right. She also reminds him that to not do it would be called a coward. 

Theseus takes the problem to the council and wins approval. He is just charging a herald to go to Thebes when one arrives from Thebes. The herald demands that they turn Adrastus out and do not come to his aid. There is then a short side track as the herald and Theseus argue about forms of government. Contrasting absolute monarchy of the Thebans with the elected office of the Athenians. He sends the message back to Thebes to give up the dead or they will go to war.

War is announced and the menfolk go to fight. A messenger returns with news that the Athenians are victorious. He tells of how they won the battle. The Thebans retreated to the wall. Theseus did not chase them as he had recovered the bodies. And their recovery was his only goal. Adrastus asks the messenger where the dead are to be buried. Their preparation is assured and everything is in hand.

The bodies arrive and are eulogised about before the decision is made to make on pyre and tomb for Capaneus. Shortly after Capaneus' widow arrives. She contrives to throw herself on his pyre and be with him in death. Her father Iphis pleads with her not to but is helpless to stop her. After she dies he laments his age and childless state.

The sons of the seven dead from Thebes enter carrying the urns of the fathers' bones. Their grandmothers are with them. Theseus goes to let them leave but Athene appears. She tells him not to let them leave until Adrastus swears and Oath. This oath is that Argos will never again attack Athens and will come to her aid in times of trouble. 

Reflections on The Suppliant Women

It is interesting to see the funeral process played out as part of a play. It shows us that the most common form of burial was that of the bones after the funeral pyre. And that before the funeral pyre the body was reassembled into its proper places. This suggests that it was not uncommon for a body to be at least partially dismembered. It is also interesting that there is no comment about decomposition. When you consider that the bodies were lying out in the field for a while. For as long as it took the supplicants to get to Athens and for the Athenian army to march to Thebes and back. Then again this is entertainment for the masses and maybe it was seen as unnecessary detail for a play. It is far to easy for me to slip back into thinking of these as history and forgetting the audience aspect.

It is amazing the difference having the gods on your side is seen to give. The king of Argos goes to war against the will of the gods. Due to this, he loses badly. This is given as a fact and nothing is said about the size of his army or the quality of his men. He is also the instigator in this war, and so has all the time he wants for planning and preparation. Then the king of Athens goes to war against the same opponent with the blessing of the gods. Even if this blessing is only by implication. He is defending the practice of allowing the dead to be removed from the battlefield even by the losers. With this blessing, he wins. Again nothing is said about the number or quality of his men. Nothing is said either of the fact that both sides agreed to and knew about the war. There was no surprise attack here. There would not have been much time for the Athenians to prepare. It would have just been calling together the army and marching. All this and yet the outcome is seen to come down to the gods blessing.

Athene's inclusion in the play is a little odd. She reminds Theseus of the best course of action. She does not add any knowledge that the mortals present did not know. As such the recommendation could have come from anyone already present. Theseus could have required that oath without prompting.

The interlude between Theseus and the herald from Thebes is quite interesting. The herald is quite strident in his opinion and almost combative with Theseus. Theseus on the other hand while just a strident is a lot more laid back in his answers to the herald. He does reprimand the herald for bringing it up at all as it is not his place to comment. 

What others have to say about The Suppliant Women

From Classical Literature "Funeral rites were very important to the ancient Greeks and the theme of not allowing the bodies of the dead to be buried occurs many times."

"It does add to the myth surrounding the defeat of the Argives at Thebes." From Ancient history encyclopedia

Comparisons with other texts

Like the Children of Heracles, we start the play with supplicants. Unlike the children of Heracles, these are not our main characters for the rest of the play. They rather they bring into view and affect the main character, Theseus. We also see his mother ceremonially trapped at the alter by the other supplicants. This seems to be an effort to gain her ear personally as much about gaining the ear of the god in question. It is interesting that Theseus' mother was on her way to pay tribute to the gods about another matter. It is also interesting that there was a way to keep her there. It must have been well established across the ancient Greek world. For it is foreigners from Argos that knew enough to bind her.

This is the first time we have seen, in direct action, the grief of a wife. It has not been unusual to see the grief of mothers. This we even see in this play as well, but the grief of this wife is severe and new to us. She is said to have run from home, presumably Argo's, to die on her husbands funeral pyre. It is interesting to note the way the play is set out. If they had not had to have fight for the bodies she may not have arrived in time.

Unlike Euripides Electra, the story is not one predominately of revenge. Rather this is wanting a proper burial for their sons, in the case of the suppliants. For Theseus, it is about protecting the values of the time. Though it is like Antigone where we see a sister desperate to bury her brother. The two plays are based on the same events the attempted sack of Thebes by seven champions. This play details the burial of the champions. Whereas Antigone deals with the burial of the son of Oedipus who lost at the head of Argos' army. 

Conclusion

We have looked at how important burial of the dead after battle was to the Greeks. As well as the interesting universality of supplication in the Greek world. We have also discussed what we can glean about the burial rights in ancient Greece. 

This play also sits after and alongside the plays Antigone and Seven against Thebe. It serves to complete the picture of Athens involvement in the war. Which is otherwise a war between Argos and Thebes.

Have you read The Suppliant Women? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read The Suppliant Women but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Suppliant Women. 

A play of two parts; Andromache, Euripides

 Why you might read Andromache?

Andromache adds another aspect to the Orestes story. We find Orestes dotted about in the Greek plays. Together they give us a fairly complete picture of the important parts of his life. Well, those after he returns to avenge his father, we have yet to see his growing years. 

While this is one of Euripides' less well-known plays I have included it for two reasons. First, is that of completion. I decided with this project that covering the breadth of an author is of more value than touching the highlights. This gives me a broader view and focus.

Second, is that of completing some stories that would otherwise be less than complete. In this example, we only see what Orestes does in his second exile because of this play.

The Story of Andromache

 We find Andromache at the altar of Thetis in Phthia as a supplicant. She is trying to save her life from Hermione, the King's wife. Hermione is desperate to kill Andromache. Andromache was the king's concubine before he married Hermione. She has also born him a son, while Hermione is barren. Hermione blames Andromache for both her barrenness and her husband's disregard of her. Neoptolemus, the King, is away on business and so is not there to protect Andromache. Andromache has sent her son away, for his own protection. She has also sent for Peleus, the King's father to stop this plan coming to fruition. On her side, Hermione has sent for her father, the King of Sparta.

Menelaus is Hermione's father. He arrives and convinces Andromache to leave the altar or he will kill her son. He has retrieved the son from where she sent him away. After she submits to being bound, he informs her that Hermione will kill her son anyway. Menelaus makes preparations for the killing but Peleus arrives. He challenges Menelaus' authority to kill a slave he does not own. He also asks why there has been no trial and concludes that this is murder. Menelaus concedes to Peleus who unbinds Andromache. She is wary that the two will overtake them and ambush them somewhere. Peleus tells her not to worry, that he may be old but he is still capable.

Hermione's nurse enters and tells of Hermione's regret. She has regrets for the actions that have passed to the point of attempting suicide. Hermione enters and pleads with the nurse to let her kill herself. Lest her husband comes home and throws her out of the house, or worse, kill her.

Orestes arrives and Hermione tells him her troubles. Orestes resolves to take her away and to take him as his own wife as was promised to him before the war on Troy. He tells of going to Neoptolemus and pleading with him to give her as his wife but to no avail. He also tells of a plot he has to kill Neoptolemus for that very slight at the Oracle. Orestes and Hemione flee together.

Peleus returns to hear that Hermione has fled with Orestes. He also hears that Orestes has a plan to kill Neoptolemus at the shrine. A messenger enters and tells Peleus that Neoptolemus is dead. He requests the story: Orestes stirred up the people of Delphi. He did so by telling them that Neoptolemus had come to rob the temple again; with this deception, Orestes gathers a group of men to fall on them as they enter the temple. It is here that Neoptolemus dies.

Peleus laments his age and how he is childlessness. He is visited by Thetis, a goddess and his once wife, she tells him where to take Andromache and her son. She promises that the line will live on through that son. She also tells him to take Neoptolemus' remains back to Delphi and bury him there as a sign to the people of Delphi. Finally, she tells him to wait for her in a seaside cave. From there she will come and get him and make him a god and that he will live with her. 

Reflections on Andromache

This is a play of two parts, it turns rapidly about halfway through. It starts as a play about jealousy and taking that to extremes. It then switches to being about Oreste's revenge on Neoptolemus for taking his wife. He does so by taking both his wife and his life. 

These parts are both rather discrete but also very intertwined. The jealous one is none other than that double promised wife. The first half of the play is a cautionary tale of having two lovers under the same roof. This is true, even if one is a concubine and the other a wife: this causes major strife. The wife is filled with jealousy about the concubine having given her husband a son when so far she has not. We assume from the text that he is no longer sleeping with the concubine. Rather, had her before he was married and yet that is not enough to forestall the jealousy.

Peleus' lament as the play starts to draw to a close is timely. The response of Thetis is both a reminder of the truths of the situation and a promise of the fantastical. It reminds Peleus there is an illegitimate heir even if there are not legitimate ones. If he follows instructions the line can continue through that illegitimate heir. He is also reminded that this is also a continuation of the Trojan line at the same time through the child's mother. Becoming a god is rather fantastical. We only see it mentioned in the play and we assume it comes to fruition later. It does give otherwise poor and lonely Peleus a good ending.

It seems more likely that Orestes hears of the problems with Hermione. He then comes to town at Andromache's request.  That is on his way to the Oracle, seems less likely. He must have already planned to put to death Neoptolemus and his escape with Hemione. The act he puts on that he will take her out of her circumstances is far more self-serving than altruistic. 

What others have to say about Andromache

"As with most of the plays written during this time, the audience was well aware of the myth concerning Andromache and her life after the Trojan War." Comments Ancient history encyclopedia

Greek Legends and Myths notes ​"Andromache was described as being loving, loyal and dutiful, all characteristics of the perfect wife to the Ancient Greeks." about Andromache herself.

Comparisons with other texts

Andromache begins with a supplicant at the altar of a god. This is seen in the beginnings of both Heracles and The children of Heracles., though with those plays we see the supplicant's prayer answered in the form of a defender. By contrast, Andromache is tricked into removing herself from the position of supplicant. This happens before help arrives. Thankfully, it does still arrive and is in time to keep her from being killed with her son. Heracles also involves deaths as we see in Andromache with the death of Neoptolemus. But Andromache feels a lot less like a tragedy as Neoptolemus is not cast as the hero; that being said, neither is he cast as the villain until the second half of the play. We end with the almost triumphant end of his grandfather, Peleus.

Like Euripides' Electra, we again see the vengeful side of Orestes. In Electra, he falls on his father's murderers and kills both his mother and his mother's new husband. Here in this play, we see him killing Neoptolemus for denying him a wife that had been promised to him. You could say that in both plays we also see his softer side in how he interacts with the women. In Electra, he gives hope and love to his sister by giving her to be married. This is after he kills Neoptolemus, while he himself goes to exile. We see this care again in his taking away Hermione from her troubles and taking her as his wife. This, as I have said is a little self-serving.

The Medea is exactly the kind of story that Hermione is afraid of. She is scared that a slave woman who used to be a queen would attack her - or even usurp her position as queen: unlike the Medea. It is this that drives Hermione to such lengths as to plot Andromache's death. She does so while her husband is not around to stop her.  

Conclusion

Andromache is a play of two parts. First, the plotting of the jealous Hermione. Second, the fear of Hermione for the consequences of the failed plot. We have looked at how these two halves intertwine. As well as how Orestes showing up being overly serendipitous. 

There are parallels to be drawn with other Greek plays like Medea or Electra. But these are no carbon copies but rather similar themes or situations. In all Andromache tries to tie off some of the loose ends after the battle of Troy and is an interesting read.

Have you read Andromache? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read Andromache but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of Andromache.