Klonor
03-12-2004, 02:54
As I'm sure you all know, I pride myself on my varied and voracious reading appetite. I read whatever I can get my hands on, from historical fiction to science fiction to examinations of Babylonian law (Yes, I've actually read a few). I also pride myself on my grasp of what I read, how well I understand the written word. Considering that I read Shakespeare when I was five I think my grasp is pretty strong. But, on re-reading the Iliad (for fun), I noticed something huge that I've missed previously.
When you think of Ancient Greek heroes a few names spring to the front of your mind. You think Achilles, you think of Odysseus, you think of Jason and the Argonauts, Alexander the Great (Although he actually was real), Theseus, Perseus, and a few others. But most of all, people think of Heracles (FYI: Heracles is the Greek name of Hercules. Hercules itself is the Roman name). Even those ignorant of Greek mythology know of the Big H. Son of Zeus, Super strong, Twelve Tasks forced upon him by Hera, etc. He's one of the biggest names in Greek history. Well, there was a son of Heracles at the Battle of Troy. Specifically Tlepolemus, from Rhodes.
Now, most of you are probably thinking, "A son of Heracles? Big deal. Unless he did his own thing who gives a damn?" But the thing is that heritge, especially the male parent, was a huge part of the telling of the Iliad. Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces, and Menelaus, the husband of Helen, are known as "The Son of Atreus" more often than their actual names. Achilles himself is referred to as "Son of Peleus" just as often as by his name. Whenever a new charatcer is introduced they always list their ancestry at least two generations back. It's partly due to a lack of last names (Which is how you distinguish between two people of the same first name, such as the two Ajax's) but also because Sons receive a great amount of respect and (for some) worship on account of their fathers and the accomplishments of their fathers.
So, for there to have been a Son of Heracles at the Battle of Troy, and to have that son actually be in the Iliad as well, and for me to not know until reading the Iliad again is just a huge shock.
How could I have missed it?
When you think of Ancient Greek heroes a few names spring to the front of your mind. You think Achilles, you think of Odysseus, you think of Jason and the Argonauts, Alexander the Great (Although he actually was real), Theseus, Perseus, and a few others. But most of all, people think of Heracles (FYI: Heracles is the Greek name of Hercules. Hercules itself is the Roman name). Even those ignorant of Greek mythology know of the Big H. Son of Zeus, Super strong, Twelve Tasks forced upon him by Hera, etc. He's one of the biggest names in Greek history. Well, there was a son of Heracles at the Battle of Troy. Specifically Tlepolemus, from Rhodes.
Now, most of you are probably thinking, "A son of Heracles? Big deal. Unless he did his own thing who gives a damn?" But the thing is that heritge, especially the male parent, was a huge part of the telling of the Iliad. Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces, and Menelaus, the husband of Helen, are known as "The Son of Atreus" more often than their actual names. Achilles himself is referred to as "Son of Peleus" just as often as by his name. Whenever a new charatcer is introduced they always list their ancestry at least two generations back. It's partly due to a lack of last names (Which is how you distinguish between two people of the same first name, such as the two Ajax's) but also because Sons receive a great amount of respect and (for some) worship on account of their fathers and the accomplishments of their fathers.
So, for there to have been a Son of Heracles at the Battle of Troy, and to have that son actually be in the Iliad as well, and for me to not know until reading the Iliad again is just a huge shock.
How could I have missed it?