He Is More Than A Hero By Sappho

Heroes in real life have supernatural abilities. People also find characteristics of heroes in regular people, like parents, famous people, or just who have made a big impact in their life. The main character of The Odyssey, Odysseus, is shown as a hero because him and his story fit the epic hero cycle. However, just because he is an epic hero, means that he is automatically a hero. He shows us throughout the collection of books that he lacks humility and is unfaithful, proving that he is not a hero in any sense. In Homer’s The Odyssey Odysseus’s lack of boundaries throughout his voyage back to Ithaca show that he is not a true hero.

The exquisite society to emerge will be governed by an elite comprised of gay poets. One of the major requirements for a position of power in the new society of homoeroticism will be indulgence in the Greek passion. Any man contaminated with heterosexual lust will be automatically barred from a position of influence. All males who insist on remaining

Sappho’s poem, entitled Fragment 16, is of the lyrical style instead of the epic style we are used to in Homer’s Iliad. The lyrical style of poetry got its name because it was usually accompanied by a lyre while it was recited. It also was used to express more emotion rather than telling a story. This form of poetry seems to be more artistic rather than the story telling of epic poetry of the time. In this poem we are able to use the comparison of different imagery to understand a common theme within the poem itself. The reason for the interesting title of the poem is because most of Sappho’s poetry is now only found in fragmented forms. Most of Sappho’s writing is from 600 B.C.E.

In fragments 16, Sappho claims that mortals cannot compare to the beauty of Helen. Sappho remains simple and to the point with her description of Helen. Unlike Homer, Sappho claims that the cause of

The translation of Sappho’s ‘Some Say’ that is most persuasive is translation 1. This is because of the descriptive language used, the emotion that is evoked from the poem and also the depth in which is portrayed through the poem.

One similarity between Sappho and Catullus is their use of neutral to formal diction. Both use phrases that, although seem simple and of neutral diction, are chosen to express their own form of love. However, where Sappho uses a word choice to show a fondness of her daughter and her innocence, Catullus transforms words from the same diction level to show his adoration and longing towards his lover. “I have a small / daughter, called / Cleis,

Sappho 96 is a poem that explores the beauty of love in the context of heartbreak and abandonment. The mood of the poem is almost wistful as Sappho seems to be clearly saddened by her lover, Anaktoria, leaving her; however, in true Sappho fashion, she can maintain the beauty she sees in her lover. The filled in lines serve to enhance the feelings of melancholy and passivity while giving the reader a deeper insight to the love Sappho has for Anaktoria.

Other authors after Homer also use reverence for a god’s domain as a tool to gain attention from the gods. In the Fragments, the author, Sappho, uses this tool to gain attention from the gods for herself. Sappho is a lover of love and her work shows her obsession with love as most of her partially retained and transcribed lyrics focus on love and its different forms. In supplication to the goddess Aphrodite, Sappho writes, “Deathless Aphrodite of the spangled mind… I beg you do not break with hard pains, O lady, my heart” (The Fragments, pg.3). Due to the fact that love is Aphrodite’s domain, Aphrodite pays attention to Sappho – someone who personifies and respects the power of love. Subsequently, after Sappho’s supplication, Aphrodite asks, “Whom should I persuade (now again) to lead you back into her love? Who, O Sappho, is wronging you?” (The fragments, pg.3). The use of the phrase ‘now again’ indicates that Aphrodite not only pays attention to Sappho, but that Aphrodite helps Sappho in issues of love repeatedly. Out of context, the phrase ‘now again’ also denotes and exasperated tone, however, the preceding context states that Aphrodite greeted Sappho smiling – a symbol of pleasure with another. Additionally, Sappho gains the attention of Hera because of her mention and praise of marriage in lyric 44, motherly love in lyric 132 and the praise of women throughout - all powers that lie under Hera’s domain. Recently in a newly discovered and transcribed lyric, Sappho says,

A hero is somebody who is intelligent, strong, and always puts others first. When you first think of Odysseus you probably see him as strong, intelligent, and what people would classify a hero, but once you see past the obvious you’ll understand why he is infact, not a hero. Odysseus is self centered, and unloyal. He doesn’t put other people first, and isn’t always honest. He also seems to do whatever he wants.

Love, in classical Greek literature, is commonly considered as a prominent theme. Love, in present days, always appears in the categories of books, movies or music, etc. Interpreted differently by different people, Love turns into a multi-faceted being.

The repeated emphasis on honor, wisdom, and virtue is a recurring theme throughout greek homosexual relationships. The archetypes of the two male partners: the younger lover known as the ‘beloved’ (eromenos) and an older lover (erastes). Cantarella asserts that “love relationships, were also, in fact, intellectual ones that in some ways saw the beloved as the disciple and the lover as the master of life, ethics and civic education” (Cantarella, 8). It will come as no surprise that such relationships were especially prevalent among the upper class and were considered a denotation of wealth and station.

The mighty Odysseus is many, many things but he is no hero in my eyes. To homer and the other people of early Greece he probably was a hero. All the little kids probably looked up to him but now kids don't even know his name. A hero to me is supposed to save lives. The only life Odysseus saved was his own. In addition to saving lives a hero should be humble, Odysseus does not fit that description, his hubris is as big as the moon. Also if you ask me, yes a hero can commit crimes. Although they shouldn't commit them often only when it is absolutely necessary. Odysseus has stolen from people, raped women, and murdered people when it all could have been avoided. Then to top it all off Odysseus if unfaithful, untrustworthy, disrespectful, and greedy.

However, many considered Sappho to be a heroine for creating poetry that was against the societal standard yet was surely relevant in ancient Greece. For example, Sappho’s most well-known verse of poetry, Fragment 32, expressed the female narrator’s envy of men who are able to talk to the speaker’s woman crush. Sappho

Many people consider him the father of history; others prefer to call him the father of lies. Whatever may be your perception of Herodotus’ work, the truth is that Herodotus began a new manner of writing history in which human psychology takes a fundamental place. He was the first historian who really considered the reasons why things happen and did not limit his narrative to just facts. His book The Histories evidences all the distinctive features that he employs through his description of facts as well as the intrinsic analysis that he includes to his storyline about controversial topics like the definition of what heroes really are. Indeed, The Histories’ book 7 reveals Herodotus’ astonishing and unique view of heroism. During his

For example, in “Hymn to Aphrodite”, you can sense that Sappho is trying to talk about real human experiences. She also provided fragments of survival in this poem, which allows the reader to escape from reality. “Hymn to Aphrodite”, begins when Aphrodite, the daughter of Zeus is called. In this poem, Aphrodite uses her skills to lure her lover.