Symbolism Of The Birds In Sparta

Ancient Greece is commonly acknowledged as one of the greatest societies to ever exist. Two of the most known civilizations in ancient Greece were Athens and Sparta. However, both of these civilizations were known for completely different reasons. Sparta was recognized for its military above anything else. The Spartan military was an unparalleled fighting force of its time, with its high-end weaponry, organization, and impressive methods of fighting. This is primarily because the Spartan military was the only full-time fighting force in ancient Greece which compelled it to sustain an elite status.

One species of bird in the story which acts a symbol is the oriole. “The oriole nest in the elm was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle… and now

Throughout Aristophanes’ “Clouds” there is a constant battle between old and new. It makes itself apparent in the Just and Unjust speech as well as between father and son. Ultimately, Pheidippides, whom would be considered ‘new’, triumphs over the old Strepsiades, his father. This is analogous to the Just and Unjust speech. In this debate, Just speech represents the old traditions and mores of Greece while the contrasting Unjust speech is considered to be newfangled and cynical towards the old. While the defeat of Just speech by Unjust speech does not render Pheidippides the ability to overcome Strepsiades, it is a parallel that may be compared with many other instances in Mythology and real life.

In the Aftermath of the Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta, Pericles, Athens’ general and statesmen, delivered a powerfully comforting eulogy to the polis of Athens, assuring the people that their city state is in good hands, and easing the pain of all the families and relatives of the deceased. He uses several rhetorical devices throughout his speech to gain a positive emotional appeal by his audience and makes assertions in the attempt to enhance and transform the perception of him by the audience.

Sadistic Citizens or Saviors of Society: Exploring Whether the Spartans’ Values Make Them an Appropriate High School Mascot Spartans are not an appropriate mascot for Mountain View High School because they do not represent the American values of democracy and value for human life, as they were governed by a tyranny and murdered countless people. Although some may argue that the Greeks developed a democratic government as subjects of the Persian king and changed western civilization forever, the Spartans could not have predicted this legacy when they were warring with the mighty Persian army. Spartans did not demonstrate the value of democracy in the way their city-state was ruled. According to Cyrus Kar, “Sparta was not even democratic. It was an oligarchy at best, and

2. What does the old woman mean when she says of the bird: “I don’t know…in your hands”? Why do you think she repeats – “It is in your hands.”? How has this phrase become a metaphor? What is it a metaphor for?

Probably the most notable use of birds occurs when after ten years, Sula returns to the Bottom accompanied by a “plague of robins”(89). The word plague indicates that the birds represent a wave of sickness that Sula brings alongside her. The citizens of the Bottom recognize the birds as a sign of evil, but choose to accept its wickedness rather than try to rid of the robins. “But they let it run it’s course, fulfill itself, and never invented ways to either alter it, to annihilate it or to prevent its happening again. So also were they with people” (90). Here, Morrison is comparing the townspeople’s feelings both towards the evilness of the robins and towards the evilness of Sula. They welcome Sula’s return to the Bottom the same way they they welcome the birds. Sula’s personal experiences with wickedness are also acknowledged through the robins as Sula

In Western literature, birds are often used to symbolize humans. Birds’ anatomy, behavior, and perceived emotions combine to make the bird a useful symbol of humans, their thoughts, and their emotions. Z.Z. Packer adds to this list of more commonly used similarities between birds and humans by endowing the birds in her short story, “The Ant of the Self”, with the gift of speech. By doing so, Z.Z. Packer highlights her use of a squawking assortment of colorful African birds as a symbol for Spurgeon. The birds serve as a catalyst for the story, giving rise to Spurgeon’s and his father’s trip to the Million Man March. As the duo makes their way from Jasper, Indiana to Washington,

Once Sparta created his own rival league, the Peloponnesian League, feelings of jealousy accumulated towards the people of Athens and those feelings increased with competitive notions for power. Then when Athens attacked an ally of Sparta’s Peloponnesian League, Sparta decided

In the ancient societies of Greece, war means many things; power, glory, honor. The idea of fighting is not just a daily task for the Greeks but a necessity. In

In order to avoid conflict with the birds that outweigh and outnumber him, he simply

Although based on different circumstances, the breakdown of traditional values in “The History of the Peloponnesian war” parallels to that in the “Clouds”. The “Clouds” also utilizes extensive use of rhetoric devices. Strepsiades decides to submit to the sophist’s way of education, so that he would be able to defend himself against his creditors. The first sign of erosion of traditional value is exposed when Strepsiades decides to enroll himself in the Thinkery under the guidance of Socrates. The ability to manipulate language and turn everything into relativism erodes the principles of traditional Athenian beliefs. Indisputably, the new philosophy wins. Sophistry is the type of linguistic device that, in the face of the weakness of traditional beliefs, undermines the value of anything. Strepsiades opines, “Holy Earth, what a voice! How divine, how awesome, how fantastic!” (363) In which Socrates responds, “Yes, you know, these are the only real divinities, all the rest is bunkum.” (365) In the new system of beliefs as advocated by the sophists, there is a rejection of the traditional religion and a belief in the new “gods”. The comical way through which ideas are portrayed may be witty, but the core issue lies at the heart of the play's

Joseph Campbell once said “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Heroes go out of their way to do things in which no one else is brave enough to do. Odysseus in Book 21 of The Odyssey, Edmond Dantes in the Count of Monte Cristo, and Thor in Kenneth Branagh’s film take risks in order to benefit others using their characteristics and items that are significant to them. Imagery and symbols can help depict how heroes go through times of difficulty and trouble. Odysseus’s bow, Edmond Dantes developed vision, and Thor’s hammer(Mjolnir) are all factors of the heroes and how they go through their journeys.

Ancient Greek architecture was very intricately made and well thought out. The Greeks used different methods and reasonings behind their architecture because they made sure that their pieces were exquisitely made to represent the things they thought were important. They valued their Gods and their worship of the Gods. It was important for them to always represent or have symbolic meaning behind all of their architectural designs. There are many hidden symbols that are involved in Greek architecture like trees, trophies, leaves, hair, and sacrifices to name a few. Greek architecture includes these hidden symbols to worship Gods, and to represent culture in their pieces.

• At this point the chorus narrates the omen of the birds and the hare; Agamemnon and Menelaus are likened this time to two eagles which fly from the palace west towards the sea (and Troy) and kill a pregnant hare which represents the city of Troy full of life and prosperity. The fact they are likened to eagles is important because eagles are the kings of birds and they have beaks just like the prow of a ship.