classics digests, reflections and reviews
Admetus was spared by Death on condition that he could find a substitute. No one, not even his own parents were willing to die in his stead, but only his wife, Alcestis, offered to die for him. It may be worth noting that the life of a woman was valued far less than that of a man in ancient Greek culture. I cannot fully sympathize with Admetus when he grieves […]
Read moreThe Love That Kills Heracles loved Iole and because her father would not give her to him in marriage, he killed her father and other members of her family. His wife Deianira was afraid to lose him to the younger Iole, so she gave him a robe that she thought was a love charm but was in fact dipped in poison, causing Heracles to die in extreme agony. Quotes: Ah, […]
Read moreThe Birth of Heracles But the father of men and gods was forming another scheme in his heart, to beget one to defend against destruction gods and men who eat bread. So he arose from Olympus by night pondering guile in the deep of his heart, and yearned for the love of the well-girded woman….So in one night Zeus shared the bed and love of the neat-ankled daughter of Electyron […]
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