Ino-Odyssey

[ino-odyssey]

INTRODUCTION

I mainly post about The Odyssey. Sometimes the Iliad, sometimes the Aeneid, sometimes ancient art. It's almost always something to do with Ancient Greece/ Rome though.

I study Classical Civilisations and I like to add sources for where I get my info. I'm 18+, but my blog is not. I will never post anything nsfw.

My asks are always open, feel free to ask me any questions or about any of my opinions.

Have a good day :)

[ino-odyssey]

heres an ancient greek ghost story for you, about how one of odysseus' crewmembers became a local hero of temesa-

it was said that sometime in his travels, odysseus and his men visited the town of Temesa. while there, they got very intoxicated and one crewmember raped a local woman. the townspeople stoned him to death for his crimes. odysseus and crew moved on, believing his death was justified- however, the man came back as a shade. he would attack local townspeople indiscriminately until they erected a temple in his honour and began sacrificing young maidens in his name.

but there is a happy ending! eventually a man called euthymos came along. he heard stories of the towns struggle, came to the temple, and confronted the shade- described as being a twisted form, covered in soot and clad in the skin of a wolf. euthymos chased the spirit away, and married its would-be victim. they both lived long and happy lives.

(Source: Pausanias, Guide to Greece, Book 6)

[ino-odyssey]

my favourite line in prehaps all of the odyssey is when instead of saying 'Irus is going to die' it says 'Irus is going to be un-Irused.' (XVIII.70-75)

petition to replace tiktok buzzwords like 'unalived' and 'pew pewed' to un-jamesed and un-greged instead

[ino-odyssey]

people who want to read the odyssey after listening to epic, please do!! its an amazing story and great piece of literature BUT please understand that odysseus may not be the best person

ancient greek heroes did not have to be good or likeable people, and a lot of behaviours we see as immoral wouldve been commonplace in 700BC.

yes, odysseus strangles and threatens to kill his slave (Odysseus' right hand sought and gripped the old woman's throat, while with the other he pulled her closer to him [...] I make no idle threats- that if the Gods deliver these fine suitors into my hands I won't spare you, though you're my own nurse -XIX.480-490)

YES, he beats up a beggar (Odysseus considered carefully whether he should fell him with a mortal blow or knock him to the ground with a gentler punch. In the end he decided on a lighter blow, so that the Achaeans would not suspect him. [...] Odysseus struck Irus' neck below the ear and smashed in the bones so that the red blood gushed up through his mouth and he fell down in the dust with a scream. -XVIII.90-100)

he was just in a silly goofy mood

[ino-odyssey]

me when i lie- odysseus core

me when i cry and weave- penelope core

me when nobody listens to me- telemachus core

me when im my friends biggest supporter- athene core

me when i yap- homer core

[ino-odyssey]

I feel like everyone who comments about penelope being a 'spartan woman' knows nothing about sparta

i mean for one the odyssey is set centuries before the era of sparta youre all thinking about came along and second,

most of what we know about the role of women in sparta comes from athenian sources- who famously did not get along with spartans. It's true that spartan women had slightly more rights than other greek women (like having more access to education) but its also true that the athenians most likely HEAVILY exaggerated the rights that women had as anti-spartan propaganda

its like the only way you guys know how to show a strong, independent female character is by making her a man. she doesnt need to be physically strong or a warrior to be badass! focus on her intelligence! (one of the only actual traits she has in the odyssey)

[ino-odyssey]

im sorry but dido is so funny. she fucked someone in a cave, assumed they were married, got upset when she found out he was leaving and everyone in town called her a slut, threatened to EAT the guys SON, burns all his stuff, and kills herself. AND THEN when he goes down to the underworld and tries to apologise to her for leaving she totally ignores him. what a woman.

[ino-odyssey]

anyone else love the theme of divine justice in 'Odysseus'? The chants of 'O-dy-sse-us' in the background are very biblical, almost like a church hymn.

Now obviously Christianity wasn't yet formed in 700BC (when the odyssey was written) but I still believe this was intentional- Jorge is writing for a modern audience who are obviously very aware of Christianity.

In The Odyssey, Odysseus killing the suitors was an act of divine justice- the suitors broke sacred xenia codes and therefore disrespected the gods.

Jorge uses the church-like music to show this theme.

[ino-odyssey]

I generally prefer The Odyssey (more engaging characters, developed relationships, developed plot) but Virgil's language?? His incredible writing ability?? Oh my god. Book 9 of the Aeneid killed me off I swear to god.

[ino-odyssey]

"His only offense is to have loved the wrong friend too much!" He was still speaking as the sword was driven through the ribs of Euryalus, full force, shattering his white breast. He rolled on the ground in death, the blood flowed over his beautiful body, his neck grew limp and the head dropped on his shoulders, like a scarlet flower languishing and dying when its stem has been cut by the plough, or like poppies bowing their heads when the rain burdens them and their neck grows weary. - Virgil's Aeneid, IX.430-440

[ino-odyssey]

He drew his sword and rushed at Euryalus. This was too much for Nisus. Out of his mind with terror and unable to endure his anguish, he broke cover, shouting at the top of his voice: "Here I am! Here I am! I am the one who did it! Aim your weapons at me, Rutulians! The whole scheme was mine. He is innocent. He could not have done it. I swear this by the sky above and the stars who know the truth, his only offense is to have loved the wrong friend too much!" -Virgil's Aeneid, IX.420-430

[ino-odyssey]

had a lecture today where my classical civilisations professor basically told us that the only reason telemachus wasnt a full fledged homeric hero was because he got no bitches #virgin lmao

[ino-odyssey]

love the way jorge adapted the odyssey. im thinking about 'hold them down' specifically. in The Odyssey, the reason the suitors were terrible people (and the reason odysseus was so justified in killing them) was because they showed bad xenia (hospitality), and what makes Antinous especially terrible is that he broke a previous long-standing xenia bond. (OdXVI.420-430)

but is this something modern people would understand? no! someone not respecting you as a host doesnt mean you can kill them! so, he wrote 'hold me down' where Antinous is (obviously) a terrible person. Rape IS something a modern audience would be horrified by, and is something that gives odysseus the justification he needs to kill the suitors. It isn't even something jorge made up- in the odyssey it is implied, jorge just put more emphasis on it to emphasise with a modern audience.

tldr epic is amazing and jorge is a genius

[ino-odyssey]

Fun Odyssey Fact!!

Before Odysseus and Penelope meet, Athena swoops in and gives Penelope a magic glow-up (using face cream from Aphrodite ofc)

(SOURCE: OdXVIII.190-200)

The great goddess then endowed her with immortal gifts to make the Achaeans marvel at her beauty. First, she cleansed her fair cheeks with a divine ointment used by Aphrodite when she puts on her lovely crown to join the Graces in their charming dance. Then she made her taller and fuller in appearance, and her skin whiter than newly sawn ivory. When her work was done, the goddess withdrew

[ino-odyssey]

The master-strategist Odysseus gave them a black look. "You dogs!" he cried. "You never thought to see me back from Troy. So you fleeced my household; you raped my maids; you courted my wife behind my back though I was alive- with no more fear of the gods in heaven than of the human vengeance that might come. One and all, your fate is sealed." Fear drained the colour from their cheeks and each man cast round to find some sanctuary from sudden death. -The Odyssey, XXII.30-45

[ino-odyssey]

Fun Odyssey fact!!

When Telemachus first reunites with Odysseus, he won't believe that Odysseus is his father, and instead believes he is a God.

(SOURCE: OdXVI.180-200)

"Surely you are one of the gods who live in the broad sky. Be gracious to us, and we will make pleasing sacrifices and offerings of wrought gold. Have mercy on us."

"I am no god," said the patient, good Odysseus. "Why do you take me for an immortal? But I am your father, on whose account you have endured so much sorrow and trouble and suffered persecution at men's hands."

With that he kissed his son, and the tears ran down his cheeks on the ground; until then he had kept firm control on his feelings.

But Telemachus could not yet accept that it was his father, and said, "You are not my father, you are not Odysseus; some divine power is playing me a trick to make my grief all the more bitter."

[ino-odyssey]

I love that odysseus telling polyphemus his name is 'nobody' is a pun. In Ancient Greek, 'me tis' means nobody, whereas 'metis' means resourseful and cunning. In the odyssey hes often referred to as 'cunning odysseus', so in a way he did tell the cyclops his name.

Imagine being one of odysseus crew, fearing for your LIFE, having watched your other crewmembers be brutally murdered and your captain is there making puns.