#preclassresponse

[vintage-addict]

Letter to the newly Baptized (Clement of Alexandria)

“Take care never to speak what you have not weighed and pondered beforehand; nor interject your own words on the spur of the moment and in the midst of another’s; for you must listen and converse in turns, with set times for speech and silence.” “ Let everything you do be done for God, both deeds and words; and refer all that is yours to Christ;.... And often by day communicate your thoughts to men, but most of all to God night as well as by day; for let not much sleep prevail to keep you from your prayers and hymns to God, since long sleep is a rival of death.”

Importance: Since the author, Clement was writing this text after a series of mass trials and executions of Christians in Rome, he could have been briefly answering the question of ‘how shall we live during chaotic times?” Clement emphasizes on the themes of wisdom and faith.  He encourages the newly converted Christians to pray regularly (may have been viewed as a means of communication between god and his followers) and to maintain absolute faith in God; he sees God as the supreme being. He could have possibly viewed prayer to God as a solution to the problems Christians were facing at that time in Rome.  Clement also highlights the importance of having wisdom; he asks his readers to have rational thinking. He tells them to think before performing any particular action and to use one’s knowledge only when necessary. 

[vintage-addict]

Lysistrata

“LAMPITO As for mine, if he ever does return from service, he’s no sooner home than he takes down his shield again and flies back to the wars”

“ LYSISTRARA Oh, wanton,vicious sex! the poets have done well to make tragedies upon us; we are good for nothing then but love and lewdness! But you, my dear, you from hardy Sparta, if you join me, all may yet be well; help me, second me, I beg you.” 

“LYSISTRATA Come, quick, Lampito, and let us bind ourselves by an inviolable oath. LAMPITO Recite the terms; we will swear to them.” 

Importance:

Since this play was written during the time of the Peloponnesian War, one of its purpose’s could have been to show that the war was unnecessary and wasteful.  The text shows the way women were viewed  in the ancient Greek society; they were highly objectified and were seen as sexual tools. The text also indicates that sex was a powerful tool to women; they used it to their advantage to control the men.  Another interesting point that I have noticed in this text is that, the women were united and strong, they set aside their personal wishes to fight for peace and the common good unlike the men (although this play is a satire, I think it helps us in the understanding of the women in the ancient greek society). 

Ref: https://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Lysistrata.html#Setting

[vintage-addict]

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Quote: “ Two-thirds of him is god, one-third of him is human.  The Great Goddess (Aruru) designed (?) the model for his body, she prepared his form ... ... beautiful, handsomest of men, ... perfect ... He walks around in the enclosure of Uruk, Like a wild bull he makes himself mighty, head raised (over others). There is no rival who can raise his weapon against him.”

“ Gilgamesh does not leave a son to his father, day and night he arrogantly (?)... “

“ Is Gilgamesh the shepherd of Uruk-haven, is he the shepherd ... bold, eminent, knowing, and wise! Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother (?) The daughter of the warriors, the bride of the young man, the gods of the heavens implored the Lord of Uruk (Anu)”

Importance- After reading the above extracts, I think one of the purposes of this story is to give an unbiased account of Gilgamesh’s life because the creators were keen on letting its listeners know all sides of the story. They not only praised Gilgamesh’s strength and achievements but also called him out oppressing his men and sleeping with all the brides in the kingdom before the night of their wedding. Since originally the story was an oral tradition, a large portion of its audience could have been the common public (we discussed in the last lecture that most common people were illiterate). It is also likely that the creators of the epic could have been the common people themselves as a cry for help to the gods.  The deities worshipped in the above extract represent nature/forces of the nature. This indicates that the people of the Mesopotamian civilization could have worshipped the nature rather than following a specific religion.  References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mesopotamian_deities

[vintage-addict]

Birth of Hatshepsut

Quote: “Hatshepsut is thus the name of this your daughter whom I have laid in your body, according to the speech of your mouth. She will exercise the splendid kingship in the whole land. My glory will belong to her, she will rule the two lands (Egypt)... I will surround her everyday with my protection in common with the god of the respective day.” 

Importance: Assuming that the story of Hatshepsut’s birth is true, the above extract is important because it legitimizes her claim to the throne. One of the reasons for the lack of any opposition to Hatshepsut’s claim to the throne and her prosperous reign could be due to the protection she received from Amun. According to the extract, Hatshepsut was sent to rule Egypt by the high god Amun, this fulfills the belief Egyptians have about their rulers being equivalent to god.