Musings
The Iliad is only great because all life is a battle, the Odyssey because all life is a journey, the Book of Job because all life is a riddle.
G.K. Chesterton
I stumbled across this quote at Spero News (where my movie reviews appear in greater length after first sight). Is this not brilliant?
Maybe. But I read Homer's epics not too long ago and found in the poet a depth of understanding about the nature of God that surprised me. The ancient Greek concept of hospitality understood by Homer had to do with not only honoring gods with the proper humility, but a deep sense that hospitality demanded a submission to grace, kindness, and respect that we find in Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.
There is in Homer a refined sense that humans should be humane. That battle requires courage and ruthlessness, but that all else is a matter of decency.
That is why Homer matters. He is sympathetic to the enemy, yes, but even more sympathetic to the notion that men should be less proud of themselves.
Homer is not a pacifist, but he thinks Man should be more wise and less vicious.
Posted on 12/06/2006 2:38 AM by Marek Butterworth
Comments
6 Dec 2006
Mary Jackson
Very true. Easier said than done, though.
Is your name really Marek, or have you just turned Polish for the day?
6 Dec 2006
Reactionry
I wish to be the first to condemn Ana Gram's assertion that "Keram" has converted to Islam allah Litvinenko and Don Juryshire's ukase* that Andrew Sullivan shall be known as "Sodysseus."/
* Found in a suitcase left by Edd and Jimi, and which then flowed like a stonewall into NYC, causing a quiet riot
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