Two elaborately painted pairs of eyes set on either side of the cup is the focus of the exterior decoration. These eyes are called "apotropaic" and are supposedly magical. ... In the center of the vase the god Dionysus relaxes on an elaborate ship with a tall mast and a broad sail. ... The terrified sailors, realising they had abducted a god, jumped into the water where they were promptly turned into dolphins. ... Pointed amphorae were often used as undecorated vases for holding oil and wine but their awkward shape and the fact that they need a stand to remain upright means that they were ...

• Word Count: 2963
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

In the myth the Odyssey, Odysseus and his army had just won the Trojan war and "The Greeks went mad with victory the night they entered the city; they forgot what was due to the gods; and on their voyage home they were terribly punished" (Mythology 211). ... For tricking Persephone he is "punished for chronic deceitfulness by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever" (Lindemans). ... All these punishments given for repentant were violent; either mentally or physically, violence was a huge part...

• Word Count: 1030
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

To one, Achilles may not be a God or mortal who is given the respect that he might deserve. ... When the Greeks were doing horribly in the battle, Agamemnon sends Odysseus, Phoenix, and Ajax to apologize to Achilles on his behalf and ask him to return to the battle. ... It is said that heroes are born into eminence, however they also are watched over by the people through their public actions and especially by courageous performance in combat. ... He saw many of his men dying and their army tumbling. ... He wanted the Greeks to see through his eyes, which Agamemnon truly was. ...

• Word Count: 1501
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Achilles as the son of Thetis has a special relationship which allows him to communicate with the gods by way of Thetis's favor in the eyes of Zeus (Il. 1.490) Both characters are headstrong warriors; the epics do relate their preeminence in battle. ... Gilgamesh and Enkidu do battle and Enkidu yields; the result is their friendship and the setting of their status. ... In the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, the characters have a series of adventures in which we further watch the development of their relationship. The first event involves a journey to the mythical cedar forest to defeat th...

• Word Count: 4256
• Approx Pages: 17
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

And yet they bear smaller differences from their dissimilar authors. ... These goddesses had another motivation, however, for favoring these particular men above all the other valorous soldiers: they were the children of gods and men. They were both the offspring of humanity and deity, and thus demanded the special attention of the gods. ... Their goddess-mothers didn't want them harmed, and often they fragmented the rules of war to save their sons' lives or motivate the troops. ... Their paths would be guided not by normal order, and not by the consequences of their actions, but by ...

• Word Count: 8864
• Approx Pages: 35
• Grade Level: High School