Glad you finally got to do this, John. Perhaps we have regressed in some ways from the ancients. Addicted to technology, we often overlook the depth and richness of our ancestry. Your trip to Turkey sounds fascinating. I would love to see Göbekli Tepe. It makes me wonder whether the roots of Greek myth reach much further back.
It is compelling to trace the thread that sets the West apart from the rest of the world. There seems to be a distinctive psychological current running through it. Why is it that ancient gods reflected human flaws, while the Abrahamic God is perfect, absolute and morally pure? Perhaps that very perfection becomes a mirror not for our humility but for our overreach and our hubris.
Unfortunately, I did not go to the right schools to study the classics. They probably would not have let me in anyway. Look forward to part II.
Why Greece? I get that question asked a lot. Why did European civilisation launch in Greece?
There is no doubt that Greece benefited from trade and culture with the Middle East, where there were older (and more successful) civilisations: the civilisations on the Tigris & Euphrates and the Nile. Greece brought that civilisation to Europe, but also had the genius to develop beyond it.
The Trojan war is really about Greece readying itself to stand on its own legs. Helen wasn't that pretty!
Yes beyond Sumer and Egypt, Greece managed to fashion global civilisation in a specifically western way that has endured; that’s the magic of it. The Trojan War is best seen as Bronze Age Greece’s coming of age (victory over the Persians of course crucially confirmed this) when western Greece bested the creators of the wheel, the Anatolian Hittites. There’s a clash of civilisations Huntington would get behind
Did Western civilisation become possible when Greece transformed critical thinking from esoteric privilege into public right? The West began when Greece set reason free.
John, finally a break in world events allowed for this Enduring, timeless reading of The Odyssey. Odysseus is multifaceted and reflects the complexities of western civilization as you so well described. So much psychological depth! The moral struggles and mistakes highlight human imperfections, and growth, along with survival. John, thank you for all the time and effort you put into getting this classic masterpiece out for the community!!!
Glad you finally got to do this, John. Perhaps we have regressed in some ways from the ancients. Addicted to technology, we often overlook the depth and richness of our ancestry. Your trip to Turkey sounds fascinating. I would love to see Göbekli Tepe. It makes me wonder whether the roots of Greek myth reach much further back.
It is compelling to trace the thread that sets the West apart from the rest of the world. There seems to be a distinctive psychological current running through it. Why is it that ancient gods reflected human flaws, while the Abrahamic God is perfect, absolute and morally pure? Perhaps that very perfection becomes a mirror not for our humility but for our overreach and our hubris.
Unfortunately, I did not go to the right schools to study the classics. They probably would not have let me in anyway. Look forward to part II.
It was an Odyssey to get here today, right John ? Lol. Can’t wait to tell my husband about the places you visited!
Yes, for all of my many ups and downs the travel has been the greatest adventure
Why Greece? I get that question asked a lot. Why did European civilisation launch in Greece?
There is no doubt that Greece benefited from trade and culture with the Middle East, where there were older (and more successful) civilisations: the civilisations on the Tigris & Euphrates and the Nile. Greece brought that civilisation to Europe, but also had the genius to develop beyond it.
The Trojan war is really about Greece readying itself to stand on its own legs. Helen wasn't that pretty!
Yes beyond Sumer and Egypt, Greece managed to fashion global civilisation in a specifically western way that has endured; that’s the magic of it. The Trojan War is best seen as Bronze Age Greece’s coming of age (victory over the Persians of course crucially confirmed this) when western Greece bested the creators of the wheel, the Anatolian Hittites. There’s a clash of civilisations Huntington would get behind
Did Western civilisation become possible when Greece transformed critical thinking from esoteric privilege into public right? The West began when Greece set reason free.
And Odysseus is the poster boy of reason
Perfectly put
John, finally a break in world events allowed for this Enduring, timeless reading of The Odyssey. Odysseus is multifaceted and reflects the complexities of western civilization as you so well described. So much psychological depth! The moral struggles and mistakes highlight human imperfections, and growth, along with survival. John, thank you for all the time and effort you put into getting this classic masterpiece out for the community!!!
Of course, Dianne; though it has amounted to an odyssey for us as well, so happy to get to the things that really matter