The Trojan Women - Euripides (415 BC) - Divine Intervention: The Significance of the Opening Argument between Poseidon and Athena

Beth F.

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The Trojan Women - Euripides (415 BC) - Divine Intervention: The Significance of the Opening Argument between Poseidon and Athena

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The Trojan Women, Euripides, Poseidon, Athena, gods' political hierarchy, human politic, gods' governance

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Abstract

Euripides uses The Trojan Women to present a god's political hierarchy as a significant theme, thus providing an in-depth presentation of relations involving powers and influences in the divine realm. By humanizing the gods, for example, Poseidon and Athena, Euripides make a subtle and nuanced portrayal of the divine authority, and the unfortunate side effects this imposes on mortal minds (Grene). Through their analysis of the deities' political power structure, we also find something of their views about fate, freedom, and justice in the story.

The gods' political hierarchy in "The Trojan Women", analogous to human politics
The gods' governance, metaphor for the unresolved question of fate and free will

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[...] P. (2020). Trojan Women. In Brill's Companion to Euripides vols) (pp. 255-277). Brill. [...]

[...] The Trojan Women - Euripides (415 BC) - Divine Intervention: The Significance of the Opening Argument between Poseidon and Athena Carnegie Mellon University Euripides uses The Trojan Women to present a god political hierarchy as a significant theme, thus providing an in-depth presentation of relations involving powers and influences in the divine realm. By humanizing the gods, for example, Poseidon and Athena, Euripides make a subtle and nuanced portrayal of the divine authority, and the unfortunate side effects this imposes on mortal minds (Grene). [...]

[...] In the play, characterized mortals weigh off the outcomes of having to console with the divine actions and themselves as the deserved actuator. Hecuba, once the queen of Troy, mourns Troy's demolition and her descendant's death and wonders about her faith in destiny that brought this devastation to Troy and herself. Poseidon accuses Athena of causing Troy's downfall, asserting, "Pallas, Athena, child of Zeus, did this" (Lattimore). The gods' impulsion, such as Athens' revenge on the Greeks for their misbehaviours, makes a riddle as to whether the mortals are too much enslaved to the descent of Gods. [...]

[...] The play does that by studying the interactions of divine beings and human characters and then getting the reader into the fineness of power play set within heaven and its effects on humans. Finally, the gods' political polarity uncovers the ambiguity of the divine role in the future of the play and determines the tragic events in the play. Reference Grene, D., Lattimore, R. A., Griffith, M., & Most, G. W. (1959). The complete Greek tragedies. (No Title). Poe, J. [...]

[...] She seeks a comeback against Greek warriors for the cause of their action as she says, " Make their home voyage a most unhappy coming home" (Lattimore). It is represented then as an allegorical tale utilizing the theme of irresistible determinism versus self-determination in carving the life-shaping path. Furthermore, the idea of divine justice is also included in the narration, where heavenly leaders are in a political hierarchy. Hecuba complains about the destiny of her family's ruined city and worries at the pitilessness of the divinely inspired fate. [...]

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