Myth in the Ancient World: Exploring the Bacchae, Iliad, and Beyond

This essay delves into the realm of ancient Greek mythology, offering a comprehensive analysis of key literary works, particularly Euripides' *Bacchae* and Homer's *Iliad*. It explores the similarities and differences between the portrayal of women in the *Bacchae* and the Amazons literature, examining themes of social norms, repression, and the consequences of defying societal expectations. The essay further investigates the historical interpretations of the *Iliad*, connecting the epic poem to the Bronze Age and its cultural artifacts, such as Minoan palaces. It also examines the 8th century BC context of the *Iliad* and its depiction of the Trojan War. Furthermore, the essay highlights the significance of oral tradition in shaping the epic poems, contrasting the behaviors of Agamemnon and Achilles. Finally, it analyzes Euripides' use of myth and his critical perspective on contemporary religion and political institutions. The essay draws on various scholarly sources to support its arguments, providing a rich understanding of the themes, characters, and historical context within these ancient texts.

Running head: MYTH IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
Myth in the Ancient World
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1MYTH IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
Question 1
The Bacchae is a play written by Euridpedes in the Greek literature. There are some
similarities between the Amazons and the Bachhae in the literature. The central character of the
Bachhae is Dionysus. On the other hand the central characters of the Amazons literature are
Achilles and Penthesileia. The similarity between the two plays lie in the fact that the central
characters of the plays are very brave and they have contributed a lot to the growth of the plot
structure of the play (Fischer-Lichte 2013). The women have been depicted in the Bachhae in
various ways. However, the women in the Amazons literature have been given a high position.
On the other hand the women in the Bachhae have been repressed.
This play Bachhae shows that the women of Thebes have been punished as they were
much impudent within the social structure. The central character of the play Dionysus, the god of
intoxication drove them mad in order to punish them. The women in the play bore a social
stigma as they were being oppressed (Fischer-Lichte 2013). Euripedes had shown that the
women protested against the social norms so they were being punished.
Question 2
The ancient Greek epic poem Iliad has some interpretations of being drawn from the
Bronze Age. The interpretations are quite clear from several sources. There are some terms that
can be associated in this matter (Gakopoulou 2012). These terms are Minoan, Cycladic and
Helladic. The Minoan has been referred to the cultures of the Greek Bronze age Crete. The term
Cycladic refers to the Bronze Age Greek cultures of the Aegean islands. The term Helladic refers
to the mainland Greek culture of the Bronze Age to be precise. One of the most prominent
interpretations can be found from the Minoan culture that has been similar to the palaces being

2MYTH IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
shown in the Iliad. The Cnossus has been one of the most prominent examples of the Minoan
culture from the Greek age (Gakopoulou 2012). The archaeological surveys have found that the
region of Crete can be that of the Bronze Age culture of the ancient Greece. One of the most
impressive ancient Bronze Age Greek civilizations lies in the Mediterranean. The design of the
palaces in the Iliad can be recognized as one of the biggest examples of the Greek Bronze Age
cultures (Dickinson 2016). The aesthetic architecture of the Greek Bronze Age has been
mentioned through the Minoan cultures impressively.
Question 3
The Greek World of the 8th Century BC has been drawn in several ways in the Iliad. The
deaths of the two most important protagonists of the play Achilles and hector takes place in the
8th Century BC. Both the Iliad and Odyssey were penned down in the 8th Century BC by Homer.
Both these epic poems have presented the oral tradition of the ancient Greece in numerous ways.
The war of Troy or the Trojan War has been depicted or described in the Iliad. The
interpretations have been drawn from the 8th Century BC (Dickinson 2016). The war had been
fought throughout ten years between the city states of Greece and Troy. This epic poem is a
perfect example of the Greek literature in the most impressive form or manner. The portrayal of
the brave heroes of both Greece and Troy has been their main focus (Webster 2014). This is why
the world of 8th Century BC has been presented here in the epic. The deadly wrath of Achilles
and the interventions from the Gods have been portrayed in the book as well. These heroic
actions can only be attributed to the Greek society of the 8th Century BC.

3MYTH IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
Question 4
Oral composition is a sort of epic poetry that originated in the Greek poetry or the epics.
The stories went on through the generations by the oral storytelling of the people. Iliad has been
considered as one of the best epic poems in the Greek mythology (Webster 2014). In the Iliad the
series of events have been narrated in the oral tradition of a ten year war. The contrast lies in the
fact of the behavior of the King Agamemnon and the Greek hero Achilles. The hexameter has
been used in order to tell the story of the epic through the oral tradition.
The understanding of the oral traditions for the historians studying the texts of Homer is
so very essential (Stanley 2016). The oral tradition has worked as the bridge between the
Homeric texts written after 750 BC and the Mycenean tradition following 1150 BCE. Some of
the basic features for telling the stories based on the oral tradition are the meter, stock lines,
stock phrases, fixed characters and the stock scenes within the context. These things are indeed
very much important for the historians when they would study and research about the things
related to Iliad and Odyssey. The proper improvisation by the historians is needed in this context.
Question 5
The use of myth has been one of the most important things for the writings of Euripedes.
Some critics have opined that the mythological tragedy has provoked a sense of criticism for the
religion and myths of the contemporary society (Stanley 2016). Almost all the critics of the
ancient Greek period have admitted that the writings of Euripedes are different from that of the
other writers. The direct narrative in telling story has been one of the most useful techniques for
Euripedes. He has also made tremendous criticisms on the men and the political institutions.
Apart from that he has also made criticisms on the religions of people as well. He has always

4MYTH IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
hated the necromancers and the soothsayers all the way (Dodd and Faraone 2013). Even critic
like Samuel Taylor Coleridge has opined that Euripedes would not mind slapping all the Gods
together if he got the chance. Thus the tragic literature pieces have always been a mockery of the
traditional religion in several ways. Thus it can be said that the ideas of Euripedes can be very
much updated than the other people of the society.

5MYTH IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
References
de Jong, I.J. ed., 2012. Homer: Iliad. Cambridge University Press.
Dickinson, G.L., 2016. The Greek view of life. Routledge.
Dodd, D. and Faraone, C.A. eds., 2013. Initiation in ancient Greek rituals and narratives: New
critical perspectives. Routledge.
Fischer-Lichte, E., 2013. Dionysus Resurrected: Performances of Euripides' The Bacchae in a
Globalizing World. John Wiley & Sons.
Gakopoulou, K., 2012. „Euripides‟ Bacchae. The end of an era or the beginning of a new
one?‟. Markantonatos and Zimmermann (2012)(eds.), pp.163-180.
Shukri, M.A., 2018. Backgrounds to English Literature. AL_Mustansiriyah Journal of Arts, (45),
pp.1-25.
Stanley, K., 2016. Shield of Homer. Princeton University Pres.
Webster, T.B.L., 2014. From Mycenae to Homer: a study in early Greek literature and art.
Routledge.