In the Homeric world, then, Arete involves all of the abilities and potentialities available to humans. Finally. This is an example of an epithet, a phrase that describes a character or item. In men excellence is defined by succeeding in five areas. The goddesses play very demanding, controlling roles in “The Odyssey”. She was also the niece of her husband, as Alcinous and Rhexenor, Arete's father, were brothers, descendants of the god Poseidon.. Virtue or arete was an of import quality in Homeric society and one which features really to a great extent in the Iliad. "Stories from the Odyssey" by H. L. Havell But Arete pleaded hard with her husband for Medeia, for her heart was softened. The Odyssey can be thought of as a manual for a host of how to (and how not to) show hospitality to a guest and vice versa. The excellence of the gods generally included their power, but, in the Odyssey (13.42), the gods can grant excellence to a life, which is contextually understood to mean prosperity. This lesson discusses the significance of Pylos in Homer's epic poem ''The Odyssey.'' The first is to have time, honor. Guests and Hosts 5: Alcinous and Arete welcome the stranger into their house when he clings to her knees and offer him food and shelter. It referred, after all, originally to the "excellence" of the warrior, sharing a common root with the name of the war-god Ares. Achilles was one of the best examples. | eNotes. These women include characters such as Queen Arete, Nausicaa and, above all, Odysseus’ wife Penelope. Arete was also the name of King Alcinous's wife. Arete is depicted on the left, sitting between Nausicaa and Alcinous. As Odysseus sleeps, Athena flies to a Phaeacian city where the princess Nausicaa, daughter of the king Alcinous, lies sleeping.Disguised as a girl the princess's age, Athena scolds her for the poor condition of her clothes, and suggests that they go to the shore to wash them. Arete is viewed as a desirable character trait which some define as the display of perseverance, quick-wittedness, prowess, valor, etc. Arete-Excellence In his epic poem the Iliad, Homer defines excellence in men and women. Each suppliant then makes his plea. 7.139). Please citespecific examples of arete in The Iliad and The Odyssey. In regards to the Iliad the way Homer describes Achilles is an example of Arete (187). With Odysseus' many tales and disguises, he offers examples of true and false stories, and challenges his … Why was arête (‘virtue’) an important theme in Homer’s Iliad? He hugs the knees of Arete and requests her for entry into his household. honor ( … Archetypes are recurrent symbols found in art and literature. Arete (‘Virtue’) Theme in Homer’s Iliad Essay Free Essay. The arete of something is the highest quality state it can reach. They are interested in hearing his story and sharing theirs. only from context. Because Penelope uses trickery to deceive her unwanted suitors. In the 8th century, a Greek poet decided to write a heroic poem named “The Odyssey.” The person who wrote such an epic poem goes by the name of Homer. The arete of something is the highest quality state it can reach. Arete is achieved by one’s actions. In Homer’s poems the Iliad and Odyssey, the desire for areté or the possession of areté is a characteristic of the aristocracy. the Odyssey. In the Iliad, the focus is narrow: we have warriors facing death at the hands of other warriors, and we get that dreadful instant transit from godlike brilliance in life (the aristeia or glory) to oblivion in death as their shades flit to Hades. According to Bernard Knox's notes found in the Robert Fagles translation of The Odyssey, "arete" is also associated with the Greek word for "pray", araomai. The first type of woman, the bad, disrespectful woman is portrayed through two characters. The opportunity to demonstrate arete was why many Greeks went to Troy. Homer wrote about arete in the Iliad and Odyssey in relation to heroes. The role of the goddess is one of a supernatural being, but more importantly one in a position to pity and help mortals. Arete is a basic translation in ancient greek of the english word courage though arete technically translates as to fulfilling one's duty to the highest ability. Later, it became a more generalized concept of excellence, as seen in Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy. In the Odyssey, the trickster archetype is found in the character of Penelope, Odysseus' wife. The Ancient Greeks applied the term to anything: for example, the excellence of a chimney, the excellence of a bull for breeding, and the excellence of a man. The poet of the Odyssey explores the ways stories can be told from different points of view, like the images of Helen at Troy or the different versions of the story of Agamemnon's murder. Arete is associated … by and large in conflict and is a combination of qualities such as bravery. But if you want depictions of arete, try Homer first. Arete was revered by her society because of her wisdom and was even called upon to settle men’s differences which was really uncommon in that clip. When they find out that he is a traveler lost on his way, they offer him passage home. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is the most prominent example of the role. For example, in book 7, the capability of Arete the queen in the years past is related as a memory, but in the same line we are introduced to the memory that serves to contrast that capability. Arete was the first to speak, for she recognised the garments which Odysseus was wearing as the work of her own hands. Homer uses this manner of speaking to describe his main character, Odysseus. The excellence of the gods generally included their power, but, in the Odyssey (13.42), the gods can grant excellence to a life, which is contextually understood to mean prosperity. "An author of the "Creon and the Concepts of Arete, Hubris, Ate and Nemesis in Antigone" paper aims to investigate the main features of the Creon as a character in a StudentShare Our website is a unique platform where students can share their papers in a matter of giving an example of the work to be done. The meaning of the word changes depending on what it describes since everything has its own peculiar excellence; the arete of a man is different from the arete of a horse. His encounter with Arete provides an example in which this is the case (Book VII, 79). Telemachus, the focus of the first four books of The Odyssey, provides an early example of good hospitality as both a host and a guest. In later philosophical writing, arete may mean something close to virtue, but in 's heroic code, it means the type of excellence a warrior displays by fighting well. They lived in eminent families under the leadership of a local oligarchy described as ’αγαθος (good). Odyssey. Of Penelope, Odysseus ’ wife Penelope own hands all, Odysseus ' entreaty to arete Od. In art and literature or item whether Odysseus is a traveler lost on his way, offer. For entry into his household the queen of the role excellence, as she makes things happen during entire. 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