INVOCATION
An invocation begins the epic poem and serves as a prologue to the
events to come. A prayer or address is made to one of the nine muses of
Greco-Roman mythology. The poet asks for the inspiration, skill,
knowledge, or the right emotion to finish a poem worthy of his subject
matter.
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses (Ancient Greek:
Μοῦσαι, Moũsai) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science,
and the arts. They are considered the source of the knowledge
embodied in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths that were related orally
for centuries in these ancient cultures.
Calliope (epic poetry),
Clio (history),
Euterpe (flutes and lyric poetry),
Thalia (comedy and pastoral poetry),
Melpomene (tragedy),
Terpsichore (dance),
Erato (love poetry),
Polyhymnia(sacred poetry),
Urania (astronomy)
NINE MUSES
According to Hesiod's account (c. 600 BC), generally followed by the
writers of antiquity, the Nine Muses were the nine daughters
of Zeus and Mnemosyne (i.e., "Memory" personified), figuring as
personifications of knowledge and the arts, especially literature, dance
and music.
Calliope is usually shown with a writing tablet in her hand. At times,
she is depicted carrying a roll of paper or a book, or wearing a gold
crown.
Various representations of Achilles: on Ancient
Greek pottery (300 BCE), in sculpture (19TH
century) and in the Hollywood film, Troy (2004)
Apollo Belvedere (right) – a
famous representation of the
archer God at the Vatican palace,
Rome. The statue is a Roman copy
(120-140 CE) of a Greek bronze
original (350-325 BCE) made by
Leochares
Leto and her Children: Apollo and Artemis
The Mask of Agamemnon from about 1500
BCE: discovered by Heinrich Schleimann in
1876 at Mycenae
Achilles and Agamemnon: fresco from the Roman Ruins of Pompei, 1st
Century CE
Achilles being stopped by Athena: etched by John
Flaxman(1805 CE) [EXTRA PLATE]
Athena Farnese: Roman Copy of Greek original (c.430 BCE)
Theseus defeating Centaurs; by Antonio Canova (1804-1819
CE)
Lapiths and Centaurs from the Metrope of the Parthenon (5th
Century BCE)
The Mask of Agamemnon: discovered by
Heinrich Schleimann in 1876 at Mycenae
Briseis taken away; a famous etching by John Flaxman from the 1795 edition of The Iliad
Briseis taken away; fresco from Pompeii (1st Century CE)
Thetis dips Achilles in Styx, by Peter Paul
Rubens (between 1630 and 1635 CE)
Marriage of Peleus and Thetis, by Cornelis van Haarlem (1592-93)
Artemision Bronze Statue of Zeus (c. 550 BCE)
Jupiter supplicated by Thetis, by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1811)
Tantalus suffering due to filicide
Nestor in Agamemnon’s Dream. 1805, after Fuseli. Printed by James Heath
EPIC FEATURE- REPETITION
Repetition and Recapulation are important features of oral epics. In the Book 2, there
are several examples of this. Zeus, in the disguise of Nestor delivers a message to
Agamemnon (l.23-34). Agamemnon recapulates it to the senior Greek commanders in
Council (l.56-71). Further, Hera sends a message to Odysseus through Athena (l.164165). Athena delivers the message to Odysseus (l.181-182).
Repetition was a feature of oral poetry which not only recapitulates a story told
earlier, it also serves a mnemonic function for the poet. Moreover, in Homer, there are
subtle modifications to the repetition. For example, Hera asks Athena to go down
among the “bronze-armoured Greeks” and deliver them a message to continue
fighting. Athena, while repeating the message to Odysseus, doesn’t use the epithet
“brone-armoured”. The epithet, used in an Iron Age poem about people in the Bronze
Age, conveys a sense of fragility, which Athena wants to hide from Odysseus.
Homeric Greek
Neptune destroying Locrian Ajax
Theseus stealing Helen, 5th Century BCE Athenian Amphora
Theseus slaying Minotaur, 5th century BCE
The Suicide of Telemonian Ajax
Belvedere Torso, probably depicting Ajax, 1st century BCE
Diomedes, King of Argos – Roman copy of a statue by Kresilas from c. 430 BC. Glyptothek, Munich.
Marble Bust of Menelaus, Vatican Museums
Nestor along with his sons, 4th century BCE
Odysseus returns to his palace in Ithaca, by John Flaxman
Odysseus and Neoptolemus stealing Heracles’ arrows from Philoctetes, painted by Francois Xavier Fabre (1799-1800)