Greek Literaure
On February 19th around 3pm I began reading book 4 of Herodotus Histories. The first page of this chapter discusses King Darius and why he chose to invade Scythia. From my reading I learned that King Darius’s reason for his invasion was based from revenge. The Scythians had invaded media and King Darius wanted to “punish them” (279).
Next I read about the slaves of Scythia. I learned, from my good friend Herodotus, that all the slaves in Scythia are blinded. Since Scythians are milk drinkers (like many people today) they have their slaves milk their animals. The process involves pipes made of bone, or some slaves “milk the mare.” The top portion of the milk is considered more valuable than the bottom, this is the reason why Scythians blind their slaves.The reason Herodotus gave for why Scythians blind their slaves still confuses me.
Further on into my reading I learned about the slave revolt in Scythia. Herodotus records that the slave childeren grew up and fought against their oppressors. These slave rebels were doing a great job at fighting, they also had their opponents torn between fighting or letting them free, “We get killed ourselves, and we are that much fewer. We kill them and we have that many fewer slaves” (280). The logic of the Scythians was spot on — if you consider slavery a wise choice — in that that chose to use whips instead of weapons. I found it very interesting how these slave rebels will to fight was ironically broken with the use of whips.
Next I read about a man named Targitaus. This Targitaus is credited with being the first man to walk, the originally desolate, Scythia. Targitaus parents, interestingly enough, were not even human. As I read this portion of the book I was reminded of Hercles, who is mentioned later in the book. But back to Targitaus, this mans father was Zeus… I had to let that sink in lol, his mother was a daughter of the river Borysthenes. Now, I’m no professinal I just highly question how this relationship went for Zeus and the river daughter. Assuming she’s made of water, how did Zeus even know she existed? I’ve never really looked at water like a person before.
This Targitaus had three boys (just like my father) Lipoxaïs, Arpoxaïs and my favotite Colaxïs. The reason Colaxïs is my favorite amoung Targitaus’s sons is because he was crowned king, not from trickery or betrayal, thievery or murder but magic gold that fell from the sky. As to how this gold fell from the sky or where it came from I don’t know. I just really think that gold, randomly falling from the sky (while potentially hazerdous) is really dope, for lack of a better word. As the oldest son of Targitaus approached the gold flames would develop, keeping the boy from taking it, the same happend to the younger son Arpoxaïs. Finally when my boy Colaxïas came to the gold, the fire was quenched. Thus, the boys agreed Colaxïs should be king.
One component of these pages I really enjoyed was the supernatural aspect. Stories that involve more than the eye can see, catch my eye. Since I’m speaking of the supernatural I must not forget Heracles. When it comes to the supernatural Heracles is defenatly invovled! This person Heracles is sleeping with his animals nearby and randomly the aniamls are “spirited away by some divine intervention”(282). After reading this passage of the book I had to close the pages and laugh, just like when part Cambyses army was buried alive with sand.
Once Heracles wakes up he runs into a girl, but not just any girl, this woman, I should say, was half snake. Of course she has his animals, she then offers to return the animals if Heracles lays with her. I thought that this was unfair to Heracles considering he probably didn’t want to sleep with woman/snake (at least I wouldn’t). Not only did this Snake/Woman make Hercles lay with herself, but she kept postponing that time when she would return his animals. Make a long story short Heracles and the Snake Woman ended up having three sons.
Further on into my reading excursion I was introduced to a cool fellow named Aristeas. This Aristeas is super cool, at this point in my reading I hadn’t yet finished the chapter however, I was sure Aristeas was the coolest. Herodotus mentions he heard a story in Proconnesus. So Aristeas was in a fuller’s shop and died, supposedly. The fuller closed the shop and went to tell the family. When the family went back to the shop, Aristeas body was gone. After this infamous dissapearing Aristeas shoes up again! Seven years later! If I were to disappear then reappear seven years later, then due to my folks I would actually disappear, permanantly. Not only does this Arsiteas “show up” seven years later but he comes back with bars! After writing his poem, Aristeas vanished again. Just when I thought this story couldn’t go anyfurther Herodotus blows my mind.
As it turns out Herodotus knew “somthing that happend to the Metapontines, in Italy” (285). In Metapontines two hundred and forty years after the second disappearance of Aristeas, the Metapontines say that Aristeas appeared in their country. Once Aristeas appears to the Metapontines he asks them to build an alter of Apollo and place it beside a statue of “Aristeas of Proconesus.” Aristeas claims that Apollo had come to the Metapontines land and that he was there but in the form of a crow. These people asked the Pythia what they should do, and the Pythia said they should listen to this “Phantom.” So they built both of the statues one for Apollo with bay trees around it and one Aristeas. At this point I thought “Aristeas was a hero for the cause of self glorification.”
On Monday Feb 20th I began reading again. In this portion of my reading I learned about more people such as the Alazones who sow corn but not to eat, to sell.
In class on February 16th, Dr. Sandrigde led the class through a quiz review, like usual. This quiz review stuck out to me most — above all others — because this was the first quiz that I aced. I remember the first question from Dr. Sandridge, “Who invaded Egypt, in other words: did you read any of book 3.” The next question was how Cambyses died. Next was Polycrates, this man threw away his precious ring in the hopes of peace. Following these remarks Dr. Sandridge asked the class regarding the wife who encouraged the Persian king to invade Greece, to prove his manhood. After mentally rethinking this question I thought to myself “why does this man have to commit violence to proove his manhood.” Either way I recalled him making this decision, also I must add, this kings wife was named Atossa. At this point during the review I was thrilled, I could tell that I was doing great. At this point in the review Dr. Sandridge made the comment, “John it sounds like your 4 for 4” to which I answered, “ I think so” (with a smile). The next question reffered to the Apis, as I pondered this question during the quiz I remembered the Apis being a calf; when Dr. Sandridge went back over the quiz he remembered the Apis being a bull. Dr. Sandridge mentioned, “You do know the difference between a calf and a bull right?”, I thought that was funny. Thankfully upon reviewing book three that contained the Apis, the class was reassured that Apis was indeed a calf.
Next Dr. Sandridge helped the class remember what part of king Smerdis’s body was missing. As I pondered this question I still wondered to myself “Couldn’t people recognize someone with no ears.” Granted if one were to go to Chipotle and see a person with no ears I would notice. Then I recalled to myself, the girl who was seeing Smerdis was seeing him at night.
On Monday Feb 2sts I began reading again. Immeadiently a major question was answered for me. I remember reading from Herodotus about a land beyond theirs you could not see due to feathers. Now immeadiently I thought to myself, “feathers, ok. For a world where ants are the size of large foxes I guess this isn’t to wired.” Then finally in my mental desperation my good friend Herodotus helped me out, “Now concerning the feathers of which the Scythians say the air in the country beyond them is full… the Scythians… speak of the snow as feathers” (290). Once I read this message it was all made clear to me. I can recall in my former years much snow and at times it would block vision. When I lived in Minnestoa — the land of 10,000 lakes — blinding blizzards where sometimes time.
This next section of the book reminded me of book 3. Herodotus was giving another look into a region and it people. Herodotus had mentioned that among the Hyperboreans there nothing that could be said about them, due to a lack of knowledge. Herodotus did mention however, that the Delians knew more about the Hyperboreans than anyone else. I realized from my readings that the Delians say holy offerings came wrapped in “wheat straw” from the Hyperboreans to Scythia (291). The people from Dodona are the first people to gather these gifts. From Dodona there is a series of lands the gifts are transfered to.
The part of this story that reminds me book three is the part about Hyperoche and Laodice. These too girls were sent with an escort of five men. The escort that went with these girls are also call Peripheries, Herodotus mentioned that these men have great honer in delos. Some how those that were sent never came back.
