I'm ignorant as to Aeschylus' relation to Homer and his epic chronologically speaking, so I can't delve as deeply there as I'd like to. However, I immediately recognize a more mortal centred mindset. Homer always, ALWAYS referred to the dawn in her form as a goddess. Not so with Aeschylus. He refers to dawn without any of her deified attributes. Then directly after, as the cry of Menelaus and Agammemnon is raised to the heavens, three gods are referred to: Apollo, Zeus, and...Pan! For one thing, Pan doesn't live "on high." He lives off in the hills and the meadows. He's not even an Olympian! Pan serves as the patron deity of shepherds and the wild. This is in stark contrast to his peers who each embody some aspect of civilisation. Why is he put into this group?? Seen in the Odyessey is such a strong emphasis on civilisation. Yet here we see Pan being given possible credit for intervention in the Trojan War?? It's incredible. Simply incredible. I believe Aeschylus is showcasing a more mundane view of the cosmos and it's workings. Much less reliance on the sovereign gods above.
P. S. I commented on Jeremy's blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment