One thing I (finally) picked up on while reading The Aeneid was the idea of the finality of "fate". In all of these ancient epics, if a person's fate was foretold, nothing could stop them from coming to a different end. Aeneas was fated to settle Italy and settle Italy he did. Even when seemingly insurmountable obstacles were put in his way, some of which were direct blows from one of the most powerful goddesses know to the romans, Juno.
So, under the greek and roman gods, did people have free will? It seems that if Zeus/Jupiter decided you were going to do something, you were going to do it regardless of what happened to you along the way. There was no way to get out of your destiny. I don't really know what I'm trying to get at here but I think it's along the lines of whether or not this ancient religion acknowledged free will and, if it didn't, how can all of its great heroes like Odysseus and Aeneas be credited with their triumphs?
P.s. I commented on Jeremy's post
Ah, the fates. Yes, well, it seems comemorable at first, this fate concept because Aeneas is attempting to fight to the end for his fate. Here, I am lost. Why must he fight if it is indeed his fate. I'm hoping to find the light in this. Surely, there is free will.
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