Gods Flashcards
Main role
Blamed for the defeat of Persia
Why did the gods cause Persia to loose?
Due to Xerxes hubris
He has conflict with the gods which impacted the results of the war
-> X is fated to fail before the battle begins because of gods jealously
(Greeks believe the gods can feel human emotions etc. and wanted to bring men down @ peak of greatness)
-> Xerxes and Darius rose too high (described as godlike) and so are made to fail
“himself the peer of gods” “godlike king”
Xerxes fault
arrogant Xerxes went too far by unnaturally yoking two continents and so the gods punished him with defeat
-> he has defied the gods and sea
Darius and Xerxes = reason for Persia’s loss (Darius’ success) but Xerxes quickened gate by being too “rash”
Darius “built with Heaven’s help” peace is now gone due to jealousy
“marched on war with hempen cords”
Impact of conflict with gods
conflict with the gods forms part of moral message of the play: don’t rise too high too quickly or you will have the jealously of the gods
loss of the Persians = will of the gods who prefer the Greeks (bc Greeks = better etc. => MESSAGE OF PLAY)
-> ghost of Darius says that the land fights for them and gods favour them
Contrast
Parados: how brilliant and amazing Xerxes army is (contrasted with loss etc. that follows defeat)
Xerxes enters the play in torn clothes => gods have got their vengeance and ruined Persia
God quotes
“Heaven had given glory to the Hellenes”
“ignorance of the gods intent”
“the jealousy of the gods”
“while Heaven with tortuous plan”
“immortal guile”
“unless the Fates today have turned their hands against us”
“the cruel and crushing fate of those whom the god’s hate”
“must endure grief when the gods send it”
“such is the roll of officers who met their fate”
“with what partial hands the gods weighed down the scale against us”
“it is the gods who keep Athene’s city safe”
“some Fury, some malignant power”
“what malign power so deceived our Persian hopes?”
“some god who write long before his time”
“of all the evil god sent to strike Persia down”
“fatal spirit of destruction”
“thy hand, O Zeus”
“some god, I fear, whose power robbed X of his wits”
“no anger of the gods”
“Divine prophecy”
“cease affronting Gods”
