There's Something Wrong With This, It Seems To Me

Tuckerfan · March 6, 2003, 8:18am

Okay, some of the locals decided to do a rather nifty anti-war protest here in Nashville. They performed the ancient Greek play Lysistrata (which has wives telling their husbands that they’re not going to have sex with them until they end the war), but what gets me is that they did it on the steps of the Parthenon, which is a replica of the Greek temple devoted to the warrior goddess!!! I can kind of see the connection, Greek play, Greek temple, but uh, considering who’s inside, it strikes me as being a bit strange that they would choose to perform it there.:dubious:

brianmelendez · March 6, 2003, 8:35am

Yes, Athena was a goddess with a definite martial aspect, but was was hardly all about war. As Athena Parthenos, she was also the Athenian polis’s patron and the goddess of respectable wisdom:

The term Parthenon means apartment of the virgin. The goddess Athena was clever; resourceful; and, for a maiden, rather ferocious. Athena was the armed protector of all Greek poleis, not only Athens. She was the daughter of Zeus and Metis (meaning cunning). Discovering Metis’s pregnancy, and fearful that their child might prove mightier than himself, Zeus swallowed Metis whole. A tremendous headache ensuing, Zeus got another god to split open his skull and out sprang Athena, full grown with spear in hand. In the Greek epic Iliad, Athena’s warlike qualities are apparent as she sternly thwarts Aphrodite, goddess of erotic desire, and Aphrodite’s pawns, the ill-fated lovers Paris and Helen of Troy. Athena’s devious cunning inspired Odysseus, hero of the epic Odyssey, to build the Trojan Horse. In striking contrast, Athena was also the patron of peaceful handicrafts. To honor her patronage of weaving, every four years, at the climax of the Panathenaic Festival, Athenian women presented a special garment called a peplos to the ancient wooden cult statue of her at a temple on the Acropolis.

One of her symbols was the owl, which Athenians imprinted on their coins. Athena’s reputation as the goddess of respectable wisdom was a later addition, strengthened by her role as patron of the Athens that brought classical Greek civilization to its height.

From The Parthenon.

Tuckerfan · March 6, 2003, 8:39am

Yeah, but I mean there is a 41’ tall statue of her inside the temple carrying a spear and wearing a helmet, not seated at a loom, and many of us tend to think of her in her more war-like aspects. Admittedly, it’s not like they staged the performance outside of a replica of a temple dedicated to Ares, but still…

Tristan · March 6, 2003, 10:21am

[homer]

Mmmmm… delicious irony…

[/homer]

butter_pie · March 6, 2003, 1:43pm

Do you guys just have a lot of Greek temples sitting around to choose from, for things like that? They probably did it there because it would get more attention and they didn’t have too many good choices.

Gyrate · March 6, 2003, 2:01pm

Maybe you could ask Nashville to build a temple to Aphrodite?

little_bit · March 6, 2003, 5:16pm

Actually, look closer. She’s holding the shield, not the spear. And her other hand holds an angel with what appears to be an olive branch. Just because she’s a warrior doesn’t mean she doesn’t prefer peace.

Legomancer · March 6, 2003, 5:19pm

Is that the only temple you guys have? How do you sacrifice oxen to Apollo?

B.Pants · March 6, 2003, 5:32pm

We do that during halftime at Predators games, Legomancer. Sheesh, can’t you people figure anything out for yourselves?

ChordedZither · March 6, 2003, 5:54pm

Hmmm. I’ve been looking all through my copies of the Illiad and the Odyssey, and I can’t find that quote anywhere.

Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor · March 6, 2003, 5:59pm

<homer>Mmmmm…oxen</homer>

Tuckerfan · March 7, 2003, 5:41am

That’s not an angel, it’s the goddess Nike. The concept of angels was wholly unknown to the Greeks, and whilst the spear isn’t in her hand, it’s propped up against Athena’s shoulder. And maybe if we could convince Bud Adams to let us sacrifice a few oxen before a Titan’s game, we might win a Superbowl.

Copper_moon · March 7, 2003, 7:20pm

You should just sacrifice Bud Adams before the game.

Just kidding but he’s not well loved here in Houston.

That’s okay ~ we have the TEXANS now!!! and a new arena to boot so there.

angelabaca · March 7, 2003, 7:23pm

I don’t understand people sometimes. Leave it to those crazy hippies to do something like that. :smack: