Themes, Places and Character Quotations
[Mycenae] "A distant light shone out of the black night. The great gate of Mycenae ominously appeared in the leaping shadows of huge torches. Licking tongues of fire illumed two lions on either side of a single pillar. Their forelegs were raised, and their heads turned outward watching our approach. Suddenly, I felt a pervasive evil, and the rumored tales of s curse on Mycenae's rulers seemed borne out and frighteningly close at hand. .all of the events in my life, since the impulsive chase to rescue the goddess image were nothing compared to passing through the gates of Mycenae.[Odysseus]"'My journey here is a sham. I am defeated before I start'.
'Why ever do you say that?' I asked.I could not understand his attitude...
'And, you see, beautiful Helen, even if for some incomprehensible reason known
to yourself alone, you chose me to be your king, it would not work: I cannot
leave Ithaca and live here. I am a king, not a prince.' He sat up resting his
elbows on his knees and chuckled inwardly. 'I had a notion I could talk you
into coming with me. After all, I reasoned, you do have two princely brothers
who are natural kings, are thy not?'
'And women? I asked. 'What about the young women?' Odysseus answered.
'Come to think of it, Zeus does not have much room for women. When it pleases
him, he simply takes over a Goddess shrine.' He stood
and walked about. 'The truth is,' he said, standing before me, 'we do honor the
Goddess in Ithaca. We practice many rituals and traditions still. My father
believes the old religion is fading because we lack young female followers to
carry on'.
'Oh,' I said, seeing an instant answer to their problem. 'Then you must marry
a moon maiden. We have an active shrine here with young women who would suit
your needs perfectly.'
'Do you? Odysseus smiled. 'That brings us back to why I am here, I believe.'"
[Paris]"'Queen Helen. I all but nursed at the bosom of the Goddess.I grew up a
shepherd on mountain pastures. I ran free with the beasts and learned the lore of
the heights. It was as though Mt. Ida's verdant hills were the breasts of the
goddess, for they nurtured my body with honey and milk, and my soul with beauty.
She taught me the wisdom of the wilderness..
I knew little of the customs and habits within the royal house and drew
derisive abuse from my brothers and sisters for my loud voice and lack of
ceremony. My father hired a tutor for me, and eventually I was tamed. Mother
Hecuba enjoyed the unexpected perceptions of a child of nature and encouraged
me to express my simple observations of all that I encountered in my new
surroundings. As these conversations were of little interest to others, she
and I grew into the habit of having long talks together in her apartment. I
cherished these moments alone with her, for she is blessed with a warmth and
brilliance that inspires me.'" [Index]
