Greek Epic Concepts: Kleos, Xenia, Heroism, and Divine Interactions

Kleos

Glory or renown, especially that won in battle and preserved in epic poetry. It is often the central motivating factor for Greek heroes like Achilles.

Xenia

The ancient Greek concept of hospitality, which governs the relationship between a host and guest. It is a divine law protected by Zeus, involving specific rules for welcoming travelers and offering gifts.

Heroism (Greek standards not modern)

A concept centered on the pursuit of kleos (glory) and timē (honor), typically achieved through extraordinary courage and skill in battle, often at the cost of long life. It involves a willingness to challenge fate and gods.

Piety/Impiety

Piety is reverence for the gods, expressed through prayer, sacrifice, and obedience to their will. Impiety is the failure to show this reverence, often leading to divine wrath (e.g., Agamemnon's actions).

Binary Opposition

A critical theory concept that involves pairing seemingly opposite ideas (e.g., Greek/Trojan, male/female, civilized/barbaric, or mind/body). In the epics, the meaning of a term often depends on what it is being contrasted with.

Epic

A long narrative poem written in a formal, elevated style, usually focusing on a heroic or legendary figure, whose actions determine the fate of a nation or race (e.g., The Iliad).

Tragedy

A form of drama dealing with the sorrowful or terrible events encountered by a heroic individual, often culminating in their inevitable downfall; common themes include the tension between fate and free will (e.g., Philoctetes).

Catharsis

The purging of emotions (like pity and fear) achieved by the audience at the end of a tragedy, which brings about a sense of renewal or purification.

Mythology

A body of traditional stories concerning a particular people or class, often explaining natural phenomena, customs, or religious beliefs; in the texts, it is the shared narrative and belief system of the Greeks.

Interactions and Differences between Gods and Mortals

Gods are immortal, all-powerful, and fickle, intervening frequently in mortal affairs out of divine preference or spite. Mortals are mortal, limited, and driven by the pursuit of honor and glory, often becoming pawns in the divine drama.

Double Determination

The idea that an event is caused by both a divine power (the gods) and the will or action of a human being (a mortal); the two causes do not negate each other but exist simultaneously.