Back in high school, due to lack of a better way to pass time, I developed a habit of heavily reading different novels, I would come across during my visit to the school library or borrowed from acquaintances in other classes, one of the texts I got to read was the great epic the Iliad attributed to Homer the Greek Oral Poet.
Little did I know the great significance the text held, it was just like any other I would frequently stumble upon in my quest to lose myself in escapism. Greek Mythology was not part of the curriculum used, so it was very easy to just be ignorant on the significance of such ancient Epics.
By the time I graduated from high school, I had just but a vague understanding of such ancient writings, all I was aware of was they had some pretty dark stories and some gods who for the fact that they were gods did whatever they wanted, irrespective of set morals, the quicker I got started the quicker I would get finished and move on to the next interesting read.
Overtime, though, I found myself going back to the Iliad, but that only happened during the exam periods when there was nothing else to read.
I never read it from the first Epic to the 24th, some of the epics I felt were too complex to tire my young and dumb brain trying to understand, and so I read those stories which were much easier to comprehend without necessarily requiring the understanding of the complex maze of the different Olympians and Demigods, and whoever the unlucky human who happened to stumble upon their path, but even then I was always left feeling like I was missing a crucial component in understanding the whole book in general.
Fast-forward, a year later, during my first year in College, we had an introductory course in Philosophy. To many it didn't make sense why in Computer Science there was a compulsory course in Philosophy, but personally I was fascinated by the subject which according to many was very hard to decipher, there was an inherent appreciation in the introductory topics introduced by the lecturer, finding the topics much intriguing as they entailed detailed reading of some of Aristotle's greatest teachings on Ethics, Morality, and Metaphysics. Now that I think of it, I think the thing that scared people was the different style of writing than what we were used to.
In search of a better way to comprehend the introductory philosophical essays, I came across an article recommending a better understanding of Greek Mythology, for that held some of the key towards understanding most of the ancient texts, which I so much wanted to understand, not to excel in my exams but rather just to have that understanding.
Among the heavily recommended reads was the Iliad and the Odyssey. The Odyssey too is postulated to have been written by Homer! Suddenly, my fascination and intrigue with ancient Greek writings finally made sense. The various Epics and Myths have been a source of inspiration to many artists, religious leaders, the greatest thinkers and philosophers to ever walk on the planet, Western Civilization as we know of it today, is heavily influenced in subtle ways which I think we sometimes fail to acknowledge and appreciate!
Now I had a reason to get back and read the different sources of the different Epics, get a better understanding of The Titans, who came before The Olympians, and also learn more about the Underworld, which was considered different from Mount Olympus, though I never got to it, there was always something else going on, despite having lots of free time, I just didn't feel ready to embark on a journey across time.
Strengthening my resolve to wanting to have a better understanding of the Epics was realizing for me to better understand what heavily influenced the thought process of Philosophers such as the great German Philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche. If I was going to fully comprehend his various texts, understanding the ancient Epics on Greek Mythology, was a necessity, for Nietzsche c had profound respect and adoration for the god, Dionysus.
For the past two months I have been contemplating on getting started, and most importantly bring you guys with me, how to share with you all my experience, in the hope that we will all learn something new.
Due to burnout, and just being both physically and emotionally exhausted, I lost energy to keep on updating my blog with daily updates on other topics, I thought a one-week break would help, but that ended up turning into more than two months break, at which point it was no longer a break but simply me procrastinating embarking on writing. I would drop by my blog to drop some thoughtful comments at irregular intervals, but otherwise not much activity from my account.
Inactivity comes to an end though as I write this sorta long update. My schedule is more tight than ever, but my brain is craving and in need of some inspiration and just something to look forward to, and for me nothing sounds much better than getting started on the reading and on a regular basis, sharing with you all the different Epics, the different Olympian Gods, the Underworld, the Demigods, and of course the humans who by fate got to experience the Wrath of the Olympians as they all competed in their extravagant shows of grandiose, but somehow they couldn't seem to get away with it, everything had a price, it all ending tragically.
Wondering about how you get to keep up with my journey across time?
You just have to stay tuned for my updates! š
Disclaimer!
I am not an expert in matters related to the different Myths, and their significance, I am a student majoring in a course totally different, but I am and have been for a long time fascinated with gaining understanding of the different Epics. For they hold crucial knowledge in understanding other areas in life, more so, in my personal journey towards educating myself on different Philosophical teachings.
Philosophy may not necessarily be a career path I will pursue, but it holds priceless knowledge, much needed in trying to make sense of the constant chaos we call the 21st-Century.
So where I am wrong, or have a misunderstood perspective, please share your thoughts and that way we all get to learn from each other!
~ā till next time... Have a Great One!
ā
