A question I had while reading this book was, how is it appropriate that Poseidon, the sea god, just happens to come to the forefront of the action when the battle reaches the seashore and the ships? Why is it appropriate for the sea god to interfere exactly at this point?
Meanwhile, Joel's translation of 39-44 brings into high relief the extent to which the Four Elements as a whole play a role in these passages: the Trojans are “like a whirlwind” (Hector is in other places described as a whirlwind). Also: “the earthshaker Poseidon who grips the land rose from the deep sea” — a lot of Elements in those lines. On top of this, we know that Hector brings fire — what's at stake here is the burning of the ships -- so all of the elements are embroiled in this battle.
You wonder if maybe the Trojans represent fire and air while the Greeks represent land and water? And yet, in later books, the rivers are on the side of the Trojans, and Hephaistos, who brings fire, is on the side of the Greeks. And Hector is not just described as being like a whirlwind but also described as being like a stone.
As to the point of Joel's post: Poseidon definitely brings an energy of his own to the way he interferes in the affairs of humankind, quite unlike Athena's energy in book 5. Athena plays favorites while Poseidon is a team leader. It is interesting that the gods present themselves as mortals (as opposed to as themselves) and must make a decision about which mortal's likeness -- what persona, what character -- they will adopt.
A question I had while reading this book was, how is it appropriate that Poseidon, the sea god, just happens to come to the forefront of the action when the battle reaches the seashore and the ships? Why is it appropriate for the sea god to interfere exactly at this point?
Meanwhile, Joel's translation of 39-44 brings into high relief the extent to which the Four Elements as a whole play a role in these passages: the Trojans are “like a whirlwind” (Hector is in other places described as a whirlwind). Also: “the earthshaker Poseidon who grips the land rose from the deep sea” — a lot of Elements in those lines. On top of this, we know that Hector brings fire — what's at stake here is the burning of the ships -- so all of the elements are embroiled in this battle.
You wonder if maybe the Trojans represent fire and air while the Greeks represent land and water? And yet, in later books, the rivers are on the side of the Trojans, and Hephaistos, who brings fire, is on the side of the Greeks. And Hector is not just described as being like a whirlwind but also described as being like a stone.
As to the point of Joel's post: Poseidon definitely brings an energy of his own to the way he interferes in the affairs of humankind, quite unlike Athena's energy in book 5. Athena plays favorites while Poseidon is a team leader. It is interesting that the gods present themselves as mortals (as opposed to as themselves) and must make a decision about which mortal's likeness -- what persona, what character -- they will adopt.