Symposium in Transition

Though Plato and Xenophon's dialogues have made the Symposium synonymous with eloquent debate and flowing speeches (Apparently the Greeks did not suffer from the usual impairment of mental abilities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99CoPXYdFGo) The symposium was originally a drinking party, often to induct members into the aristocracy. It was also a forum for various types of debate.



Though the alcohol and courtesans have mostly departed, the symposium is still widely popular in the world today. But first, let's look through the colorful history of that marvelous merry-making that is male bonding.





















A party-goer drinking his tasty beverage and enjoying the music of a flute-girl.

Less drinking, less debauchery, but the Little Rascals kept true to the Symposium's design as they discussed their manly ideals far from the girls of the neighborhood.

Malicious in their designs, but often unsuccessful, Calvin and Hobbes created the G.R.O.S.S club with the intent of Getting Rid Of Slimy girlS and ensuring the sanctity of their masculine truths (Searching for strange bugs and riding wagons especially)

And now we come full-circle. Colleges across the nation are home to numerous symposiums, albeit in the form of the frat party. There's drunks, there's surely debauchery, but how much debate is there? Well....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRostNteE5A

To Socrates and his fellows might not find such an activity befitting the symposium, but as any patron of the grape or grain will tell you, the most trivial thing can be profound under the right circumstances.

For more art depicting the symposium, try this link. http://www.androphile.org/preview/Museum/Greece/TOC1.htm

Love endures the ages

Though discovered last week, archaeologists have just begun to excavate the fossilized remains of an ancient couple, still embraced after 5000 years of time. Such a find is extremely rare, as double burials are uncommon to begin with, let alone in such an emotive state.

The discovery occured just outside the city of Mantua, a mere 25 miles from Verona, the site of another immortal love.

The full story can be found here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17131336/

The origin of Valentine's Day

Ahh, Valentine's Day. A time of love and affection and candy hearts that taste like chalk. But where did this amorous holiday originate, and how do we relate to those beginnings 1511 years later?

With a bit of research, I found that St. Valentine's day began as a Roman ritual which preceded the founding of Rome itself.

The ceremony, known as Lupercalia, was held near the Lupercal cave and directed by the Luperci (Brothers of the wolf). The festival began with the sacrifice of two male goats and a dog. Then two young Luperci were led to the altar, and their foreheads anointed with sacrificial blood wiped from the knife by milk-soaked wool.

"The sacrificial feast followed, after which the Luperci cut thongs from the skins of the victims, which were called Februa, dressed themselves in the skins of the sacrificed goats, in imitation of Lupercus, and ran round the walls of the old Palatine city, the line of which was marked with stones, with the thongs in their hands in two bands, striking the people who crowded near. Girls and young women would line up on their route to receive lashes from these whips. This was supposed to ensure fertility, prevent sterility in women and ease the pains of childbirth."

The ritual survived until 496 AD. At this time, pagan rituals had been outlawed, and Pope Gelasius changed it to the Purification of the Virgin; The feast of Saint Valentine.

More information on the Lupercalia can be found here: http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/bos607.htm

February 05, 2007

Hymn to Hermes:

The Mighty Argus-Killer

In this comedic hymn, Hermes establishes his identity as the god of trickery, among many other qualities. Born into the obscurity, Hermes sets out on the night of his birth to make a name for himself. In a single night, he creates music and fire, and later bests his brother Apollo in a battle of wits.

I noticed two root metaphors while reading this hymn. The first is the underdog story, where the hero overcomes a disadvantage to achieve their goals. Although Apollo is much stronger then Hermes, the younger sibling uses his wits to not only challenge Apollo, but to finally reach an agreement. Hermes uses his intellect in the same manner as his father when Zeus foiled his prophesized undoing. Apollo resorts to threats and violence, much like Cronus and Uranus against their children.

The second metaphor is revealed in Hermes departure from his home and the many things he accomplishes in his quest. By leaving the saftey of comfort of his mother, Hermes portrays the journey of all mortals from children to adults, albeit in a very rapid manner. Though his mother disapproves of his actions, and his choices create risks and dangers, he still manages to succeed and achieve renown.

Important Terms

Polytropic- Versatile
Sparogmos- Ritual death of a hero in tragedy or myth