Hamilton

Hamilton begins by highlighting the common misunderstanding that mythology depicts the cheering state of man in his original harmony with nature. On the contrary, Hamilton notes, the lives of ancient people were not amative and beautiful, but full of hardship, disease, and violence. For Hamilton, the Greek myths argon remarkable In that they show how far the Greeks, an ancient clvlllzatlon, had progress beyond a primitive state of savagery and brutality. By the time Homer wrote his epic, the Iliad, a new-fashioned way of looking at the world had come into being.According to Hamilton, this new erspective is critically essential, revealing a expectant deal not only just about ancient Greece but about modern America as wellas so much of our own culture comes directly from the Greeks. One of the most important aspects of the Greek worldview was that it was the first to put clements at the center of the universe. Unlike the animal deities of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, the go ds of the Greeks are gentle in form. Not only do they possess human physical characteristics, but they embody the wound up flaws of humans as well.Unlike the gods of other ancient civilizations, Greek gods are not infinitely omniscient and omnipotent, manifesting ypical human foibles such as philandering, feasting and drinking, and obsessive Jealousy. To the Creeks, the life of the gods so closely resembled human life that the gods felt up real and tangible, quite a than Incomprehensible and remote. In this way, Hamilton argues, the myths of the Greeks reflect a view of the universe that acknowledges the mystery and viewer of humanity.Even the most magical of Greek myths contain real-world elements the supernatural Hercules lives in the very real city of Thebes, and the goddess Aphrodite is born(p) in a spot any ancient tourist could visit, off the island of Cythera. In general, Greek myths inculpate less(prenominal) strange and frightening magic than the myths of other ancie nt civilizations. In this more rational world, individuals decease heroes by virtue of bravery and strength rather than supernatural powers.Hamilton contends that this revolutionary way of thinking about the world elevates humans and the worth of their abilities, making It a far less terrifying place In which to live. Hamilton points out a downside to this rational view of the supernaturalIlke humans, the gods are often unpredictable. They do not invariably operate on the highest moral grounds, and they get angry and jealous, ometimes doing terrible things like exacting vengeance or calling for sacrifices.Even though Greek myth lacks wizards and demonic spellcasters, there are still plenty of direful magic creaturesthe snake-haired Gorgons, for Instancethat appear to be relics of that older, primitive world. In the end, however, as Hamilton points out, the Greek hero ceaselessly manages to defeat these-creatures. Hamilton By vandad91 of hardship, disease, and violence. For Hamil ton, the Greek myths are remarkable in that they show how far the Greeks, an ancient civilization, had go beyond a ealousy.To the Greeks, the life of the gods so closely resembled human life that the gods felt real and tangible, rather than incomprehensible and remote. In this way, about the world elevates humans and the worth of their abilities, making it a far less terrifying place in which to live. Hamilton points out a downside to this rational view of the supernaturallike humans, the gods are often unpredictable. They do not always operate on the highest moral grounds, and they get angry and Jealous, vile magic creaturesthe snake-haired Gorgons, for instancethat appear to be