Re: Re: HW Ancient Greece?

From: Guy Hoyle <ghoyle1_at_...>
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 00:22:01 -0600


Was this really a ritual, though? He was told where there was an entrance to the underworld, and what to bring with him (a sheep), and what to do with the sheep (dig a trench, cut the sheep's throat, and fill the trench with the blood; keep away all the ghosts except Tieresias'). This could really have been done by anyone who was simply following instructions.

Hermes himself told Odysseus what herb to get and where to find it. Even if the herb was magical, Odysseus didn't seem to be casting any spell. (However, to the ancient Greeks, pharmakon or the knowledge of herbs was virtually ijndistinguishable from spell-casting.) It's also worth noting that Circe must prepare a meal with magical herbs for Odysseus' men before she can change them into beasts.

Magic is everywhere in Greek mythology, but spells will take some thought. Are Asklepios and Orpheus and Aeolus magicians?

Guy

On 3/15/2003 at 3:29 PM Andrew Barton wrote:

>There's some magic around ...
>
>Odysseus performs a ritual to speak with an ancestor, and protects himself
>against against Circe's magic by using a herb.
>
>But most of the time, it's male heroes that are the protagonists and they
>get their abilities by acquiring items. The magicians are female villains
>like Circe and Medea.
>
>Andrew
>
>
>To Post a message, send it to: hw-rules_at_...
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Always choose the option that'll most likely blow up in your own face. You never know when a tribe of werebears is going to want to skin you alive, for instance. Those are the Munchausenesque moments you can brag about over beer for years.

Of course, sometimes you get bitten by vampires infected with bubonic plague, but on the whole, you have a great time.

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