The hottest Greek mythology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Art & Illustration Topics

After the Epic's End

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 119 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
📚 Literature Greek mythology Literary Analysis Book Discussion Classical Studies
  1. The author discusses their transition to using Substack as a platform for their work, focusing on deepening their engagement with the epic Iliad.
  2. The author emphasizes the importance of sharing and promoting scholarly work, aiming to reach a broader audience beyond traditional academic circles.
  3. Through their Substack posts, the author explores various themes and new scholarship related to the Iliad, offering insights and analyses for readers interested in the epic.

Scarcity and the Iliad

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 199 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
📚 Literature Classics Greek mythology
  1. Book 12 of the Iliad uses speech exchanges and similes to reflect on politics, heroism, and scarcity, demonstrating the depth and complexity of the narrative.
  2. Similes in the Iliad serve as a bridge between the characters in the poem and the real-world experiences of the audience, showing how the ordinary and the epic intertwine.
  3. The similes in the middle of the Iliad create anticipatory tension and convey the themes of scarcity, precarity, and the transient nature of balance, adding layers of meaning to the epic tale.

Even Zeus Suffers

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 119 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
📚 Literature Greek mythology Epic poetry Death Gods Mortality
  1. In the Iliad, the scene of Zeus mourning for his son Sarpedon highlights themes of heroism, human mortality, and the relationship between gods and humans.
  2. The internal and external tensions surrounding Sarpedon's death in the Iliad demonstrate the complexities of fate, divine power, and the connections to larger epic and cosmic themes.
  3. Zeus's decision to honor Sarpedon in death with proper burial rites emphasizes the universality of human mortality and the importance of honoring the dead, establishing a cosmic order where certain rights remain untouchable.

A New Widow and Her Orphan

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📚 Literature Poetry Greek mythology Classic literature Narrative analysis Tragedy
  1. Andromache's lament in the Iliad for Hektor showcases the profound grief of a widow and her orphaned child, expressing the devastating impact of loss on families and communities.
  2. Andromache's speeches highlight themes of trauma and projected pain, emphasizing the tragic fate awaiting her son Astyanax as a symbol of lost potential and unfulfilled promise.
  3. The epic portrays the horrors of war through the lens of violence against children like Astyanax, revealing the irrevocable destruction violence brings to cities and the emptiness of glory in the face of irreparable loss.

They're Just Not That Into Us

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
📚 Literature Epic poetry Greek mythology Classical Studies
  1. Book 21 of the Iliad showcases the cosmic disorder inherent in a world where gods and mortals coexist, highlighting the danger of heroes like Achilles.
  2. The Homeric poems, including the Iliad and the Odyssey, narrate the development of the cosmos and the transition towards a world closer to the audience's lives, exploring the concept of demigods and the divine history.
  3. Through the dialogue between Poseidon and Apollo in the Iliad, the gods decide to step back from interfering in mortal affairs, illustrating the theme that humans gain glory through their sacrifices and actions in the face of mortality.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

People Are Going to Tell Our Story

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
📚 Literature Themes Characters Narrative Greek mythology Analysis
  1. Book 19 of the Iliad delves into resolving political conflicts, reconciling characters, and preparing for battle.
  2. The exchange of speeches between Achilles and Agamemnon in Iliad 19 reflects concerns about stories and storytelling, showcasing how characters acknowledge their roles in future narratives.
  3. The comparison between Zeus and Agamemnon in a story told by Agamemnon to Achilles emphasizes the complex dynamics of power, authority, and responsibility in their relationship.

Erasing the Past

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
📚 Literature Greek mythology Narrative analysis Epic poetry Classical Studies
  1. Poseidon's concern about his fame in the Iliad reflects a zero-sum game of kleos, demonstrating the importance of recognition in ancient mythology.
  2. Zeus authorizes Poseidon to destroy the Achaean wall, emphasizing the balance of memory and forgetting controlled by divine agency.
  3. The detailed destruction of the wall in Book 12 expands upon the narrative of the Trojan War, showing a cosmic perspective and the cyclical nature of destruction in the heroic age.

Wishing the Impossible

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
📚 Literature Greek mythology Character analysis Epic poetry Comparison
  1. Hektor in the Iliad is a complex character who leads the Trojan war effort but faces challenges and limitations in his portrayal.
  2. Readers connect with Hektor as a noble character in the epic, showing deep emotional responses towards him.
  3. Hektor's speeches reveal his eagerness for battle, his wish for immortality, and his unique approach to rallying his people, showcasing his internal conflicts.

Give Helen Back!

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 19 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
📚 Literature Greek mythology Politics Rhetoric Epic poetry
  1. Book 7 of the Iliad provides insight into Greek and Trojan political organizations through divine orchestration and assemblies.
  2. The political institutions in the Iliad mirror the basic organization of many Greek city-states.
  3. Antenor's dissent and suggestion to return Helen in the Iliad reflect the limits on advice and deliberation in the Trojan polity.