Zeus: The man, the myth, the legend

Zeus: The man, the myth, the legend   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the pantheon of Greek and Roman myth many of the gods are depicted in only one, revered gaze. Zeus on the on the other hand is depicted as many things which include; the ruler of the other gods, a brother, a warrior, a tyrant, a just king, a vengeful deity, an adulterer and a rapist. Zeus embodies what many perceived to be perfect masculinity in antiquity. He was the target of deception and revenge, mostly from his angered wife Hera, but he was the target of many vengeful acts none the less. However the one aspect in Zeus canon that is most important in explaining why he was such an important figure in Mythology is that he was depicted as a father, even in myths where he was portrayed in another light such as a warrior or as a son attempting to usurp his fathers position, his patriarchal side always showed in some manner in many of the stories.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zeus name in Greek comes from a root word meaning bright. It is interesting to note that the planet Jupiter, which is the same name as Zeus in Roman is typically the brightest object in the night sky, seems to be an interesting etymological comparison. Zeus took control of the sky when the Olympian gods inherited control over the world while his brothers Hades and Poseidon were given control over the underworld and the Oceans, respectively. Typically Zeus is associated with the lightening bolt, his weapon if choice, as well as the eagle, a majestic symbol of nobility. The Oak tree is also tied to Zeus as it is a sturdy tree that grows for hundreds of years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zeus was the youngest of the first generation Olympian gods which also included Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. When he was born Zeus was hidden to grow up on the island of Crete in order to prevent his father, Cronus, from eating him just as he did to his older siblings. Instead of eating Zeus, Cronus was tricked into eating a stone which in turn made him regurgitate all of his devoured children only then to be slain by Zeus who was protecting his siblings. This can be juxtaposed to a father who would protect his children. The Olympian gods ally together and fight all of the Titans from atop mount Olympus, this was known as the Titanomachy. This ten year war was aided not only by the Cyclopes, but the Hecatonchires as well. When the Olympian gods finally won the Titans were then imprisoned in Tartarus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zeus engaged in lascivious acts with goddesses which gave birth to many children which included; Aegipan, Persephone and Zargreus, Orion and Manes, Ares, Eileithyia, Eris, Hebe, Ersa and Carae, Limos, Apollo and Artimis, Hermes, Athena, The Muses Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania, Zagreus and Melinoe, Ersa, Nemean Lion and Pandia. There mothers were Aix, Anake, Demeter, Dione, Thalassa, Gaia, Hera, Eos, Eris, Leto, Maia, Metis, Mnemosyne, Persephone and Selene respectively. Themis who was the first wife of Zeus gave birth to Astraea, Nemisis, Horae, Auxo, Carpo, Thallo, Dike, Eirene, Eunomia, Pherusa, Euporie, Orthosie, and The fates Atropos Clotho and Lachesis (Wikipedia Zeus). In addition to having plenty of children with goddesses Zeus also had children with many mortals, these children include; Aeacus, Hercules, Amphion and Zethus, Arcas, Britomartis, Perseus, Tityas, Dardanus and Iasion. Minos, Rhadamanrhys and Sarpedon, Aglea, Euphrosyne and Thalia, Kronios, Spartaios and Kytos, Thebe, Epaphus and Keroessa, Sarpedon, Polydeuces, Castor and Helen of Troy, Lorcrus, Argus and Pelasgus, Alexander III of Macedon (Alexander the Great), Meliteus, Tantulus, Balius and Xanthus, Hellen, Dionysus, Lacedaemon, Palici, Litae, Tyche and Ate. The mortal mothers of these children of Zeus are; Aegina, Alcmene, Antipoe, Callisto, Carme, Danae, Elara, Electra, Europa, Eurynome, Himalia, Iodame, Io, Lamia, Laodamia, Leda, Maera, Niobe, Olympias, Othreis, Pluto, Podarge, Pyrrha, Semele Taygete and Thalia respectively (Wikipedia Zeus). The Gigantomachy was the battle of the Olympian gods against the giants. The Giants, who were born of the blood of Uranus spilling onto the Earth were half human and half serpentine creatures. This myth depicts Zeus in the warrior light because it was Zeus who fought the leader of the Giants Thyphoeus. Typhoeus was beaten by Zeus and thus so were the giants. They were imprisoned in Earth which to Greeks gave reason as to why volcanoes are scattered along the Earths surface. The fact that he fought Typhoeus alone exemplifies what many of the Greeks and Romans thought were how a warrior should behave, that and if he did not do so he would lose the stigma that he was the epitome of masculinity. The myths of Zeus are so widely varied and his behavior within the myths are just as varied that some have postulated that Zeus is the conglomeration of many minor gods who over time were blurred into one supreme being. In addition the many bizarre acts of Zeus can be a way for many people to justify their obscure behavior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Zeus had relations not only with mortal females, but also mortal males. One of the most notable tales of this is that of Zeus and Ganymede. Ganymede was a slave boy who Zeus became infatuated with, one day Zeus sent eagles down to Earth to retrieve Ganymede and bring him to Olympus there he became a cup-bearer. That way he was always around when Zeus needed him to be. This is an example of how Zeus sometimes abused his power to get whatever he wanted. This tale also reflects how Roman society viewed homosexuality and accepted it the way they did.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Ovids Metamorphoses the tale of the great flood is another fine example of Zeus wearing yet another hat. This myth Deals with ruler of Arcadia Lycaon and his tyrannical behavior. Lycaon thought he would serve Zeus one of his children as a sacrifice. As one would expect Zeus found this repulsive and decided to not only punish Lycaon, but the rest of humanity as well. He first transformed Lycaon into a wolf, it suited his personality. This was the typical style of most transformations in Ovids works. Zeus then decided to wipe the Earth clean of the human race and start fresh, thus the great flood much like the story of Noahs Ark. In the Greek version, there were however two survivors Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha. In order to repopulate the Earth they were instructed to throw the bones of their mother over their shoulder to repopulate the Earth, these instructions from the oracle had to be interpreted in order for the oracle to maintain that it was ne ver wrong. They Figured that the bones were actually rocks from mother Earth, this was the correct interpretation and the Earth was populated once more. In regards to Zeus this story once again shows his parental side due to the way he reacted to Lycaons transgression.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The myth of Zeus and his relationship with Callisto is one that shows how he can, when faced with urgency, can react for the betterment of others not just himself. The story goes that after Callisto was found to have a child with Zeus she was turned into a bear, after her son Arcas grew up he was in the woods and was confronted by her mother in bear form, he was about to kill her when Zeus stepped in and transformed then into constellations, these constellations were Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The tale of Zeus and Demeter shows Zeus as a just and understanding ruler. The story deals with Hades being given permission to take Persephone to the Underworld to be his wife, the bulk of the story deals with Demeter sulking and trying to figure out who kidnapped her daughter. Also in her anger she brings famine and drought upon the world. After hearing all the people crying out in hope due to hunger Zeus steps in and sends Hermes to retrieve Persephone, but she had already had eaten food in the underworld and if that occurs it is said that no one can leave. So in the end Persephone must spend a portion of every year with Hades in the underworld. This myth shows how Zeus is an understanding individual and how he does his best for the betterment of all under his all mighty rule.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many other myths associated with Zeus such as him punishing Prometheus to having his liver eaten out of him regularly. Or the Zeus and his punishment for Tantalus and his blasphemous act of sacrificing his some to the gods. Works Referenced Hesiods Theogony, translated by Evelyn-White. Ancient / Classical History Ancient Greece Rome Classics Research Guide. Web. 09 Oct. 2009. . The Internet Classics Archive | Metamorphoses by Ovid. The Internet Classics Archive: 441 searchable works of classical literature. Web. 09 Oct. 2009. . Morford, Mark P. O., and Robert J. Lenardon. Classical Mythology. New York: Oxford UP, USA, 2006. Print. Zeus -. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 09 Oct. 2009. .

“Lord of the Flies”: Why Ralph is the Best Leader Essay

In Lord of the Flies, when a group of young boys are stranded on an island and left their own devices, a leader must be chosen. What separates a good leader is someone who cares for the greater good of the group and their well being rather than just caring about themselves. Some of the boys are better leaders than others and through characterization we see who is most capable of being chief. Ralph is the most qualified leader on the island because of his leadership skills, his talent of obtaining order, his unwillingness to let his id take over, and his democratic traditions. Ralphs leadership skills are what gets the boys support and motivates them towards a common goal. Shortly after all the children find each other Ralphs first instinct is that the island should choose a leader. The boys hold an election and because of Ralphs charisma and prestige they elect him. While the other boys are interested in playing and having fun on the island, Ralph is thinking about ways to stay alive and get rescued. Ralph displays his leadership skills through his speeches and presence in front of an audience; he holds a meeting in which he proposes a signal fire and creates a new goal for the island, which is to keep the smoke signal going: A fire! Make a fire, [the boys shouted]. At once half the boys were on their feet (38). By setting rules and boundaries, Ralph creates order and peace on the island like a true leader. Using the conch, which first helped unify all the boys together, Ralph creates a method of organization. He forms a rule that only the person holding the conch, a symbol of order, has the right to speak and may not be interrupted, thus giving limitations to the people. He also enforces rules to help keep the fire burning, which he believes is their only means of being rescued. In order to keep the island tidy, Ralph creates specific areas to go to the bathroom, keep potable water, build shelters, etc. Ralph knows that in order to maintain a civilized society there must be restrictions and laws: We ought to have more rules (42). Ralph is an excellent idol and leader of the island because of his morality and civilized actions during a time of anarchy. As the other boys on the island begin to form their own government, one full of destruction and chaos, Ralph prefers to maintain his moral and educated characteristics. On  their island without parents or police enforcement, the other children begin to lose their humane personas and become primitive, letting their id take over, however, Ralph continues to carry out plans and think with a conscience. When the children on the island loose all control and kill one of the boys Ralph is the only who has a sense of civilization and can realistically evaluate their actions for what it is: That was murder (156). While the other boys on the island loose all conditioning, Ralph remains civilized and preserves his ego. Ralphs characteristics and form of government represents the most fair and pure rule, democracy. He holds a government is which all people take action in political activities; before any decision is made Ralph gives all the boys a chance to give their opinions and be part of the decision-making. Just like in all democratic systems, Ralph offers everybody freedom and equality. Ralphs characteristics of morality, leadership and organization are all major qualities of a democratic ruler. When Ralph sees the Lord of the Flies, a sows skull on a stake, he knocks it down and breaks it into pieces. The smashing of the sows skull symbolizes Ralphs disgust towards totalitarianism and savagery. Instead of the harshness of a military based society Ralph prefers a peaceful society in which all citizens have a voice. When it comes to the greater good of civilization and having a fair administration, Ralph is the best leader on the island. His leadership skills, organizational skills, moral principles, and other democratic character traits are all crucial for a chief to have. Ralph wants what is best for the island and makes sure to get it in a diplomatic way. Through his speaking skills and organization, Ralph can persuade well and have great influence over his people. Ralph is the most excellent leader on the island and represents the finest form of government. Bibliography: Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Legal Positivists Legal Positivism - 896 Words

Legal positivism offers a definition of laws as a written declaration made by government officials that have legal power to control certain aspects of society and human conduct (Himma, 2004). Legal positivist recognize all rules, regulations, principles and other forms of law that come from an authorized government body or official (Himma, 2004). But Legal positivist do not recognize laws, principles or any form of law or behavior modifier that does not come directly from an authorized government official (George, 1996). Any behavioral norms will not be recognized but legal norms are deemed as enforceable by the police power of the government (George, 1996). Legal positivism is often put in contrast with natural law because they are basically opposites. This Constitution would not meet the approval of the Legal positivist. The fact that no government official had any part in the creation of these laws, legal positivist will not view these laws as enforceable or valid (George, 1996). Legal positivist respect credible sources, the Annunaki will not serve as a credible source in legal positivist eyes. The legal positivist view laws as social construction that are meant to help shape society in a positive and productive manner (George, 1996). The laws that the Annunaki Gods, do not fit into the theory of legal positivism. Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes is a philosopher accredited with introducing the theory of the Social Contract theory (Hobbes, 1998). Hobbes doted on theShow MoreRelatedLegal Positivism : A Positivist Legal System1401 Words   |  6 Pagespropounded by a Positivist Legal System. The aim of this essay is to evaluate a positivist legal system or legal positivism, by analysing what it means, what it does the positive and negative aspects of legal positivism, how legal positivism works in a society. 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Erbium Factsâ€Er Element Properties

The element erbium or Er is a silvery-white, malleable  rare earth metal belonging to the lanthanide group. While you may not recognize this element on sight, you can credit the pink color of glass and man-made gems to its ion. Here are more interesting erbium facts: ErbiumBasic Facts Atomic Number: 68 Symbol: Er Atomic Weight: 167.26 Discovery: Carl Mosander 1842 or 1843 (Sweden) Electron Configuration: [Xe] 4f12 6s2 Word Origin: Ytterby, a town in Sweden (also the source of the name of the elements yttrium, terbium, and ytterbium) Interesting Erbium Facts Erbium was one of three elements found in yttria that Mosander separated from the mineral gadolinite. The three components were called yttria, erbia, and terbia. The components had similar names and properties, which became confusing. Mosanders erbia later became known as terbia, while the original terbia became erbia.Although erbium (along with several rare earths) was discovered in the mid-19th century, it was not isolated as a pure element until 1935 because the group of elements had such similar properties.  W. Klemm and H. Bommer purified erbium by reducing anhydrous erbium chloride with potassium vapor.Although a rare earth, erbium is not all that rare.  The element is the 45th most abundant in the Earths crust, at a level of about 2.8  mg/kg. It is found in seawater at concentrations of 0.9  ng/LThe price of erbium is approximately $650 per kilogram. Recent advances in ion-exchange extraction are bringing the price down while increasing uses of the element drive the pr ice up. Summary of Erbium Properties The melting point of erbium is 159 °C, the boiling point is 2863 °C, specific gravity is 9.066 (25 °C), and valence is 3. Pure erbium metal is soft and malleable with a bright silvery metallic luster. The metal is fairly stable in air. Uses of Erbium Recent studies indicate erbium may help stimulate metabolism. If the element has a biological function, it has yet to be identified. The pure metal is slightly toxic, while the compounds tend to be non-toxic to humans. The highest concentration of erbium in the human body is in bones.Erbium is used as a neutron absorber in the nuclear industry.It may be added to other metals to lower hardness and improve workability. In particular, it is a common addition to vanadium to make it softer.Erbium oxide is used as a pink colorant in glass and porcelain glaze. It is also used to add a pink color to cubic zirconia.The same pink ion used in glass and porcelain, Er3, is fluorescent and appears to glow under daylight and fluorescent light. Erbiums interesting optical properties make it useful for lasers (e.g., dental lasers) and optical fibers.Like related rare earth, erbium shows sharp absorption spectra bands in the near-infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. Sources of Erbium Erbium occurs in several minerals, along with other rare earth elements. These minerals include  gadolinite, euxenite, fergusonite, polycrase, xenotime,  and blomstrandine. Following other purification processes, erbium is isolated from similar elements into the pure metal by  heating erbium oxide or erbium salts with calcium at 1450  °C in an inert argon atmosphere. Isotopes:  Natural erbium is a mix of six stable isotopes. 29 radioactive isotopes are also recognized. Element Classification: Rare Earth (Lanthanide) Density (g/cc): 9.06 Melting Point (K): 1802 Boiling Point (K): 3136 Appearance: soft, malleable, silvery metal Atomic Radius (pm): 178 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 18.4 Covalent Radius (pm): 157 Ionic Radius: 88.1 (3e) Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.168 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 317 Pauling Negativity Number: 1.24 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 581 Oxidation States: 3 Lattice Structure: Hexagonal Lattice Constant (Ã…): 3.560 Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.570 Erbium Element References Emsley, John (2001). Erbium. Natures Building Blocks: An A-Z Guide to the Elements. Oxford, England, UK: Oxford University Press. pp. 136–139.  Patnaik, Pradyot (2003). Handbook of Inorganic Chemical Compounds. McGraw-Hill. pp. 293–295.Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001)Crescent Chemical Company (2001)Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952)CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.)