The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony

The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony

Roberto Calasso

Language: English

Pages: 420

ISBN: 0679733485

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Presenting the stories of Zeus and Europa, Theseus and Ariadne, the birth of Athens and the fall of Troy, in all their variants, Calasso also uncovers the distant origins of secrets and tragedy, virginity, and rape. "A perfect work like no other. (Calasso) has re-created . . . the morning of our world."--Gore Vidal. 15 engravings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

anything grandiose about it except through ate. " Thus a people obsessed with the idea of hubris were also a people who dismissed with the utmost skepticism an agent's claim actually to do anything. When we know for sure that a person is the agent of some action, then that action is mediocre; as soon as there is a hint of greatness, of whatever kind, be it shameful or virtuous, it is no longer that person acting. The agent sags and flops, like a medium when his voices desert him. For the Homeric

from them. The veil of epiphany was rent and tattered now. If the power of meta­ morphosis was to be maintained, there was no alternative but to invent objects and generate monsters. "Since it is the custom in Crete for the women to take part in the games, Ariadne was there with the others, and she was amazed when she saw Theseus, and admired his skill as, one after another, he overcame all adversaries." While Ariadne gazes at the Stranger, Crete crumbles. Before being betrayed herself, Ariadne

Nemesis would lift a hand to her shoulder, as if to adjust her tunic. And often she bowed her head, eyes on her breast, as though deep in thought. Some of the ancients said that when she did this she was spitting into her tunic to ward off bad luck. Phidias (or Agoracritus) sculpted a handsome crown on her head with representations of stags and of Nike, goddess of victory. She held a decorated goblet in her hand showing figures of Negroes. When Pausanias saw the statue, he was puzzled by this

home. The grim mechanics of the Pelopids seems to break down with the noble debate on Orestes at the Areopagus, the Athe­ nian Council. And when Athena's vote absolves him, they CHAPTER VI all lift up their faces, as if waking from a nightmare. But Orestes' trial did more good for the Athenians than for Or­ estes. It gave them the pride of placing themselves beyond crime, of understanding crime, and this was something that nobody hitherto had dared. As for Orestes, he was as wretched

Dio­ nysus doesn't stay next to anyone. A god is never a constant presence. And off Dionysus went with his noisy followers, to India. Ariadne was alone again. When the god reappeared, loaded with treasures and slaves, Ariadne observed his triumph and caught the pas­ sionate glance Dionysus threw at a young Indian girl, a prin­ cess, just one among his many Oriental spoils. Soon Ariadne would find herself crying on a beach again, her hair loose in the wind. With his overwhelming lightness,

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