tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578998090089869830.post4380457207256624573..comments2024-02-28T11:21:49.275-08:00Comments on Dante's Heart: The Ethiopian King's BowDante's Hearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07864843691987800572noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578998090089869830.post-85559459099322346402008-10-11T14:17:00.000-07:002008-10-11T14:17:00.000-07:00I do remember that now - Herakles leaving behind h...I do remember that now - Herakles leaving behind him that bow. Thank you, BC. These stories are a good gift to all of those reading this blog.<BR/><BR/>It seems Herodotus loved that tale of the testing of the bow and used it more than once....Dante's Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07864843691987800572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578998090089869830.post-14726400704238117492008-10-11T11:43:00.000-07:002008-10-11T11:43:00.000-07:00And in Book 4 of Herodotus, in a story about the o...And in Book 4 of Herodotus, in a story about the origins of the Scythians, Herakles, who had come to that land in the course of his adventures, and stayed long enough to father three sons by a snake-woman who lived there, is about to leave when the woman asks what she should do with his sons when they come of age. He hands her a bow, and says that the one who can string it should stay and the others should be sent away. The youngest one, Scythes, is the one who is able to string the bow, and he becomes the first king of Scythia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578998090089869830.post-56407916428313918932008-10-01T19:38:00.000-07:002008-10-01T19:38:00.000-07:00That bow is strung by Cambyses' brother, and Camby...That bow is strung by Cambyses' brother, and Cambyses has him killed...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578998090089869830.post-73237954970873524092008-10-01T19:20:00.000-07:002008-10-01T19:20:00.000-07:00Once Cambyses conquers Egypt, he begins to act abu...Once Cambyses conquers Egypt, he begins to act abusively and even insanely. The translation I am now reading (in <I>The Landmark Herodotus</I>) has the Ethipoian king say "You are not telling the truth." It reminded me of what Herodotus had told us about the Persians earlier. They are taught to tell the truth (1.136), and to tell a lie is the most disgraceful thing a Persian can do (1.138). This transgression of a fundamental Persian value probably foreshadows the fate of Cambyses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578998090089869830.post-65095165609991980912008-06-11T08:08:00.000-07:002008-06-11T08:08:00.000-07:00Aha! I can't believe my mind skipped over that one...Aha! I can't believe my mind skipped over that one. Thanks, Emily Jane.<BR/><BR/>I think this must be a common mythic tale type, with analogues in different cultures.Dante's Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07864843691987800572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7578998090089869830.post-78455601897922958672008-06-11T03:01:00.000-07:002008-06-11T03:01:00.000-07:00There's part of Odysseus' story that has a test in...There's part of Odysseus' story that has a test involving a bowstring - while Odysseus is wandering, there are many men vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. She declares that she won't marry anyone unable to string her husband's bow. Naturally, none of them are up to the task, and eventually Odysseus returns, disguised, and strings the bow himself.<BR/><BR/>Penelope was a clever one - she also said she wouldn't remarry before a cloth she was weaving was finished ... a cloth which she wove each day, and unwove in secret each night. (though how the men never caught on I don't know...)Emily Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759749951014727967noreply@blogger.com