The Greek Festival of Thesmophoria

The Greek Festival of Thesmophoria In ancient Greece, a festival used to be held in about 50 cities or villages, to honor the goddess who taught mankind to tend the soil. There was no question but that the festival was part of the goddess worship. That is, it wasnt just a secular, condoned over-indulgence event. In Athens, the women met near the mens assembly site on the Pnyx and in Thebes, they met where the boule had met. The Date of Thesmophoria The festival, Thesmophoria, was held during a month known as Pyanopsion (Puanepsion), in the lunisolar calendar of the Athenians. Since our calendar is solar, the month doesnt exactly match, but Pyanopsion would be, more or less, October into November, the same months as the Canadian and U.S. Thanksgivings. In ancient Greece, this was the time of the fall planting of crops like barley and winter wheat. Asking Demeters Help On the 11-13 of Pyanopsion, at a festival that included role reversals, like women electing female officials to preside over state-sponsored feasts [Burton], Greek matrons took a break from their usually homebound lives to participate in the autumn sowing ( Sporetos) festival of Thesmophoria. Although most of the practices remain a mystery, we know that the holiday was a bit more involved than our modern versions and that no men were allowed to participate. The matrons probably symbolically relived the anguish Demeter suffered when her daughter Persephone was abducted by Hades. They also probably asked for her help in obtaining a bountiful harvest. The Goddess Demeter Demeter (the Greek version of the Roman goddess Ceres) was the goddess of grain. It was her job to feed the world, but when she discovered her daughter had been kidnapped, she became so depressed she wouldnt do her job. Finally, she found out where her daughter was, but that didnt help much. She still wanted Persephone back and the god who had abducted Persephone didnt want to return his lovely prize. Demeter refused to eat or feed the world until the other gods arranged a satisfactory resolution to her conflict with Hades over Persephone. After her reunion with her daughter, Demeter gave the gift of agriculture to mankind so we could plant for ourselves. Thesmophorias Ritual Insults Before the Thesmophoria festival itself, there was a preparatory night-time festival called the Stenia. At the Stenia women engaged in Aiskhrologia, insulting each other and using foul language. This may have commemorated Iambes successful attempts to make the grieving mother Demeter laugh. The story of Iambe and Demeter: A long time she sat upon the stool without speaking because of her sorrow, and greeted no one by word or by sign, but rested, never smiling, and tasting neither food nor drink, because she pined with longing for her deep-bosomed daughter, until careful Iambe- who pleased her moods in aftertime also- moved the holy lady with many a quip and jest to smile and laugh and cheer her heart.- Homeric Hymn to Demeter A Fertility Component of the Thesmophoria During the Stenia prelude to the Thesmophoria or, at any rate, sometime before the actual festival, it is believed that certain women (Antletriai Bailers) placed fertility objects, phallic-shaped bread, pine cones and sacrificed piglets, in a possibly snake-filled chamber called a megaron. After the uneaten pig remains had begun to rot, the women retrieved them and the other objects and placed them on the altar where farmers could take them and mix with their grain seed to ensure an abundant harvest. This happened during the Thesmophoria proper. Two days may not have been enough time for decomposition, so some people think the fertility objects were thrown down not during the Stenia, but during the Skira, a midsummer fertility festival. This would have given them 4 months to decompose. That presents another problem since the remains might not have lasted for four months. The Ascent The first day of the Thesmophoria itself was Anodos, the ascent. Carrying all the supplies they would need for 2 nights and 3 days, the women went up the hill, set up camp on the Thesmophorion (the hillside sanctuary of Demeter Thesmophoros Demeter the law-giver). They then slept on the ground, probably in 2-person leafy huts, since Aristophanes* refers to sleeping partners. The Fast The second day of the Thesmophoria was the Nesteia Fast when women fasted and mocked each other, again using the foul language that may have been a deliberate imitation of Iambe and Demeter. They may also have whipped each other with bark scourges. The Kalligeneia The third day of the Thesmophoria was the Kalligeneia Fair Offspring. Commemorating Demeters torch-light search for her daughter, Persephone, there was a night-time torch-lit ceremony. The bailers ritually purified, descended to the megaron to remove the decayed matter thrown down earlier (either a couple of days or up to 4 months): pigs, pine cones, and dough that had been formed in the shape of mens genitals. They clapped to scare the snakes away and brought back the material so they could place it on the altars for later use as, especially potent fertilizer in the sowing of seed. *For a humorous picture of the religious festival, read Aristophanes comedy about a man who tries to infiltrate the women-only festival, Thesmophoriazusae. It is called Thesmophoria, because Demeter is called Thesmophoros in respect of her establishing laws or thesmoi in accordance with which men must provide nourishment and work the land.- David Noy Sources Interpreting the Athenian Thesmophoria, by Allaire B. Stallsmith. Classical Bulletin 84.1 (2009) pp. 28-45.Eratosthenes and the Women: Reversal in Literature and Ritual, by Jordi Pmias; Classical Philology, Vol. 104, No. 2 (Apr. 2009), pp. 208-213.Womens Commensality in the Ancient Greek World, by Joan Burton; Greece Rome, Vol. 45, No. 2 (Oct. 1998), pp. 143-165.

An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay Example

An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay Example An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay Essay Topic: Literature Much Ado about Nothing Much Ado About Nothing is essentially a romantic comedy. One of the central themes is love and the plot centres on the characters expectations and the way in which they deal with love. Although Much Ado About Nothing is typical of many of Shakespeares romantic comedies there are dark elements, which run throughout the play. As soon as the play begins in the first scene, the reader is introduced to Don Pedro and Don John: two brothers. Don Pedro is an important nobleman from Aragon; he is socially superior to everyone else and is often referred to as Prince. Don John on the other hand is the illegitimate brother; he is often referred to as the Bastard. In Elizabethan times illegitimate children were perceived as evil, they were socially inferior as a result of the circumstances in which they were conceived. They were often seen as a representation and reminder of the sin through which they were created. Shakespeare immediately establishes a strong connection between the negative connotations and attitudes that were present in Elizabethan society at the time regarding illegitimate children and Don Johns character. He does this by ensuring that the reader notes the dark shadow that Don Johns presence casts during the otherwise happy and jovial first scene where everyone gathers to welcome Don Pedro and his men back from the war. At first during Act I Scene I there is no mention of Don John in the conversation, and there is no direct speech addressed to him. Only once Leonato has finished greeting Don Pedro and Beatrice and Benedick have exchanged wry remarks does he eventually turn to greet Don John. This implies that although Don John and Don Pedro are brothers and should be treated as equals, Don John is treated as an inferior simply because he is illegitimate. As a contrast to the jovial exchange between Leonato and Don Pedro, the exchange between Leonato and Don John is short and succinct. Don Johns reply to Leonatos greeting, Act I Scene I Lines 140-41 I thank you. I am not of many words, but I thank you. implies that he is a brooding man, that he has deep-rooted issues and troubles and is very melancholy. His disposition and nature all seem to be a result of his unfortunate background. As a result of his background Don John appears to be extremely resentful. His resentment is manifested through his actions and behaviour. Right from the beginning of the play from when we are introduced to Don John he is presented in a negative light. During Act I Scene III Don John is in the company of one of his followers and companions, Conrade. During this scene Shakespeare reveals Don Johns unpleasant nature. Conrade asks Don John why he is so miserable and dejected. Don John replies There is no measure in the occasion that breeds, therefore the sadness is without limit. Don John is telling Conrade that there is no limit to his misery. Don Johns reply indicates that he is self-indulgent, his anger and frustration at his situation has led him to become embittered. He is so self-absorbed that he refuses to let anyone talk him out of his anger. When Conrade presses him for an answer Don John replies telling him that even if there was a reason it would make no difference. Already Shakespeare is presenting Don John to the audience as an unreasonable and melancholy man who will not change for anyone. Shakespeare emphasises this aspect of Don Johns character through his next speech, where Don John professes his stubborn and insensitive character. I cannot hide what I am. I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no mans jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no mans leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no mans business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in is human Again Shakespeare emphasises Don Johns self-centred nature by the repetitive use of I. Conrade Don John is the antithesis of Don Pedro; he is the opposite of everything the play wants to be about. The dastardly plan to ruin Claudio and Heros wedding is as a result of his hatred for marriage, as well as his resentment towards Don Pedro and anyone who is close to him. It is the ideal of marriage that has caused him to be in his unfortunate position. The fact that he was born out of wedlock may have led him to hold a deep hatred for marriage. If there were no marriage, if marriage did not exist, he would not have to endure the ridicule and degradation that he suffers at this moment. As well as Don Johns plain dealing villain there are other elements of darkness throughout the play. Shakespeare uses the device of deception in different instances to show the reader that all is not as it seems, and often judgements made on observations are wrong. There are two main instances where the plot involves deception and deceit. Firstly there is the plot to bring Beatrice and Benedick together and second there is the more malicious plot, devised by Don John, to ruin Claudios marriage to Hero. The whole farce through which Benedick and Beatrice are eventually brought together and led to reveal their true feelings for one another is carried out using the device of deception. Although there is no malicious intent, the act of deception its self is negative as it is based on playing with peoples feelings.

Importance of Planning and Modelling for Successful E Business Essay

Importance of Planning and Modelling for Successful E Business - Essay Example So what is it that is supposed to draw him Similarly, the housewife cannot smell the coffee beans that she is being offered on an online grocery store - so how does she know it will be something that she will relish every morning These are the questions that are often asked in the arena of online shopping. In this regard, all the answers point towards a specific simulation application that may be used and categorised as aids in online shopping. E-commerce is currently an extremely vast field and requires the use of like HTML and Flash based applications for appropriation of simulation techniques where the online market place is concerned. The problem in this project mainly adheres to the fact that there are now a plethora of such models and theories. Thus, this has led to some amount of deliberation in terms of choosing the appropriate ones (Nemetz, 2002). Here, it may be noted that the competition in reaching an optimum model and plan for websites has been on a steady rise, thus making it difficult to pinpoint which of them is the best in terms of E commerce objectives. It has been found that there has been a 94% increase for the year 2005 in the number of Britons buying products online as opposed to the 37% figure of five years ago (news.bbc.co.uk). This further implies the fact that E-Commerce is now a major field generating an excessive amount of revenue in the world of global economies. Owing to increasing trends in globalisation, there has been widespread exposure of people from all corners to products and services that are suddenly not out of their reach (Chaffey, 2007). In this regard, the specific need areas of the people involved in terms of end users is a difficult area to study in order to arrive at the relevant simulation models and approaches. This depends largely on the demographic make up as well as the cultural influences, age, and product being sold. Therefore, E-Commerce is a vast subject to study and to find the appropriate simulation models for (Chaffey, 2007). Scope of Planning and Modelling The scope of business is decided by its advent upon various spheres of operation. To be effective, market intelligence is the foremost pre-requisite. In this regard, E-Commerce has been described along the following lines, in terms of its operational sphere: Industry Association with various web pages: this gives rise to a certain amount of validation of the product and it elements, especially in terms of marketing and online shopping (Palmer et al., 2003). This can be seen in the example of www.indiamart.com which carries various industries and their associated companies'websites. Availability of information: E-Commerce depends largely on the information system, which is an integration of knowledge management as well as the human effort as far as intellectual capital is concerned (Palmer et al., 2003). This can be seen in the PR based models of various universities in UK, US, Australia and other countries. When described in context of these broad elements, E-Commerce can be referred to as the technological advancement in the arena of marketing which in turn gives rise to a whole new experience as far as shopping is concerned (Matsuo et al., 2003). Decision Aids In the world of increasing consumerism, the significance of decision aids is accentuated through a focus on market intelligen