Literature of antiquity and the Middle Ages - Summary - 2019

Conversations of the Gods
Lucian (approx. 120 - approx. 180)

I. Prometheus and Zeus The

titan Prometheus, tied to the rocks of the Caucasus, asks Zeus to release him. But no, the punishment is still insufficient: after all, Prometheus not only stole the Zueves and gave it to the people, but also (the most terrible) created a woman!

Therefore, the heavy chains and the eagle, which devours the Prometheus liver every day, which grows again in the night, is only a prelude to the coming torment.

Prometheus proposes to open Zeus to the liberation reward. The one, doubting, first, in the prophetic gift of the Titan, immediately surrenders: Prometheus unmistakably guesses that Zeus is going to meet with Fetid, a non-reid, one of the sea goddesses. And Zeus warns: if a neride gives him a son, he will overthrow his father from the Olympic throne. Convinced and even slightly rooted in this prediction, Zeus refuses a fateful date and orders the god-blacksmith Hephaestus to free Prometheus.

II. Eroth and Zeus

Called to answer for their cruel tricks, Erote asks Zeus to pardon him, for he, it seems, is still a child. "Are you a kid ?! Exclaims the indignant Zeus. "After all, you, Eroth, are much older than Ialete." Because you do not have a beard and gray hair, you want to be a child, although you are an old man, and even a scumbag! "

Zeus intends to tie Erota to punishment for numerous abuses. After all, he was compelled by his grace to win the love of women, turn into a bull, an eagle, a swan, a satire, and could not appear to him in his true form.

Erath reasonably argues that no mortal takes the form of Zeus and dies of fear. He suggests Zeus not to throw lightning, do not panic threateningly, and take on a more peaceful, pleasant, manner of Apollo or Dionysus.

Zeus with indignation rejects this offer, but also refuses to love the earthly beauties too does not want. He demands that the amour joy cost him less effort. With this condition releases Erota.

III. Zeus and Hermes

The hero of jealousy turned the beauty of Io into a heifer and set her guard on the head of the shepherd Argus. But Zeus, in love with Io, orders Hermes to kill Argus, to lead Io across the sea to Egypt and make it there Isida, a goddess who controls the spills of the Nile and the winds, patron saint of the seamen.

IV. Zeus and Ganymede

Zeus, falling in love with the pretty shepherdess Ganymede, turn into a gigantic eagle and kidnap the boy. Ganymede, who understands weakly in the Olympic hierarchy, has still considered the main deity of Pan's forest and is mistrustful of Zeus's words about his universal power.

Ganymede asks quickly to return him home, on the slopes of Mount Ida: the herds are left unattended, his father puts him at a standstill. Zeus patiently explains that now the boy is forever freed from the pastoral worries - he will become a heavenly man.

Ganymede is puzzled: what should he do if there are no herds in the sky, and with whom he will play here ?! Zeus promises him to Comrades Erota and as much as he likes to play. And he kidnapped the beloved boy so that they would sleep together.

The simple Ganymede wonders even more: when he slept with his father, he was often angry that the son in a dream restlessly roared, and pushed it to his mother - honestly warns the boy. When he heard that Zeus was going to hug him all night, he firmly stated that he would sleep at night. Although it does not forbid Zeus to kiss him. And happy Zeus tells Hermes to give Ganymede a drink for immortality, to teach him to give a cup and bring him to the feast of the gods.

V. Gera and Zeus

Hera reproaches Zeus in excessive attachment to Ganymede. His mortal lovers left the father of the gods on earth, but Ganymede made a heavenly man. And besides, taking a hands-on from the handsome gourmet cup, Zeus kisses him every time! Did Hefest and Hera badly serve at the table?!

An angry Zeus says that Hera's jealousy only excite his passion for a beautiful phrygian. Of course, Hera, if he wants, may still enjoy the services of his crony son-blacksmith at feasts. But he, Zeus, will serve only Ganymede, whom he will now kiss twice: and taking the cup from the hands of the boy, and returning.

VI. Hera and Zeus

Hero indignantly complains to Zeus that Eixion, taken to heaven, fell in love with her and sighs continuously. It offends Gerus. Zeus suggests joking over the lovers: slip him a cloud, giving the last look of Hera. If, having accepted the desired thing for real, Ixion then begins to boast that he conquered and seized the wife of Zeus, he would be descended into Aid and bound to the ever-rotating wheel for punishment not for love (this is nothing wrong!), But for bragging.

VII. Hephaestus and Apollo

Hephaestus are admiringly telling Apollo about the newly born Hermes, the son of Maya. The newborn is not only very beautiful, but also promisingly affectionate. Apollo reports in reply that a clever baby had already managed to steal the trident of Poseidon, the sword of Ares, and he, Apollo, and the arrows. Here Hephaestus discovers that he has got rid of ticks ...

Hermes was gifted comprehensively: Erota defeated Erota in a humorous fight, substituting it for a footboard, and from the shell of the turtle and seven strings he made a kifaru, and he played in such a way that Apollo envied him.

Hefest's sighted He goes to Hermes for the abducted mites hidden in the newborn's diapers.

VIII. Hephaestus and Zeus

Zeus orders Hephaestus to cut a sharp ax ... his head. The scared god-blacksmith is forced to relinquish unwillingly, and Athens comes to light. She is not only militant, but also very beautiful. Hephaestus suddenly falls in love with her. But Zeus cools his ardor: Athena prefers to stay forever maiden.

IX. Poseidon and Hermes

Poseidon came to Zeus. But Hermes does not let him, because Zeus just ... gave birth. But this time it's not from the head (as recently as Athena), but from the hips. So he carried out the fruit of one of his many sympathies, Finanka Semela, giving birth to her, for Semel died. Thus, he is both a father and a mother of a child, who is called Dionysus.

X. Hermes and Helios

Hermes convey to Helios the order of Zeus: do not leave on their fire chariot either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Zeus must extend the night, in order to be able to conceive with a beytoike Alkmenoy unprecedented hero: under the cover of the deepest darkness will be made a great athlete. Then Hermes passes the order to Selena to move slowly, and to Sleep - not let people out of their hugs, so they do not notice so long night. To allow Hercules to appear.

XI. Aphrodite and Selena

Selena admits Aphrodite, who fell in love with the beautiful Andymion. She regularly descends to him from the sky when Andymion sleeps, spreading a cloak on the rock. Selena literally perishes from love for a young man.

XII. Aphrodite and Eroth

Aphrodite reproaches Eroth's son for unheard of tricks not only with the mortal, but also with the heavens. By his will, Zeus turns into everything Eroth will think about. Selenium, it leads to Earth. And Helios, without a hug in the arms of Klimen, forgets to leave in a fire chariot on a sky in a timely manner. Even the venerable Rey, the mother of so many gods, made Eroth fall in love with the young Phrygian Attis. Being mad with love, she huddled into her chariot of lions and wandered around the mountains and forests in search of her beloved. Erath is justified in front of his mother: is it not stupid to look at the views of people and gods on beauty?!

XIII. Zeus, Asclepius and Hercules

At the feast of the gods Hercules settles a quarrel with Asclepius, demanding that he lay down below him, who accomplished so many feats. He scornfully reminds: Asclepius struck Zeus with his lightning because he, by his art, animated people who had been doomed to death by the gods, thereby neglecting both the laws of nature and the will of heavenly men. Asclepius quietly remarks that this, by the way, has brought in the order of the same Hercules, thoroughly burned in a funeral fire ...

Zeus stops their disgust, noting: Asclepius is entitled to a higher place, because he died and was taken to heaven before Hercules.

XIV. Hermes and Apollo

Apollo is sad. When asked Hermes for the cause of sadness, he accidentally killed his favorite, the beautiful Hyacinth, the son of King Ebal of Laconia. When both of them were busy throwing discs, the unconditionally liked Hyacinth, the western wind, Zephyr, from jealousy, blew so much that the disc dropped by Apollo changed the direction and killed the young man. In memory of his dear Apollo, he grew a beautiful flower from the drops of his blood, but still remained discouraged. Hermes reasonably objected: "Apollo, you knew what made a mortal's death; so do not complain about the fact that he died."

XV Hermes and Apollo

Hermes and Apollo are surprised: the lame blacksmith Hephaestus, far from being handsome, has received in the wife two beautiful goddesses: Aphrodite and Harit. But they are handsome people, athletes and musicians, unlucky in love. Apollo never achieved the reciprocity of Daphne, and Hyacinth himself killed the disc. True, one day Hermes knew the affection of Aphrodite and eventually the light appeared Hermaphrodite ...

However, the affluent Aphrodite is very favorable to Ares, often forgetting about his chumazom and sweating spouse. They say that Hephaestus is preparing a network to confuse their lovers and freeze them on the bed. And Apollo will admit: for the sake of the hug of Aphrodite, he pleased to agree to be caught.

XVI. Hera and Latona

Bred by long-standing and mutual hostility, Hera and Latton blamed each other for the actual and supposed vices of children. For the sour remark of the Latins that Hephaestus chrome, Hera answers: but he is a skilled master and respects Aphrodite. But the man-like Artemis is the daughter of Latons, dwelling in the mountains and, according to the Scythian custom, kills foreigners. Well, to Apollo, though he is considered to be omniscient, he did not foresee that he would kill the disk of Hyacinth, and did not imagine that Lafna would flee from him.

Latona replies that Hera simply envies her: the beauty of Artemis and the musical gift of Apollo are all excited. Hera in anger. In her opinion, Apollo's musical victories are not obliged to themselves, but excessive favors of the judges. Artemis is rather ugly, than beautiful. And if she is really a virgin, she would hardly help the pregnant women. Angry Laton throws Gere: "Time will come, and I will see you again crying when Zeus leaves you alone, and he will descend on the ground, turning into a bull or a swan."

XVII. Apollo and Hermes

Laughing Hermes tells Apollo that Hephaestus, with cleverly woven networks, confused Aphrodite and Ares in a moment when they were engaged in love. Caught unawares, naked, they burned away from shame, when all the gods mocked them. Loudly, Hephaestus was laughing at all. Hermes and Apollo admit to each other that they would be ready to find themselves in the networks of Hephaestus.

XVIII. Hera and Zeus

Hera tells Zeus that his son Dionysus is not only homosexual to indecency, but also wanders, drunk, in a society of crazy women and dances with them day and night. He looks like anyone else, but not only on his father Zeus.

The thunderbolt objects: the defiled Dionysus not only captured the whole of Lida and subjugated the Thracians, but even conquered India, taking captive the king himself, daring to resist. And all this is in the midst of unceasing round dances and drunk dances. And those who dared to offend him, not respecting the sacraments, Dionysus bound a vine. Or made the offender's mother break her son in pieces like a young deer. Is not this courageous deed worthy of the son of Zeus? Hero is outraged: wine leads to madness and the herd causes many crimes. But Zeus sharply objects: the fault is not wine and Dionysus, but the people who drink without measure, without mixing the wine with water. And the one who drinks to the measure becomes merry and kinder, not harming anyone.

XIX. Aphrodite and Eroth

Aphrodite wonder Erota wonderfully: why does he easily obey all the gods-Zeus, Apollo, Poseidon, even his own mother, Rey, sparing Athena?

Eroth confesses: he is afraid of Athena - her terrible look scares the insidious baby. Yes, this terrible shield with the head of Medusa Gorgon. Whenever Eroth tries to approach, Athena stops him from the threat of immediate reprisal.

But the muses are recognized by Eroth, he respects deeply and therefore spared. "Well, let them, if they are so powerful. But why do not you shoot at Artemis? "-" I can not catch her entirely: she's running around the mountains. In addition, she has a passion for hunting. " But her brother, Apollo, with his own arrows, did not hit Erot more than once.

XX. Paris court

Zeus sends Hermes to Thrace for Paris to decide on the dispute between the three goddesses: which one of them will be awarded an apple with the inscription "The Most Beautiful". Paris, even though he is the son of King Priam, feeds the herd on the slopes of Ida, and, of course, grows up, seeing Gerus, Aphrodite and Athen presented to him. But when Hermes interprets his mandate for Zeus, the prince gradually comes to himself and starts to look at the goddess admiringly, obviously not knowing what to prefer. It is embarrassing to him that Hera is the wife of Zeus, the other two are his daughter. In such a sensitive situation it is especially dangerous to make mistakes. But Hermes assures Paris that Zeus relies entirely on his taste and objectivity.

Bumpy Paris asks Hermes for guarantees that the two rejects will not retaliate against him. Then he asks the goddess to undress and approach it in turn. The first is undressed by Hera, white-haired and volatile. She suggests to Paris: if he will award her a reward, then he will become the lord of all Asia.

Athena also tries to bribe the judge with a promise: he will be invincible in the battles. Paris modestly answers that he is a peaceful man, and his military exploits do not delude him. But, like Gere, he promises to judge honestly, regardless of gifts.

Aphrodite asks for her to be examined more closely. During the inspection (which clearly delivers Paris pleasure), she skillfully and unobtrusively praises his beauty. Paris, they say, deserves better interest than a shepherd's life in the wild mountains. Why his beauty for cows? He could find himself a worthy couple even in Hellas. Aphrodite tells an interested judge about one of the most beautiful women - Elena, the wife of Spartan king Menelaus, daughter of Lady, granddaughter of Zeus. Paris is more and more passionate about her story. Then Aphrodite invites him to go on a trip to Hellas and in Lacedaemon himself to see the beauty: "Elena will see you, and I'll take care of her to fall in love with you and leave with you." Paris feels incredible, but the goddess assures: everything will be exactly what she promises. She gives her sons, Guereros and Eroth, to her companions. With their general help (arrows Erota and everything else) the intended will come true. Taking the word of the goddess that she will not deceive, Paris (who has already blown in love with Ellen in absentia) confer apple Aphrodite.

XXI. Ares and Hermes

Ares, alarmingly and with a clear distrust, tell Hermes that Zeus is boasting: he says, he will lower the chain from heaven, and all the gods, having grabbed for her, will not be able to drag the thunderbolt down. But if he wants to, he will raise not only all the gods on this chain, but also the earth with the sea.

Ares doubts in such a fantastic power of the father of the gods. Especially since recently, Poseidon, Hera and Athena, resentful of his offenses, almost seized Zeus and might have bound, if not the Fetid, who had pity on him and called for the help of the stranger Bryarius. But Hermes interrupts Ares: "Silence, I advise; it's not safe to say such things to you, but to me to listen to them."

XXII. Pan and Hermes

Hermes is surprised: Pan calls him father! He says indignantly that the goat and horned Pan can not be his son. But he reminds that somehow Hermes found himself with the Spartan Penelope, while taking the shape of a goat.

Hermes confused embarrassingly: so it was. And Pan asks him not to be ashamed of such a son: he is respected and loved not only by the draats, the nymphs and the menadas of Dionysus, but also by all the Athenians whom he rendered at the service of the Marathon: he inspired the fears of the Persians' souls (hence the word "panic" came from here). Hermes even rostorgan: asks Pan to come and hug him. But, he adds immediately, "do not call me father with outsiders."

XXIII. Apollo and Dionysus

Apollo is surprised: Eroth, Hermaphrodite and Priap are so different from their brothers! Dionysus replies that there is nothing surprising here. But it is not their mother Aphrodite who is guilty of unlike the brothers, but different fathers.

XXIV. Hermes and Maya

Tired and annoyed Hermes complains to her mother, Maye, for wild overloads. He must not only serve the gods at feasts, without tirelessly spreading the orders of Zeus on earth, attending the palestraces, serving as a gossamer in public gatherings, but also not sleeping at night and leading to the soul of the deceased to Pluto ... In addition, Zeus constantly sends Hermes to cope with the health of their numerous earthly lovers. "I can not be more!" - Hermes complains to her mother. But he advises his son to accept: "You are still young and must serve his father, as he wishes. And now, once he sends you, he runs faster to Argos, and then to Boeotia, and then he probably will beat you for slowness: the lovers are always irritable."

XXV. Zeus and Helios

Zeus is in anger. Helios, yielding to the persistent requests of the son of his phaeton, entrusted him with a fiery chariot. But it was not possible for a self-confident young man. Uncontrolled horses carried the chariot away from the usual rut: part of the land turned out to be burned, and the other died from frost. To prevent a complete catastrophe, Zeus had to kill Phaethon with lightning. Helios justifies: he allegedly warned and instructed his son, as it should. But Zeus interrupts him: if Helios once again allows himself to be like this, he will know how much the fire of his lights burns to Zevses perun. He orders Phaeton to bury on the bank of Eridan, where he fell from the chariot. The tears of sisters shed on his grave, let them turn into amber, and they themselves will become sedges.

XXVI. Apollo and Hermes

Apollo asks Hermes to teach him to distinguish between the twin brothers Castor and Polidevka. Hermes explains: Polidevka, a mighty fist fighter, is easy to learn: on his face he has traces of crushing blows, "But tell me one more thing; why they are not both of us together, but each of them is alternately made a dead person or god? "Hermes also explains this: when it turned out that one of the sons of Lady should die, and the other to become immortal, they thus divided immortality among themselves . But Apollo does not calm down: he himself predicts the future, Asclepius heals, Hermes teaches gymnastics and struggle, and performs still a lot of important things. And what do Dioscuri do? Hermes also explains this: Castor and Polidevk help Poseidon: navigate the seas and, if necessary, help the sailors suffering the disaster.