Classicist Emily Wilson: 'Odysseus is a different kind of conman'

https://www.ft.com/content/3edbfdf4-cb20-4393-9d5d-ffc1dd241ca4

by petethomas • 12 days ago

4 6 12 days ago

yepyoukno3• 12 days ago

For sure!

Without actually reading the paywalls article, of context a classical enthusiast I would have to agree!

The subtle art of deception was historically considered a feminine trait, as opposed to the brute nature of masculinity.

Athena Minerva smiled upon Odysseus, bestowing upon him a manner of charm and wit unparalleled even in the world of his time.

His craft of deception and charm in the end did not need armies to conquer.

I don’t know where else the article might be going with this, though the story is a favorite!

If you missed it, an earlier post discussed choosing among the various translations of the Odyssey for whoever among you were curious…

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48848342

coldtea• 12 days ago

The subtle art of deception was historically considered a feminine trait, as opposed to the brute nature of masculinity.

Was it? Aside from Odysseus, there's Loki, Dolos, and all mythologies have similar figures of the (male) trickster. One of Hermes pet names "Dolios" (literally: cunning or trickster) too.

yepyoukno3• 12 days ago

These examples are separate and distinct through time and space.

Odysseus wasn’t considered a “trickster” though cunning yes. And yes, that’s the way it’s told through scholarly conventions (not making it up, take it for what you will!) that in general the masculine form is brute force and the feminine form (which obviously doesn’t mean “female only”) is subtly and deception.

* and many of your examples refer to gods, Odysseus was distinguishable as a mortal! Taking from that whatever one may…

pmdulaney2• 12 days ago

When I follow that link there's nothing there.

yepyoukno3• 12 days ago

Really? Try again. Maybe the external server was overloaded. I just clicked through fine!

Classicist Emily Wilson: 'Odysseus is a different kind of conman'

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