what does arete mean in the odyssey

In Homer

's Iliad and Odyssey, arete is used mainly to describe heroes and nobles and their mobile dexterity, with special reference to strength and courage, though it is not limited to this.

Full Answer

Who is Arete in the Odyssey?

Arete was the daughter of Rhexenor. She was a descendant of Poseidon, who, making love to Periboea, begot Nausithous, who in turn had two sons, Rhexenor, her father and Alcinous, her uncle and later on, her husband.

What does Arete mean in the Bible?

Some sources claim that it means "righteous", while others connect it with Ares, the Greek god of war. Arete was also depicted as an intelligent and generous hostess by Apollonius in Book 4 of the Argonautica, where he recounts the story of Jason and Medea .

How did Arete treat Odysseus when he first arrived?

When Odysseus arrived in Scheria, he appealed first to Arete for reception and protection, and she treated him hospitably. He did so on Nausicaa and Athena ’s instructions, the goddess having described Arete thus:

What is an example of Arete in philosophy?

So for a very general example (from Aristotle’ mean theory from his Nicomachean Ethics ): Thus, arete isn’t just having as much of a good thing as possible, or avoiding a bad thing. “The highest virtue” is a “moderation” and “balance” of all the virtues of a given “thing”.

What is arete in the Odyssey?

In the Odyssey, Arete appears as a noble and active superintendent of the household of her husband. When Odysseus arrived in Scheria, he appealed first to Arete for reception and protection, and she treated him hospitably.

What is the meaning of arete in Greek?

Page 1. ARETÉ ('αρετη)—in ancient Greek a term describing a maximum of ability and potency for action (optimum potentiae); a man's effectiveness and skill in goodness. In the Polish language it corresponds to the term “cnota” (virtue) or “dzielność&rdquoi; (bravery).

How does Odysseus have arete?

In the Odyssey, Penelope has arete, because she is the best wife that a woman can be. But Achilles in the Iliad also has arete, because he is the best warrior that a man can be. Odysseus has arete because he is so clever, and thinks up effective plots. Athletes have arete when they win the foot-race.

What is an example of arete?

The jagged Garden Wall of Glacier National Park (Montana) is a beautiful example of an arête that once formed a sharp, rocky crest above two of the glaciers that shaped the park. A col occurs as a rounded low point near the center of the ridgeline.

What arete means?

Definition of arête : a sharp-crested ridge in rugged mountains.

What is the meaning of Episteme?

knowledgeDefinition of episteme : knowledge specifically : intellectually certain knowledge.

What is arete Why is it significant?

Arete (Greek: ἀρετή, aretḗ) is a concept in ancient Greek thought that, in its most basic sense, refers to 'excellence' of any kind—especially a person or thing's "full realization of potential or inherent function." The term may also refer to excellence in "moral virtue."

What is the best definition of the Greek concept of arete quizlet?

Arête definition. The Greek word for excellence in all things. This means achievement in many areas, not just one.

Does arete mean virtue?

Arete is an ancient Greek word meaning excellence or virtue. The arete of something is the highest quality state it can reach. Using arete as a principle for living life means that you are focused on the quality of everything you do and experience.

What is another word for arête?

What is another word for arete?perfectionexcellenceexcellencyexemplarinessfinenessinfallibilitymeritpurityqualitysoundness54 more rows

What causes arête?

An arête (/əˈrɛt/ ə-RETT) is a narrow ridge of rock which separates two valleys. It is typically formed when two glaciers erode parallel U-shaped valleys. Arêtes can also form when two glacial cirques erode headwards towards one another, although frequently this results in a saddle-shaped pass, called a col.

How do you say arête?

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What is another word for arete?

What is another word for arete?perfectionexcellenceexcellencyexemplarinessfinenessinfallibilitymeritpurityqualitysoundness54 more rows

How do you say arete in English?

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What is the opposite of arete?

The opposite of arete is kakia.

Is arete a goddess?

ARETE was the goddess or personified spirit (daimona) of virtue, excellence, goodness and valour. She was depicted as a fair woman of high bearing, dressed in white.

Who is Arete in the Odyssey?

In the Odyssey, Arete appears as a noble and active superintendent of the household of her husband. When Odysseus arrived in Scheria, he appealed first to Arete for reception and protection, and she treated him hospitably. He did so on Nausicaa and Athena ’s instructions, the goddess having described Arete thus:

Who is Arete's father?

Arete was the daughter of Rhexenor. She was a descendant of Poseidon, who, making love to Periboea, begot Nausithous, who in turn had two sons, Rhexenor, her father and Alcinous, her uncle and later on, her husband. Her name appears to be associated with the Ionic noun ἀρητή, meaning "sacred", "cursed" or "prayed.".

Who was Arete in the book of Argonautica?

Arete was also depicted as an intelligent and generous hostess by Apollonius in Book 4 of the Argonautica, where he recounts the story of Jason and Medea . When the Argonauts arrived at the island, Arete and her husband received them and Medea hospitably.

Who translated Homer's Odyssey?

Homer, The Odyssey with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, PH.D. in two volumes. Cambridge, MA., Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann, Ltd. 1919. ISBN 978-0674995611. Online version at the Perseus Digital Library. Greek text available from the same website.

What does Arete represent?

Arete represents a very Greek view of the world. Perfection was something to be valued and reached for, but most people never had a chance of obtaining it.

What is the meaning of Arete in Greek philosophy?

Mike Greenberg, PhD. Published on September 23, 2020. The idea of arete in Greek philosophy is one that is difficult to translate for modern audiences. In simple terms, it could be translated as excellence or superior virtue. In practice, though, it was a complex set of ideals that confounded even the greatest philosophers.

Why was Arete a deity?

Because social position was ordained by fate and the will of the gods, members of the nobility were more naturally inclined toward achievement and fulfillment. Like many abstract ideas in Greek culture, arete was also personified as an individual deity.

Why were the heroes of Arete and Penelope considered women of Arete?

The heroes were men of arete for their courage, strength, and devotion to the gods, while Penelope was a woman of arete for her unwavering devotion to Odysseus.

How was Arete achieved?

In all these cases, arete was achieved by fulfilling a purpose and ideal not just once, but over the course of a lifetime.

Why did horses and dogs achieve Arete?

Horses and dogs could achieve arete easily because their purpose in life was simple and straightforward. Mankind, however, had to truly work to balance their minds, bodies, and faith. While Elysium or arete may have been virtually impossible, however, the educated people of Greece continued to hold them in high regard.

Why was Penelope a woman of Arete?

The heroes were men of arete for their courage, strength, and devotion to the gods, while Penelope was a woman of arete for her unwavering devotion to Odysseus. A dog could be a creature of arete for guarding its owner’s property and livestock.

How does Odysseus trick Polyphemus?

His clever use of disguise and deception to trick Polyphemus into letting his crew flee is a clear demonstration of Odysseus relying on intelligence rather than strength. In an attempt to escape, Odysseus declares to Polyphemus, “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy.” (IX.397-398). Acknowledging that his strength would not be able to surpass that of Polyphemus’s, Odysseus instead cleverly deceives the Cyclops by telling Polyphemus that his name was “Nohbody”. Polyphemus, not aware of the trick, was unable to ask for help from the other Cyclops when he was attacked, calling out, “‘Nohbdy, Nohbdy’s tricked me, Nohbdy’s ruined me!’” (9.444). The obvious irony of the name that Odysseus chooses both humorously and cleverly presents Odysseus’s cunning, but also effectively showed the importance of having great intelligence besides strength. Had Odysseus resolved this struggle through strength alone, he likely would have lost many men and possibly his own life as well. His deception and craftiness allowed for the optimal resolution of many rewards with little

What is the ideal Greek hero?

In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, it is suggested that the ideal Greek concept of a hero is one who exhibits the moral virtue of arete, excellence in all areas. Having a similar denotation to that of the more modern term “well-rounded”, the Greeks valued highly those who were not lacking and were furthermore adept at a wide variety of skills. Odysseus, the protagonist, is an exemplar of a hero that demonstrates this Greek ideal. In addition to having a mighty physical prowess that allowed him to survive his rough journey, he was also able to use his own craftiness and quick-wittedness to overcome these trials. The Greek hero ideal of having arete is evidenced by Odysseus’s use of his intelligence instead of strength to resolve his conflicts

Who is Arete in the Odyssey?

Arete was occasionally personified as a goddess, the sister of Homonoia (not to be confused with Harmonia ), and the daughter of the goddess of justice, Praxidike. She is not to be confused with the mythological Queen Arete mentioned in the Argonautica and the Odyssey, whose name in Greek is spelled Ἀρήτη (with a different vowel in the second syllable).

What is the meaning of Arete?

Arete is a significant part of the paideia of ancient Greeks: the training of the boy to manhood. This training in arete included physical training, for which the Greeks developed the gymnasion; mental training, which included oratory, rhetoric, and basic sciences; and spiritual training, which included music and what is called virtue .

What does Arete mean in Homer's Iliad?

In Homer 's Iliad and Odyssey, " arete " is used mainly to describe heroes and nobles and their mobile dexterity, with special reference to strength and courage, but it is not limited to this. Penelope 's arete, for example, relates to co-operation, for which she is praised by Agamemnon.

What is the meaning of Arete in Homer's poem?

In the Homeric poems, Arete is frequently associated with bravery, but more often with effectiveness. The person of Arete is of the highest effectiveness ; they use all their faculties—strength, bravery, ...

What is the Greek word for "pray"?

According to Bernard Knox 's notes found in the Robert Fagles translation of The Odyssey, "arete" is also associated with the Greek word for "pray", araomai. In regards to the Iliad the way Homer describes Achilles is an example of arete (187). Arete is associated with the goodness and prowess of a warrior (187).

What was the thought that athletics had to be present in order to obtain Arete?

It was commonly believed that the mind, body, and soul each had to be developed and prepared for a man to live a life of arete. This led to the thought that athletics had to be present in order to obtain arete. They did not need to consume one's life, merely exercise the body into the right condition for arete, just like the mind and soul would be exercised by other means.

Where is the statue of Arete?

Statue of Arete in Celsus' Library in Ephesus. Arete ( Greek: ἀρετή) is a concept in ancient Greek thought that, in its most basic sense, refers to "excellence" of any kind. The term may also mean "moral virtue".

What does the term "arete" mean?

Arete roughly means “moral virtue”. It refers to an innate “Excellence” or “ Essence ” in all things, and the striving toward that potential or purpose. This can be understood well via Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Theory of the Forms, where the true forms are the arete of the forms.

What is Arete?

We explain arete, a philosophical term with deep meaning first used by Greeks.

What is the arete of the self?

If we are being “our best selves,” we are perfectly adhering to our predestined essence , and thus we are being “excellent,” this is the arete of the self.

What is the arete of moral principles?

Or, it can be understood in terms of the Greatest Happiness theory, where the First Principle of moral philosophy in its “perfect” form is the arete of moral principles. Or, it can be understood in Plato’s Republic, where the ends of that whole theory of the ideal state describes “the arete of the state.”.

Which two philosophers believed that things don't have an innate essence?

TIP: The existentialists believed that things don’t have an innate essence, Plato and Aristotle did, and that makes them essentialists ( Plato even more the more Realist Aristotle ). Innate essence in any and all things, in its most exalted form, is arete. See our page on essentialism vs. existentialism.

Is Arete a good thing?

Thus, arete isn’t just having as much of a good thing as possible, or avoiding a bad thing. “The highest virtue” is a “moderation” and “balance” of all the virtues of a given “thing”. Excellence is in this sense analogous with Plato’s concept of justice and Aristotle’s mean theory.

Is a city state the arete of the state?

If a city-state offers its citizens “ the greatest happiness ,” then this is an excellent city-state, it is the arete of the state. If the soul is in perfect balance, then this is the arete of the soul. In all cases, both the potential and fulfillment of a thing’s essence is arete.

How long have the Iliad and Odyssey been around?

Most people think of the Iliad and the Odyssey as having a fixed form, but we’re fairly certain that they didn’t until about the sixth century BCE, at which point they had probably been around for about 200 years.

What is the theme of Nostos?

Nostos is a theme used in Ancient Greek literature which includes an epic hero return ing home by sea. In Ancient Greek society, it was deemed a high level of heroism or greatness for those who managed to return. This journey is usually very extensive and includes being shipwrecked in an unknown location and going through certain trials that test the hero. The return isn't just about returning home physically but also about retaining certain statuses and retaining your identity upon arrival.