Aristo– is a word-forming element meaning “best,” or “of the aristocracy,” from Greek aristos “best of its kind, noblest, bravest, most virtuous”” (of persons, animals, things). In its Greek form, aristos denoted that which was excellent in kind, noble in bearing, virtuous in conduct. It was not yet the title of a class. The aristoi were thoseContinue reading “Elitism and Aristocracy”
Tag Archives: Achilles
Crime and Natural Rights
Hector kills Patroclus who is wearing Achilles’ armor. Hector takes the armor as a spoil. Thetis, Achilles’ mother, pleads with Hephaestus to make her son new armor worthy of him to wear when he returns to battle. The smithy god agrees and Homer spends many lines describing the newly forged armor. Each piece is gravenContinue reading “Crime and Natural Rights”
Elite Competition
Sing, Goddess, Achilles’ rage,Black and murderous, that cost the GreeksIncalculable pain, pitched countless soulsOf heroes into Hades’ dark,And left their bodies to rot as feastsFor dogs and birds, as Zeus’ will was done. Begin with the clash between Agamemnon–The Greek warlord–and godlike Achilles. So opens the Illiad. Homer focuses our attention on the combatants: this isContinue reading “Elite Competition”
Protective Arts 