Plato's Lost Dialogue

Current wisdom suggests that the first complex organism evolved many moons ago (600 million years or so, give or take) by two single cells bumping heads, and joining together. Imagine that; over two billion years of single cells – gizillions of them - going about their daily business, and then, for no apparent reason, two of them get stuck together.  It must have sent shockwaves through the cell community.  Never before – anywhere in the universe as far as we know – had such an event occurred.  What a brazen leap! And then the damned thing had the cheek to started reproducing.  Suddenly we have plants, and then fish, amphibians, mammals, lizards and birds.  A short six million years ago our first human ancestor appears.  And the rest, as they say, is history. Sounds pretty fanciful, doesn’t it? Evolution.  If it weren’t supported by years of research and study, you wouldn’t believe it.  But there it is, the details may be tweaked and clarifi...

Zeus and Hera: the Ross and Rachel of the Pantheon.  From the moment she emerged out of their father’s stomach, covered in blood and slime, Zeus had lusted after his older sister.  But Hera wasn’t an easy catch; she had morals (of a fashion), and so Zeus had been ‘forced’ to consider other, easier, options.  Time and time again Zeus pursued his sister.  Time and time again, she refused him.  But he wasn’t to be deterred.  By hook or by crook, he would have his way. After testing the whole marriage thing out with a few others (check out 'We need to talk about Zeus' Parts 1 and 2), Zeus decided that he was ready.  He was a man.  A powerful man with powerful friends.  A man who knew how to take care of business.  A man who could destroy worlds as easily as he could create them.  A man who had the world at his feet - literally.  A man who was going places.  What woman in her right mind could deny such a man? With the sam...

With his first wife, Metis, under permanent house arrest (her house being Zeus’ body), Zeus was single again.  But not for long.  A bit like Henry VIII, Zeus liked to throw himself back into the ring as quickly as he could.  This time his eyes fell on Themis – a primordial Titaness and Zeus’ auntie. Themis was an unusual match for Zeus.  She presided over the ancient oracles (including the one that prophesised that Zeus’ mystery son with Metis would one day overthrow him).  She was wise and knew all about divine law, justice and morality.  Zeus was…well…Zeus, but they say opposites attract, don’t they?  She probably saw Zeus as a “fixer-upper”. What can we say about Zeus and Themis?  Not a lot really.  They seemed to get on for a while, and the marriage was fruitful in that she bore him a few children who had important roles to play, but other than that no major events occurred. So who were the children?  Three (Thallo, Auxo and Ca...

If you feel like you have family problems then read on, because they will soon pale into insignificance. Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? There was chaos.  And then there was Gaia (Mother Earth) and her husband Ouranos (Father Sky); they were the Greek primordial deities.  There were other primordial deities (including Tartarus, of whom we shall hear more about later), but we don’t need to get too bogged down with them now.  By some accounts Ouranos was conceived by Gaia alone (a virgin birth), which would make Ouranos both Gaia’s husband and son (it’s a minor taboo in comparison to what’s about to come).  Together they ruled over the world, and every night Ouranos would…attend to Gaia. Gaia gave birth to twelve Titans (other than Cronus and Rhea we don’t need to know their names right now) as well as three Cyclopes (giant one-eyed creatures) and three Hecatoncheires (creatures with one hundred hands).  Quite what Cronus and Rhea were doing the nig...

“Achaeus, I’ve decided that I’d like a feasting hall.” “Very well your grace, where would you like your new hall?” “There!”  King Erysichthon pointed to a small group of trees in front of him. “Ahmmm…may I suggest, your grace, that in the vast swathes of land that you hold here on Thessaly, you might want to avoid placing you new hall in the sacred grove of Demeter.” “Nonsense Achaeus, the old gal won’t mind.  She can join me in there once it’s built.  Get the men to cut the trees down right away.” “Your grace, I really must…” “Chop chop Achaeus, ha – get it – chop chop, I must write that one down.  Witty aren’t I, Achaeus?” “Very, your grace,” Achaeus sighed.  This won’t end well, he thought to himself.  The men set to work chopping down the trees, and soon all had been felled save for one giant oak tree which was covered in wreaths; each one representing a prayer that had been granted by Demeter.  The men refused to lay an axe on that tree, ...

Most people will be familiar with Plato (I’m talking about the ancient Greek philosopher rather than a Spanish plate).  Despite living nearly 2500 years ago his works are still hugely popular and he completes the holy trinity of ancient Greek philosophers along with Socrates and Aristotle (being a student of the former and a teacher of the latter).  On his father’s side he claimed to have been descended from Poseidon (which perhaps explains the link between Atlantis and Poseidon), and on his mother’s side he claimed to have been descended from the lawgiver Solon (which perhaps explains the link between Solon purportedly passing down the story of Atlantis to Plato via Critias amongst others). The first time we hear about Atlantis is in Plato’s dialogues: Timaeus and the unfinished Critias.  The dialogues are largely a monologue between Timaeus, Critias, Hermocrates and Socrates.  In them the four scholars discuss the ideal state and Critias explains how Athens (the ...

Polydectes, King of Serifos, took a bite out of his chicken leg.  A steady stream of grease dripped into his greying beard as his mind ticked over.  ‘So the mother is still single you say?’ ‘Yes, I believe so your grace,’ replied his advisor. ‘And the big looking chap with the muscles and the chiseled jaw is definitely just her son?’ ‘Yes your grace.  The mother is called Danae and the son is Perseus.’ ‘Good, good.  Have to be careful these days with relations.  Sometimes they can be quite complex.  And this Diana…’ ‘Danae, your grace.’ ‘Exactly, Danae, will refuse to be my Queen whilst the boy is around?’ ‘Yes your grace.  That is what I am led to believe.’ ‘Why is that exactly?’ The advisor looked at his ill-tempered King’s ageing body overflowing from his grease stained clothing and then considered the perfectly formed Danae.  He chose his next words carefully. ‘I believe the Gods have plans for them.’ ‘Humph,’ grunted Polydectes, ‘t...

“Hermes!  How…unexpected.”  Epimetheus grimaced as he opened the door. “Yes, just thought I’d pop by.  See how thing are going.” “Well do come in, can’t have you hopping about on my doorstep like that.  And what’s that you’ve got behind you?  It looks awfully intriguing.” “Indeed.  This is something we’ve just created.  Hot off the production line.  It’s a ‘fe-male’.  Like you, but with other bits and pieces, which I’ll let you find out in your own good time.” “Does it have a name?” “Yes – Pandora.  Come, show yourself my dear.  Don’t be shy.  That’s it.  Let him get a good look at you.” “Pandora you say?”  Epimetheus looked at the strange creation and felt a strange feeling in his heart.  He was suddenly lost for words.  “We’re thinking of mass producing them but wanted to do some market research first,” continued Hermes.  “So, what do you think?” “Well, she’s…erm.  She’s certainly.  ...

"HECTOR..." The cry engulfs the city, bringing it to a standstill. "HECTOR..." The anger.  The authority.  Only one man could make such a demand.   "HECTOR..." Don't do it Hector.  You don't need to go.  You didn't know it was Patroclus.  He was wearing his lover's armour.  It was a mistake.  It was just a mistake. The city holds its breath.  Hoping.  Praying. The silence is broken by the loud unmistakable creak of a gate opening. Send the army.  Crush him.   But no, the Gods would never allow it.  Hector would never allow it.  And so he stands.  Alone.  The city walls towering over him.  They were built to protect him.  Now they isolate him. His polished armour reflects the evening sun.  His stance is sure.  His resolve unwavering.  Only one man stands any chance against him on the battlefield.  That man waits for him.  Achilles. Sand kicks...