“Zeus, first cause, prime mover; for what thing without Zeus is done among mortals?”
Source: Oresteia (458 BC), Agamemnon, line 1485
“If the entire aristocracy is of divine descent, Zeus (or El) cannot save the human son without upsetting the order of things.”
Source: The Common Background of Greek and Hebrew Civilizations (1965 [1962]), Ch.VII Further Observations on Homer <!-- p.245, 1965 paper -->
Context: If the entire aristocracy is of divine descent, Zeus (or El) cannot save the human son without upsetting the order of things.... Hera reminds Zeus that many sons of gods are fighting around Troy, and that if Zeus spares his son, other gods will do the same for their sons, so that the earthly system will cease (Iliad 16: 445-449)
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Do you have more details about the quote "If the entire aristocracy is of divine descent, Zeus (or El) cannot save the human son without upsetting the order of t…" by Cyrus H. Gordon?
Cyrus H. Gordon 73
American linguist 1908–2001Related quotes
“Supported the belief that he was the Greek gos Zeus's son.”
Robin Lane Fox
(1946) Historian, educator, writer, gardener
Source: Alexander the Great, 1973, p.214
“Alexander was recognized as a son of Zeus after his visit.”
Robin Lane Fox
(1946) Historian, educator, writer, gardener
Source: Alexander the Great, 1973, p.201
Prologue
The Path of the King (1921)
Albert Einstein
(1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity
"On Freedom" (1940), p. 13 http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q&f=false
1950s, Out of My Later Years (1950)
Context: This freedom of communication is indispensable for the development and extension of scientific knowledge, a consideration of much practical import. In the first instance it must be guaranteed by law. But laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man may present his views without penalty there must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population. Such an ideal of external liberty can never be fully attained but must be sought unremittingly if scientific thought, and philosophical and creative thinking in general, are to be advanced as far as possible.
