The Odyssey and Epic Poetry: An Introduction, Part 1 Answers

Which event from The Odyssey best highlights the idea that the ancient Greeks greatly disliked greediness?

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.This was an army, trained to fight on horseback or, where the ground required, on foot. They came with dawn over that terrain like the leavesand blades of spring. So doom appeared to us, dark word of Zeus for us, our evil days.My men stood up and made a fight of it— backed on the ships, with lances kept in play, from bright morning through the blaze of noonso holding our beach, although so far outnumbered; but when the sun passed toward unyoking time, then the Achaeans, one by one, gave way.

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.Plunder we took, and we enslaved the women,to make division, equal shares to all—but on the spot I told them: 'Back, and quickly! Out to sea again!' My men were mutinous, fools, on stores of wine. Sheep after sheep they butchered by the surf, and shambling cattle,feasting,—while fugitives went inland, running to call to arms the main force of Cicones.

Read the excerpt from The Odyssey.The wind that carried west from Iliumbrought me to Ismarus, on the far shore,a strongpoint on the coast of Cicones.I stormed that place and killed the men who fought.Plunder we took, and we enslaved the women,to make division, equal shares to all—but on the spot I told them: 'Back, and quickly! ‘Out to sea again!' My men were mutinous,fools, on stores of wine. Sheep after sheep theybutchered by the surf, and shambling cattle,feasting,—while fugitives went inland, runningto call to arms the main force of Cicones.This was an army, trained to fight on horsebackor, where the ground required, on foot. They camewith dawn over that terrain like the leavesand blades of spring. So doom appeared to us,dark word of Zeus for us, our evil days. My men stood up and made a fight of it—60backed on the ships, with lances kept in play,from bright morning through the blaze of noonso holding our beach, although so far outnumbered;

What can be learned about the ancient Greeks from this excerpt? Choose two answers.