Seek the ancient mother.
Sing, goddess, the story of the ancient struggle once more renewed between Greece and Rome. Help us to recall in the great battles between the most bitter of rivals, how Greece prevailed and vanquished Rome and her allies. Tell how Fate commanded and ordained that beautiful Greece, even after five tries, would not know defeat but would conquer the enemy that conquered her aeons before. Sing, oh great Muse of History, the story of Father Zeus calling together the council of gods. Let us remember how the great Olympian gods decided that it must be Athens and not Rome who would host the Olympics seven years hence.
The Olympics, by the will of Zeus (and the International Olympic Committee), have returned home. Denied for the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympics by evil Eris, goddess of discord, the three sisters Fate decreed that Athens and Greece, birthplace of the ancient and modern Olympics, must be honored and revered once more. Seek the ancient mother.
Once again athletes from around the world will come to pay homage and respect to beautiful Greece. Who will the gods bless with victory? Upon whose head will Far-Shooting Apollo lay the laurel wreath of victory? Or will Apollo of the silver bow keep the laurel for himself and enter the competition?
Alas, I fear the world will not see the greatness and strength of Apollo. For even after all these years he still mourns the loss of his dear friend. Remember the story of poor Hyacinth. Hyacinth, a mortal, was so pleasing to Apollo that they often traveled together and held friendly competitions amongst each other. One fateful day Apollo and Hyacinth were throwing the discus. Hyacinth commenced the competition and threw further than the amount of money Michael Jordan is to be paid. Apollo retrieved the well-thrown discus and complimented Hyacinth before his own throw.
"Your disc was straight and thrown with the strength of a hundred men," Apollo said. "And yet it is still nothing compared to the might of a god."
Apollo threw the discus and it soared high into the air, higher than even the jump of a Carl Lewis, or even a Ricky Price. Poor Hyacinth, in his eagerness to retrieve the discus, ran to fetch it before Apollo could warn him. The discus came crashing down and struck Hyacinth in the head, slaying him. Apollo mourned his friend and turned him into the flower that we know today. Seek the ancient mother.
Allow us, oh Calliope, to see what it will be like seven years from now. Remind us of the words of the seer Kalchas. The athletes of the world gathering on the peaceful and sacred Acropolis. On the great Parthenon the athletes will bow their heads and pray to Zeus the cloud-gatherer. In the temple of Zeus those who hope for victory will pray and sacrifice a ram to the great Sky God. Those who are destined by Fate will receive the blessing of Zeus of the wide brows. Those lucky few are the ones who will be imbued with the aristea and menos that will carry them to victory. Their newfound bravery and spirit will crush and destroy the other competitors, pretenders to the favor of Zeus. Hercules and Achilles will march through the waves of their competitors, decimating the pretenders. Mighty Hercules and glorious Achilles will sweep through the fallen warriors gathering their armor and will stand triumphant on the podium of victory.
But there are some athletes who will not have the gods on their side. Some of these, like powerful Ajax, will not need the help of the gods-their menos and bie (amazing strength) will be enough to carry them through.
Remember the story of the battle between Ajax and Hector. Mighty Achilles sat by the shore in his ships due to the evil wickedness of King Agamemnon. The Trojans, led by Hector of the shining helm, pushed the Achaians from the walls of Troy to the sea, where their ships laid. Hector challenged any one of the Greeks to single combat to decide who would win the day between the two armies. All of the Greeks cowered before shining Hector except one, Ajax, wall of the Achaians. In the mighty battle that pursued, Ajax strove valiantly against tall Hector of the shining helm and did not give ground. From Hector he won both respect and an ox. So too will Hector stand tall there in seven years and not give ground against the ones favored by the gods.
Others will not be like Hector. They will be doomed to utter destruction and defeat. Their souls will forever be banished to Hades. Some will never cross the River Styx and will be destined to wander through the afterworld forever. Others, those who cheat, will be exiled to the deepest depths of Tartarus forever, like Tantalus.
Remember the story of Tantalus and his crimes against the Olympians. Tantalus was once respected by the gods, but he became vain and wicked. At a feast he held for the gods, he decided to kill his own son and feed him to the gods in order to test their wisdom. All-knowing Zeus realized the treachery and banished Tantalus to Tartarus. To this day Tantalus sits in a pool of refreshing water but remains thirsty. Every time he bends down to drink from the pool, the water evaporates. Seek the ancient mother.
Who will Athena, patron of Athens, bless with the metis and wisdom to win Olympic honor? In the past it was crafty Odysseus. Who is the new Odysseus or the new Nestor, wise beyond all Danaans? Seek the ancient mother.
Who will fleet-footed Hermes bless with amazing speed? In the age of heroes, it was the woman Atalanta who was blessed by the swift god. Seek the ancient mother.
Seven years from now, people from all around the world will once again relive the grandeur that is Greece. Children at home, adults at work, the elderly in the gardens will all offer up prayers for their favorite athlete. The struggle will commence.
Fourteen scant days later it will end. The combatants will leave beautiful Greece and the sacred Acropolis and return home, and the citizens of the world will continue on with their lives.
But their lives will not be the same. A piece of Athens, of Greece herself, will live on in the hearts and minds of people across the globe. The people will leave Greece once again, but Greece will never leave the people or the Olympics. Seek the ancient mother. In seven years time the ancient mother will be sought and she will be found. The ancient mother is Greece-welcome home.
Jamal Middlebrooks is a Trinity senior.
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