3bf6990c   
   From: mlwi@swipnet.se   
      
   "Kai"  skrev i meddelandet   
   news:53b370ef-7d37-4e6e-88b1-420e5d2b96a3@4g2000yqu.googlegroups.com...   
   > The Odyssey of Homer   
   >   
   >   
   > translated by:   
   > T.E. Lawrence   
   > (Lawrence of Arabia)   
   >   
   >   
   > In book 11 Odysseus gives a recollection of his visit to the   
   > underworld. He tells about the blood sacrifice and letting the souls   
   > drink the blood to speak to him..   
   >   
   > First I find error that Odysseus cannot hug his mother yet he uses   
   > his   
   > mortal blade to keep the souls from drinking the blood.   
   >   
   > Also I am wondering if it is error or if there is some significance   
   > to   
   > drinking the blood.   
   > I know that the blood revitalizes the souls for a time so they can   
   > speak to Odysseus, but here is where I pose my question.   
   >   
   > If they must drink the blood to speak first I ask:   
   > Why was Elpnor abole to speak to Odysseus without drinking the   
   > blood?   
   > Is it because he is newly dea? or is there some other significance?   
   >   
   > Also I wonder:   
   > Why does Agamemnon have to drink the blood to speak to Odysseus but   
   > Achilles does not? First I thought it was because Achilles is a   
   > demigod and Agamemnon is not but upon further research Agamemnon is   
   > also of relation to a God.   
   >   
   > Can anyone answer my questions??/   
      
   The idea behind the blood sacrifice is that the blood revitalizes the   
   gods/the dead. It is the red fluid of life, the vital factor of life.   
   However, the gods/the dead aren't powerless. Not all of them need   
   sacrifice of food/blood, etc., to be able to speak or be active. But   
   sacrifices made by humans revitalizes them. It is the act of offering   
   that is significant, to offer something valuable. I wrote an article   
   about the blood sacrifice here:   
   http://home7.swipnet.se/~w-73784/bloodsac.htm   
      
   Mats Winther   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)