SC+P6+2013+Elysian+Fields

=Elysian Fields: Elysium= James R. Hutto Rebekah Galante Courtney Laster

Culture

The Elysian Fields like much form Greek culture has played a part in our culture today. For the Greeks the Elysian Fields or Elysium was a part of the afterlife. According to Historylink “Elysium was the island for a chosen few. The gods permitted only heroes or very good people to enter into this area” (Historylink). This is a place that appears in many culture and religions, such as heaven or paradise. This appears to have been passed down form the Greeks to the Romans and to our pop culture. Although the name and the religion has changed the concept of a place were those who do good things are rewarded in kind. This sets an unforeseeable prize for doing the good deeds that has made a more selfish incentive to be a good person.

Work Cited

"The Underworld." //The Underworld//. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.

Aim

The Elysian Fields is the place where the favored of the gods go when they die. Heroes and their families are sent there to spend eternity. “ Here the likes of Achilles lived on in splendid company, in pleasant surroundings, in heroic pursuits of the hunt and banquet. ” (Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology) The aim of this place was to give heroes a beautiful and perfect place to live. It was a reward from the gods instead of just going to the normal under world. “T he favored of Zeus enjoy perfect happiness ” (Ancient Classical History)

"Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Elysian Fields." //Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Elysian Fields//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. “Elysian Fields." //About.com Ancient / Classical History//. About, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013.

Historical

Elysium, also known as the Elysian Fields was famous among the Greeks as a place of paradise, and peaceful existence after death. Thought to be a separate realm from the underworld, or Hades, it was originally reserved for those that were related to the gods and other heroes. Later, entry was granted to the righteous, and the heroic, where they would remain after death, to live a blessed and happy life, and indulging in whatever employment they had enjoyed in life (Peck). In Homer’s writings the Elysian Plain was a land of perfect happiness at the end of the earth, on the banks of the Oceanus River (Britannica). SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/Empire/Users/huttoj1/Downloads/Elysium.doc// //[]// //Peck, Harry Thurston (1897). [|Harper's Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities, Volume 1]. New York: Harper. pp. 588, 589.//

Audience

The audience was the people of Ancient Greek Religion, or Hellenismos as it was called. Elysium was just a part of the many other aspects of the religion, including other realms such Tartarus. And Gods such as Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Elysium was a realm where all Greeks hoped to end up when they died. They believed that when they died they were instantly transported to the entrance of the underworld (Long). After that the Ferryman, Charon, would take them across the Acheron, the river of pain, to be judged by Hades.

Long, J. Bruce (2005). Encyclopedia of Religion. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA. p. 9452. Buxton, R.G.A (2004). The Complete World of Greek Mythology. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 209.