The
opening scene of Sophocles’ play; Philoctetes begins with Odysseus setting
the scene for Neoptolemus, child of Achilles. “This is the headland of
sea-washed Lemnos, land untrodden by men and desolate. It was here child…”
The phrase “untrodden by men” brought to mind, the Hippolytus’ famous phrase “untrod meadow”. That phrase is indicative of the main character’s virginal status.
I wonder if Odysseus used the phrase (Okay Sophocles wrote the phrase) to point out Neoptolemus’ youth? After all the son of Achilles wasn’t even a teenager yet.
The phrase “untrodden by men” brought to mind, the Hippolytus’ famous phrase “untrod meadow”. That phrase is indicative of the main character’s virginal status.
I wonder if Odysseus used the phrase (Okay Sophocles wrote the phrase) to point out Neoptolemus’ youth? After all the son of Achilles wasn’t even a teenager yet.
Do you know other uses of that phrase before Euripides?
ReplyDeleteI found a reference claiming that the was such a tradition that referred to women. Good question. I will check it out when I have access to jstor http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4430511?sid=21105271519141&uid=4&uid=2&uid=63&uid=70&uid=2134&uid=83&uid=3739512&uid=3739256&uid=2460338175&uid=2460337935
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