Comments on: Manvotional: Report from the Attack on Thebes

By: Pete Miller

Pete Miller — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:21:04 +0000

This was very moving: one to send to my brothers.

By: Z. J. Kendall

Z. J. Kendall — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:22:29 +0000

Not bad content but I didn’t care for it. I bet it reads better in the original Greek :P

By: Isi

Isi — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:07:54 +0000

I am just starting to teach my boys what it is to be a man – assuming that i understand such myself. To read in plain simple terms what that means helps to inspire them to be men. Statements such as these go a long way:

My word is my bond.
Wise in deeds, not words.

I am still not convinced that manliness can be taught outright – but time will tell.

By: Nik

Nik — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:28:47 +0000

What I found most admirable about the whole passage was the speaker’s desire to praise his deserving friends who seemed to all be men who asked for no praise. Obviously the 7 all had very admirable qualities, but I think the messenger’s heartfelt desire to express praise and appreciation is a virtue that is often overlooked and undervalued.

By: Quinn

Quinn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:24:23 +0000

An interesting passage, but colored by poetic interpretation. In Aeschylus’ Seven Against Thebes he ascribes the seven defenders of Thebes these qualities, while marking out the attackers as the greediest and most evil of men. I wonder what that says about the interpretation of manliness even in Euripedes’ days?

By: Miss Gabriel

Miss Gabriel — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:41:19 +0000

What a fantastic passage. These men are displaying true virtues, and are wonderful role models.

By: gen Y Investor

gen Y Investor — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:08:32 +0000

I really love these type of posts that tell old stories or events. Most of these I never heard of or knew exisited, and if it weren’t for AOM I would never have. Great post!

By: Jonathan Frei -- OrdinaryTime

Jonathan Frei -- OrdinaryTime — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:22:50 +0000

This was great. Sad though how well manliness was understood by the Greeks and Romans of the ancient world, and how we’ve forgotten so much of what it means today.

But I think now things are beginning to swing back the other way. Manliness is in style once again.