Ancient Greek Culture: The Importance Of Virtue

Ancient Greek culture values having moral virtue and living up to one’s potential in order to bring the most fulfillment to one’s life as well as the lives of whom they interact with as seen in Homer’s, The Odyssey. Greeks deem morality and excellence as behavior that esteems honor, loyalty, justice, and courage; this value is referred to as Arete, or virtue. According to the Greeks, being fulfilled is the innate purpose of humans, and in order to reach this pure contentment, the Greeks define cultural values such as Arete which explain how one must be virtuous and exemplify self control, patience, and overall virtue in order to accomplish the goal of serenity.

The Odyssey follows Telemachus’s journey of self discovery as he searches for his father. In the absence of Odysseus, suitors infest Telemachus’s home and prey on his vulnerable mother, Penelope, in hopes of courting her. In order to deceive the suitors and remain loyal to Odysseus, Penelope promises them how “‘Young men, my suitors, now my lord is dead,/ let me finish my weaving before I marry” but every night in private, “she unwove it” to avoid choosing a new husband .

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The notion of not remarrying until she completes a shroud that she will never finish cleverly buys her time; although this means Penelope must lie to these demanding suitors, she still honors her marriage covenant to Odysseus and remains devoted to him, asserting her as a faithful and capable woman. Additionally, Penelope demonstrates her courage, a characteristic highly esteemed by the Greeks, by not submitting herself to the suitors.

This excellence and virtue establishes Penelope’s value of Arete. Homer asserts that while difficult, loyalty and honor will grant one with a more fulfilling life. Greek culture values virtue in the form of alleviating another’s suffrage.

The Greek cultural term Arete signifies excellence, which includes working to achieve justice by improving the lives of those in need and lessening their pain. After learning she may soon lose her son to the suitors, Penelope is greeted by a phantom sent by Athena in the form of Penelope’s sister who explains how she should “Lift up thy heart, and fear not overmuch./ For by his side one goes whom all men else/ invoke as their defender, one so powerful-/ Pallas Athena; in thy tears she pitied thee/ and now hath sent me that I so assure thee”. Spoken in order to reassure Penelope of her son’s safety, and letting her know that the goddess will protect Telemachus , Athena provides Penelope with godly counsel that stirs her to remain steadfast to her priorities: her husband, Odysseus, and son, Telemachus. By reassuring the safety of Penelope’s son, Athena relieves her unease and mitigates Penelope’s anxieties and stress; therefore, Athena displays her virtuosity and value of Arete by improving the life of another.

Although Arete was first defined by the Greeks, Arete is emulated in modern times through the countless women who exemplify excellence, courage, and virtue. Under constant pressure and scrutiny from those intimidated by their dominance, female athletes such as Aly Raisman and Serena Williams continues to inspire women to choose courage over comfort, and to overcome adversity when faced with resistance. Whether it’s standing up to unfair pay, or speaking out against corruption displayed by those in positions of power in their sport, both athletes use Arete as a principle of life by constantly demanding justice for women around the world. Homer asserts that it is not only one’s duty to live up to their full potential by leading their life with honor, morality, courage, and justice, but the idea of Arete is necessary in order for an individual to achieve contentment.