Greek Prophetess-cassandra Essay Example

Queen Hecuba and King Priam of Troy, was a beautiful young woman blessed with the gift of prophecy by the god Apollo. In return, she was supposed to love him, but at the last minute she shunned Apollo. As an act of revenge, Apollo added a twist to her gift: Cassandra was doomed to tell the truth, but never to be believed. Cassandra has always been misunderstood and misinterpreted as a madwoman or crazy doomsday prophetess. She has always been shown in paintings with her long hair flying around her shoulders in what was considered lunatic fashion, scantily clad, and helpless on her knees in the face of her predicted doom. However, there is so much more to Cassandra than her maddened predictions and pitiable treatment. Cassandra was a great, intelligent heroine who was cursed by the gods for not playing by their rules. She is a tragic figure, not a madwoman.

Cassandras gift began with her falling asleep in the temple of Apollo. As he looked down on her, her beauty roused him. He promised to teach her the art of prophecy in return for lust. Cassandra agreed to his terms, but after accepting his gift of prophecy, she denied him her body. Apollo was outraged and added a condition to the gift: though Cassandra would always speak the truth, no one would ever believe her.Already I prophesised to my countryment all their disasters...(but) Ever since that fault I could persuade no one of anything. He begged Cassandra to give him one last kiss, and as she did so, he spat into her mouth, when he backed away, the curse was planted. Once Cassandra had

been cursed by Apollo, and she would never be believed, Troy was doomed. Countless times before and during the Trojan War Cassandra predicted what would come of the war, but no one believed her.

Always it was Cassandra who recognized a face, who predicted a fateful occurrence, who ran around the ramparts of the city with her hair flying around her shoulders, crying and spouting oracles that no one understood. Most people considered her insane and tried to subdue her, but she was only trying desperately to warn her people of impending disaster. One of Cassandras most famous predictions was that of the Greek siege behind the gift of the Trojan horse. Four times (the horse) struck (the gates): as oft the clashing sound of arms was heard, and inward groans rebound. Yet, mad with zeal, and blinded with our fate, we haul along the horse in solemn state; then place the dire portent within the towr. Cassandra cried, and crusd th unhappy hour; foretold our fate; but, by the gods decree, all heard, and none believd the prophecy. The Trojans wouldnt believe Cassandra, and accepted the gift. Soon after, the city was sacked and everyone was killed or taken prisoner.