The Role of the Gods and the Divine
This chapter discusses the role of the gods, with emphasis on divine intervention as a compositional device. Of the cyclic epics, the Cypria shows the greatest divine activity, with many parallels to the Iliad in the range and function of divine interventions, though the notion of a controlling “will of Zeus” added much irony to the basic scheme. However, it is the Aethiopis that shows a clearer parallel to the Iliad in its mixture of divine aid and divine conflict. The other poems of the Cycle show a much closer affinity to the Odyssey. Divine intervention is used sparingly, with relatively few gods being involved; divine conflict is less emphasized; and gods mainly serve to inspire, advise, or hinder heroes to provide direction to the narrative. Also included is a discussion of the much freer use of prophecies and omens in the Cycle as compared with Homer.