+* Prashnottaram -Quiz Time *+ - Page 8

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

Comparing the Ramayan & the Illiad

In both epics, Ravan and Paris - the abductors of Sita and Helen - were killed in the war. However, what was the striking difference b/w these stories about the aftermath of their deaths?

Originally posted by: varaali

Differences are many- One, Helen enjoys companionship with Paris while Sita remains chaste and loyal to Rama. Secondly, after Paris' and Hector's deaths, she becomes the wife / Paramour of their younger brother (forgetting his name at the moment) which is unthinkable in the case of Sita. Thirdly, when the Trojans' defeat became imminent, Helen did not hesitate to throw her new husband (Paris' brother) at Menelaus' mercy.

Finally after Menelaus discovers her, he is ready to slay her - as her punishment for being unfaithful, ( - a small parallel to Rama abandoning Sita) but stops short when Helen reveals her beautiful body and Helen and Menelaus return to Sparta.

Originally posted by: varaali

Vrish-

That was a fantastic question from you - comparing the Ramayan War and the Trojan War. In the Ramayan, the motive for the War was pretty straight forward. Rescue Seeta at all costs and in the process if Ravana and his family had to be killed, so be it. Since Vibhishana had already surrendered to Rama and Rama had instated Vibhishana as king , he was probably not inclined to ransack Lanka.

But in the case of the Trojan war, things get a bit complicated, not least because of Helen's own wavering loyalties. Agreed that it was Helen's abduction in the first place which spurred Melenaus to amass forces against the Trojans, but by the time the War entered its final phase after ten long years, it was not just about Helen any more. Even Gods like Apollo and Aphrodite has become involved and there were various personal scores to be settled amongst the different parties.

The ending of the Ramayan War and Trojan war also differed because of the casualities suffered. In the former, apart from the vanars, Rama's side did not lose any major warrior. But in Trojan's case, each side suffered heavy casualities. Hector's death was probably the turning point- the point after which there was no looking back. Hector killed * I think* Achilles brother, which spurred Achilles to kill Hector, in revenge of which Paris killed Achilles. After Achilles death, the battle was led on the Greek's side by Odysseus . Paris too was eventually killed, but since Helen had taken his brother as her husband, freeing her was no longer the main motive as much as capturing her and punishing her was. Priam, I don't think was much of a warrior. He was hiding behind the statue of Apollo when he was discovered and killed.

In fact if you notice, the war did end when Helen was captured / recovered. Only it was not immeditely after Paris' death but after the death of his brother ( I need to Google and find out his name now).

A very interesting question coming from you. Maybe we can have more discussions on these lines.

Originally posted by: JanakiRaghunath

My question:

Whom did Lord Shiva kill to restore his son Ganesha's head?

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

I second that - we can have a lot more discussion on these lines. I suggest we open a new thread for it.

On the same lines, I find Ramayan very similar to Skanda Puranam.