Shalyn Hockett
November 6th, 2014
HUM 101 Jaegar/Larson
Word Count 480
Happiness Never Stays Long in One Place
Solon the Athenian give Croesus the Lydian criteria for what it means to be happy. Croesus assumes he is the most happy, as he has many worldly possessions, servants, and a magnificent royal palace. However, Croesus is greeted with disappointment when he asks Solon who is the happiest and Solon replies with Tellus, as the happiest and Cleobis and Briton as the second happiest. According to Solon’s criteria for happiness, I believe Achilles is the most happy, followed by Patroclus, and then the gods, primarily focusing on Zeus. I believe that Achilles is the most happy because his life is very similar to Tellus. According to Solon, happiness is having kleos, which is glory and honor often gained through doing heroic deeds, such as fighting for your country. Achilles travels into battle and fights honorably in the Trojan War. Though we do not see the death of Achilles in the Iliad, it is said he dies honorably and is buried where he has fallen. Achilles also was able to see his country, Myrmidons flourish under his leadership, both at home and in battle. According to Solon Tellus is the most happy “because his country was flourishing in his days”, similar to Achilles. Patroclus is the second happiest because his life is most similar to that Briton and Cleobis. On top of earning kleos by fighting for his country in battle, when Patroclus dies he is celebrated and honored by both sides of the Trojan War through funeral games. Patroclus’ funeral games is a large spectacle, similar to Cleobis and Briton when they honorable carry their mother on their shoulders to the temple during the festival to the witness of their whole city. “This deed of theirs was witnessed by the whole assembly of worshippers, and then their
