An analysis of Euripides' Rhesus and Odysseus Cunning Intelligence

Abstract

The tragedy Rhesus, whose authorship is a matter of controversy, brings one version of the Thracian king's myth after whom the play is named. One finds another version of the same myth in Homer Ìs Iliad, at the also controversial Book Tenth, known as Doloneia. Both narratives form an excellent corpus to investigate the theme of cunning intelligence in Ancient Greece. My mastering research explores the ways in which cunning intelligence is presented in the Rhesus tragedy, by comparing it with the Doloneia. In this article, I intend to analyze briefly the role played by Odysseus in the plot and the way other characters view him.