By Arc Convenor of Mythology and Ancient Wisdom, Seamus Neustead
The Richmond Football Club’s fortunes over the past quarter of a century are not without precedent. History provides a litany of examples of periods of enduring success for individuals, groups or institutions followed by periods of abject failure. In many cases there is a full recovery and in some there isn’t.
When it comes to Richmond it is not entirely inappropriate to apply the word crisis to its current situation. The meaning of the word “crisis” comes from medicine and refers to the point in the course of disease when the patient either descends to death or returns to health. The Richmond Football Club has seemingly reached this point and what it does in the coming months will determine whether it descends to virtual death, destined to linger on the bottom of the ladder, occasionally getting within a whisker of the final eight; or whether it returns to health to become a strong and vital player in the Australian Game.
What better opportunity, however, to reflect on history, and on the amazing examples of success and its transience. Perhaps there is no better example than that of Sophocles. Indeed Sophocles is remembered as the most awarded playwright in the dramatic competitions of Athens during the festivals of Lenaea and the Dionysia. Sophocles shot to fame when he took first prize in the Dionysia theatre competition over the reigning master of Athenian tragedy, Aeschylus.
It is well known that Sophocles was a great tragedian whose success endured for a long period of time. Sure you might say Sophocles was a dirty old erastês, or in today’s parlance, a pederast, but he was one of the greatest playwrights of the Ancient world. Aristotle counted Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as the highest achievement in tragedy.
What is not well know about the famous tragedian is that for a time he was considered a bit of a joke among his fellow Athenians, particularly when he turned his hand to another genre, comedy, experimented with dithyramb, and began focusing on the comic, but often banal daily lives of fellow citizens. Given such an extraordinary display of hubris, it is not surprising that commentators at the time, Aristophanes being among the most vocal, began to question Sophocles’ sanity. “Sophocles has clearly lost his marbles!” Aristophanes exclaimed when Sophocles turned up to the Tuesday evening “Marble Madness” round robin competition empty-handed.
How did Sophocles turn it around? He had already introduced the third actor! What other innovations could the master muster? He went back to the drawing board. He introduced skenographia to liven up the set. Further innovations in dramatic structure and character development soon followed. More phallic props were incorporated into the play than ever before.
It was not long before Sophocles was back on top, with foreign rulers inviting him to attend their courts (although he was too proud to accept such extravagances).
It is difficult to imagine a world without Sophocles. No one person has had more influence on the course of history with such profundity and such acuity than that of Sophocles.
No doubt the Richmond Football Club will have Sophocles in mind when it appoints a new coach and sets out its new strategic direction in the coming months.
The Richmond Football Club’s fortunes over the past quarter of a century are not without precedent. History provides a litany of examples of periods of enduring success for individuals, groups or institutions followed by periods of abject failure. In many cases there is a full recovery and in some there isn’t.
When it comes to Richmond it is not entirely inappropriate to apply the word crisis to its current situation. The meaning of the word “crisis” comes from medicine and refers to the point in the course of disease when the patient either descends to death or returns to health. The Richmond Football Club has seemingly reached this point and what it does in the coming months will determine whether it descends to virtual death, destined to linger on the bottom of the ladder, occasionally getting within a whisker of the final eight; or whether it returns to health to become a strong and vital player in the Australian Game.
What better opportunity, however, to reflect on history, and on the amazing examples of success and its transience. Perhaps there is no better example than that of Sophocles. Indeed Sophocles is remembered as the most awarded playwright in the dramatic competitions of Athens during the festivals of Lenaea and the Dionysia. Sophocles shot to fame when he took first prize in the Dionysia theatre competition over the reigning master of Athenian tragedy, Aeschylus.
It is well known that Sophocles was a great tragedian whose success endured for a long period of time. Sure you might say Sophocles was a dirty old erastês, or in today’s parlance, a pederast, but he was one of the greatest playwrights of the Ancient world. Aristotle counted Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as the highest achievement in tragedy.
What is not well know about the famous tragedian is that for a time he was considered a bit of a joke among his fellow Athenians, particularly when he turned his hand to another genre, comedy, experimented with dithyramb, and began focusing on the comic, but often banal daily lives of fellow citizens. Given such an extraordinary display of hubris, it is not surprising that commentators at the time, Aristophanes being among the most vocal, began to question Sophocles’ sanity. “Sophocles has clearly lost his marbles!” Aristophanes exclaimed when Sophocles turned up to the Tuesday evening “Marble Madness” round robin competition empty-handed.
How did Sophocles turn it around? He had already introduced the third actor! What other innovations could the master muster? He went back to the drawing board. He introduced skenographia to liven up the set. Further innovations in dramatic structure and character development soon followed. More phallic props were incorporated into the play than ever before.
It was not long before Sophocles was back on top, with foreign rulers inviting him to attend their courts (although he was too proud to accept such extravagances).
It is difficult to imagine a world without Sophocles. No one person has had more influence on the course of history with such profundity and such acuity than that of Sophocles.
No doubt the Richmond Football Club will have Sophocles in mind when it appoints a new coach and sets out its new strategic direction in the coming months.
Can we please have some thoughts on that NRL muppet signing on with the club that doesn't exist.
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