Schoeck_2010_EnvyATheoryOfSocialBehaviour.pdf

146 THE ENVY OF THE GODS AND THE CONCEPT OF FATE
under the influence of Christianity, with its God incapable of envy
towards man, to students of ancient Greece the concept of a divine envy
was an absurdity.
The Greek concept of fate
Every culture must have an explanation to offer to its members for the
varying lots that fall to them. Some cultures have been successful in this
task, others relatively unsuccessful. The connection between the concept
of fate and human envy may, I believe, be illustrated from Homer's
view of that concept.
Nilsson describes the social situation which, to many people of the
Mycenaean period, represented a problem: 'Many of those who took
part in the great campaigns will have lost their lives, some will have
returned laden with booty and riches, others with nothing but their
scars.,7 It is revealing that the conception of fate, Moira, should be
expressed in phrases all of which mean a part, share or portion. Nilsson
writes: 'A goddess designated by such words cannot be personal or
concrete.' The sense of 'portion' should be adhered to. 'Each had his
share of the booty, or portion of the meal, the size of the share of the
spoils being regulated by a binding convention, size and quality of the
portions of food by a form of etiquette which we encounter several
times. ,8
Yet life, Nilsson continues, is full of unexpected events, 'and these are
spoken of simply as man's share in life, his portion of what happens, as he
would speak of his share of the booty or his portion of the meal.' But
even when things go wrong, he will still speak of his share of what
happens. 'Death is the last and final lot of man. Thus the Moira of death
is spoken of more often than any other. ,9
The distribution of portions is governed by custom and convention. If
a man takes more than his due he has to bear the consequences. 'Order,
however, is part of the essence of the conception of the Moira. ,10 Nilsson
7 M. P. Nilsson, Geschichte der griechischen Religion. Vol. 1: 'Bis zur griechischen
Weltherrschaft' (Handbuch der Altertumswissenschaft. ed. W. Otto, Section 5, Part 2,
Vol. 1), Munich, 1955, p. 344.
8 Op. cit., p. 338.
9 Op. cit., p. 339.
10 Op. cit., p. 339.