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[Alexandr Korol]

It is said in one of the articles I found on the internet that “In Homer’s vivid description of Achilles’ shield, he describes eight circles forming a round shield.” See how interesting this is. Perhaps this is the matrix I must decipher. These, as they say, many apples — the shield is in a plane, but these are the apples from which one big shield is made, and there must also be a small central one. Further, it is said: “It is believed that these eight circles, created by Hephaestus, demonstrate and represent ancient Greek society with the idea that this society consists of happy people. The first and innermost circle, they say, consists of ‘earth, sky, and sea; also the moon in its full phase and the tireless sun.’ From the second to the fifth circle, Homer describes the social life of Greek society in detail, and the second circle shows two cities, ‘beautiful to behold and occupied with the bustle of people.’ One has a wedding, and the other a battle. Homer compares the experiences of the two cities — one happy, the other in turmoil. The third circle describes the plowing of fields in detail, while the fourth explains what was gathered in the royal estate. The presence of arable fields is vital for the prosperity of any society, and crime is inevitable, including theft.” You see, there is a sense here again of that hint — Homer, or whoever made this shield, shows that there is one bright world and its direct opposite. These comparisons of worlds demonstrate that light cannot exist without shadow. Where there is light, there must be a shadow, and it’s as if everywhere there is a city that prospers, there is another that must suffer poverty and crime — it seems inevitable and meant to be that way. This again is about accepting it all. “The sixth circle depicts the dark side of society. This part of Achilles’ shield is described as a scene of a lion attacking a bull, while farmers and their dogs stand nearby, unable to help. Losing livestock could mean the farmer can’t feed his family or sell goods. The dogs could have protected their owners, but none dared to attack the lions; instead, they barked and kept their distance from danger. Homer writes:
“Lions tore at the bull’s thick hide... But the shepherds feared to act... the dogs dared not seize the lions but stood nearby, barking and keeping away from danger.”
The seventh circle shows a sheep farm, while the eighth and largest circle depicts dances. This last circle contains the most detailed descriptions, with Homer even describing the clothing of young women and men at the dances: “The girls were crowned with garlands, while the young men wore golden daggers hanging from silver canopies; sometimes they skillfully danced in a ring with merry, shimmering feet.”