Deities And Diplomacy: Sacred Ties To International Relations

what deity has to do with diplomacy

Diplomacy is a key aspect of many games and simulations, and the role of deities in these scenarios can vary. In some cases, players can engage in diplomacy with deities, influencing their relations by offering gifts or forming alliances. Deities may also have their own diplomatic traits, such as being persuasive, which can impact their interactions with other deities and players. The alignment of deities plays a significant role in diplomacy, determining starting relations and how quickly relations change. Additionally, players may need to manage their happiness and income to purchase favourable relations with deities. However, some players have noted that achieving diplomatic victory can be challenging, and the diplomatic standing of players may not always influence the outcome as expected, with allies voting against them and enemies voting with them.

Characteristics Values
Bilateral Involves two actors or parties
Multilateral Involves more than two actors or parties
Continuous Requires constant and consistent engagement
Flexible Can change and modify its methods and tools
Communication Requires communication between actors
Negotiation Requires negotiation between actors
Persuasion Requires the use of persuasion
Compromise Requires compromise between countries
Coercion Requires the use of coercion
Gifts Can be influenced by offering gifts
Alignment Can be influenced by the same alignment
Treaties Can be formalised through treaties
Archives Can be supported by archives
Safe passage Can involve arranging safe passage

cycivic

Hermes, the Greek god, is considered the deity of diplomacy

In Greek mythology, Hermes, the messenger of the gods, is considered the deity of diplomacy. As the herald of Zeus, Hermes was known for his persuasiveness, eloquence, and cunning. He was also associated with knavery, shiftiness, and dishonesty, which gave diplomacy a reputation that its practitioners still try to live down.

The concept of diplomacy has a long and rich history, evolving and changing over time as civilisations and empires emerged and interacted with one another. Diplomacy involves communication and negotiation between actors in the international system, aiming to resolve conflicts and disputes. It can be bilateral, involving two parties, or multilateral, involving more than two parties, with the goal of creating and sustaining cooperative relationships.

In ancient Greece, heralds, who were protected by Hermes, were the first diplomats. They were inviolable and served as the favoured channels of contact during wartime. They travelled alone and preceded envoys to arrange for safe passage. Envoys, on the other hand, travelled in small groups to ensure loyalty and were chosen for their oratorical skills.

The Greeks had a concept of "natural law," an ideal code that applied to all people. Later, during the Republican era, the Romans merged their laws for foreigners and foreign envoys with this Greek concept to create a "law of nations." This sanctity of treaties and the law of nations were later absorbed by the Roman Catholic Church and became the foundation for more sophisticated doctrines of international law.

cycivic

Hermes is associated with persuasiveness, eloquence, knavery, shiftiness, and dishonesty

In Greek mythology, Hermes is the messenger of the gods and the herald of Zeus. He is associated with diplomacy and is considered the god of skill in the use of speech and of eloquence in general. As an adroit speaker, he was often employed as a messenger, especially when eloquence was required to attain a certain object.

Hermes is also associated with persuasiveness, eloquence, knavery, shiftiness, and dishonesty. In the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, he is described as a "robber", a "captain of raiders", and a "thief of the gates". The word "polytropos" or "of many shifts" is used to describe him, indicating his cunning and thievery. He is also associated with nocturnal activities and crossing boundaries, often to confuse their definition.

Hermes is further described as having a mastery of rhetorical persuasion and special pleading. He is invoked as the god of searches and those who seek things lost or stolen. His association with persuasiveness is further reinforced by his wife, Peitho, the goddess of seduction and persuasion.

In addition to his role as a messenger, Hermes is also known for his invention of the chelys lyre, as well as racing and wrestling. He is considered the patron of athletes and is often depicted carrying a staff and wearing a wide-brimmed hat.

cycivic

As the messenger of the gods, Hermes was the protector of heralds, the first diplomats

In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Hermes is considered the herald and messenger of the gods, able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine. He is regarded as "the divine trickster", noted for persuasiveness and eloquence but also for knavery, shiftiness, and dishonesty. As the messenger of the gods, Hermes was the protector of heralds, the first diplomats.

The role of the herald dates back to prehistory, and they were protected by the gods with an immunity that other envoys lacked. They were inviolable, making them the favoured channels of contact in wartime. They usually travelled alone and were politically prominent figures, often at least 50 years old.

In ancient Greece, Hermes was the god of herds and flocks, travellers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums, and astronomy and astrology. He was also the guide of the dead who led souls down to the underworld.

Hermes was depicted as either a handsome and athletic, beardless youth, or as an older, bearded man. His attributes included the caduceus or herald's wand, winged boots, a traveller's cap and cloak, a winged helmet or simple petasos, and a short sword.

cycivic

In video games, players can engage in diplomacy with other deities by offering gifts or sending diplomats to their cities

In the video game Deity Empires, players can engage in diplomacy with other deities by offering gifts or sending diplomats to their cities. The game involves negotiating and forming alliances with other players, as well as strategizing and managing resources. While gifts can influence a deity's relations with the player, the game also takes into account other factors such as alignment and border friction. For example, good deities may not care as much about bordering but may be more concerned about perceived aggression from their contemporaries. Additionally, the relative amount of the gift compared to the deity's income and current resources can impact how effective it is in improving relations.

Advanced deity diplomacy is mentioned as a feature to be improved in future updates, indicating that diplomacy plays a significant role in the game. Players can also form alliances with deities of the same alignment, which can provide support during wars with other deities. However, players have noted challenges in maintaining positive relationships with AI-controlled deities, as relations tend to deteriorate over time, leading to inevitable conflict.

The inclusion of diplomacy in video games, such as Deity Empires, offers an intriguing opportunity for learning and skill development. It allows players to experience rapid acquisition of knowledge through trial and error, simulating various scenarios and outcomes. This form of learning can be considered a virtual apprenticeship, providing a superior educational experience compared to traditional methods.

Diplomacy in video games can enhance one's understanding of interpersonal interactions and negotiation tactics. It encourages players to balance options and rules, make conscious and deliberate choices, and navigate complex relationships. The social interaction and interpersonal skills required in such games are essential to the gameplay and mirror real-world diplomatic challenges.

The concept of diplomacy in games goes beyond simple negotiation and strategy, as exemplified by the board game Diplomacy, created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954. This game, set in pre-World War I Europe, involves players forming and betraying alliances, negotiating, and strategizing to control strategic cities and provinces. The game emphasizes the social and interpersonal aspects of diplomacy, with players secretly writing down their moves and revealing them simultaneously, creating an engaging and dynamic experience.

cycivic

In Greek mythology, Hermes is described as a trickster and a thief, willing to use disruptive or destructive strategies

In Greek mythology, Hermes is regarded as "the divine trickster", a reputation that is established since his birth. According to the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, Hermes is described as "polytropos" (of many shifts, turning many ways, of many devices, ingenious, or much wandering). This reputation is further solidified when Hermes stole Apollo's sacred cows and sacrificed two of them to the gods. In addition to his trickster nature, Hermes is also the god of trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves, and travel.

As the messenger of the gods, Hermes is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine, aided by his winged sandals. This ability to cross boundaries and transition from this life to the afterlife is symbolised by the Caduceus, a staff with two serpents twisted around it. In this role, Hermes is noted for his persuasiveness and eloquence, but also for knavery, shiftiness, and dishonesty.

As the patron of thieves, Hermes is associated with disruptive and destructive strategies. For example, in Aeschylus' "The Eumenides", Hermes helps Orestes kill Clytemnestra under a false identity and other stratagems. In Sophocles' "Philoctetes", Hermes aids Odysseus in convincing Philoctetes to join the Trojan War. Hermes is also credited with the invention of the lyre and various types of racing and wrestling, making him a patron of athletes.

Overall, Hermes' role as a trickster and a thief, along with his ability to move between worlds, makes him a unique and unpredictable figure in Greek mythology. He represents the chaos that lingers in the world, and while he is not strictly good or bad, his mischievous nature and willingness to use deceptive strategies have earned him a reputation that diplomats still try to live down.

Frequently asked questions

Hermes, the Greek god, is considered the god of public diplomacy.

Hermes is known for his persuasiveness, eloquence, knavery, shiftiness, and dishonesty.

Hermes, the herald of Zeus, is associated with diplomacy as he was the protector of heralds, the first diplomats.

Heralds were short-term visitors to the city-states whose policies they sought to influence. They were favoured channels of contact in wartime as they were inviolable and could arrange for safe passage.

Hermes is considered relevant in the modern world due to his understanding of the breakdown of 'in here/out there' distinctions in a world of networks and crossroads.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment