The Council of Gods in Olimpus In “Os Lusíadas” Luis Vaz de Camões

Vasco da Gama’s sailors were quietly sailing along the Mozambique Channel, when all the gods decided to gather on Mount Olympus. This was a request from Jupiter, their superior /boss, who had sent his virtuous messenger Mercury in order to summon them. As a matter of fact, Jupiter had something very important to resolve: would he help the Portuguese people reach India or not since it was their main goal? Jupiter really wanted to help them. Still as he wished to know about the other gods’ opinions on the matter, he decided to gather this meeting or council. The gods immediately responded to Jupiter’s request and they went up the Milky Way to Olympus, where they sat according to the protocol rules, which determined that the most ancient and powerful were supposed to sit in the front rows and the youngest right behind them. The council began and the first words were pronounced by Jupiter who was sitting in a diamond throne. He was brief in his speech: -As you probably do know, it is the Fate’s will – a more powerful entity than us - to let the Portuguese reach India and build a great empire there. Besides that Vasco da Gama’s fleet is already quite tired and needs support. So it might be good to give these men such assistance, facilitating them in their voyage. Jupiter’s voice was not well

received by all and that immediately split the Gods into two groups. The first group was commanded by Bacchus, the God of wine and low instincts. He feared that the Portuguese might be more successful in India than himself therefore he believed that the Portuguese should not receive any kind of support. The other party was led by the most beautiful of the goddesses, Venus, goddess of love, who liked the Portuguese because she thought they looked like the Romans, descendants of Aeneas who was their son and founder of Rome. Indeed, the Portuguese were very similar to the Romans, in their bravery, in the language they spoke, which was similar to Latin, and in the victories they had achieved, as they had been in North Africa. She did not say it, but she deeply hoped that if she did help the Portuguese in their aspiration, they would cherish her and her worship her in the East world. At that moment, there was a general agitation and turmoil in the Olympus due to different opinions and disagreements. Then Mars, the God of war and an ancient Venus lover, had a decisive intervention as he was feared by the others.

As he slammed his bat on the ground, he demanded silence and he furiously said that Bacchus was a bad-tempered god because he was affected by envy. He declared that Bacchus ought to protect the Portuguese instead of attacking them since they were descendants of Luso, Bacchus’ mate, or even Luso’s children according to some opinions.In the end Jupiter knew that all he had to do was giving protection to the Portuguese who clearly deserved his aid. Furthermore he considered that it would be a sign of weakness if he gave up the thing started and, as he said, the King has spoken! After saying these words, the Council was concluded and then Jupiter ordered a plummy banquet. He bid farewell to all and then the gods returned to their rooms. The Council ended well for the Portuguese and that fulfilled Jupiter’s desire.

FIM