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Incidentals
Brief information about things which are "by the way" for Hamlet.

Adder

A poisonous snake does exist in Denmark. It's the common viper, also known as the common adder, or simply the "adder." The species name is Vipera berus. It ranges across Eurasia, and is perhaps the most widely distributed snake in the world. Its bite is dangerous, but rarely fatal to humans. The bite of Vipera berus does not produce the dramatic symptoms that the Ghost describes to Hamlet in Scene 5.

Aeneas

Aeneas is the hero of the Aeneid, an epic poem by the Roman poet Virgil. Aeneas fought in the Trojan War, on the side of Troy, and escaped after the city fell. He then traveled to Carthage, where he spent time with Queen Dido. Later, he traveled to Italy. In legend, his descendants founded Rome. Also in legend, Aeneas had a grandson named Brutus (not the same as the fellow who helped assassinate Julius Caesar) who founded Britain, and was Britain's first king. In Hamlet, reference to Aeneas occurs in the latter half of Scene 7, shortly after the Players arrive.

Damon and Pythias

In Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who traveled together to Syracuse, where Pythias was accused of plotting against the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius I, and was condemned to death. Damon asked the tyrant to imprison him instead, so that Pythias could return home and bid his family farewell. It was agreed, on condition that if Pythias did not return, Damon would be executed in his place. Pythias left, with Damon imprisoned. Pythias was delayed, and returned just in time to save Damon from being executed. In one vesion of the story, the delay was caused by pirates. Dionysius was so impressed by their friendship, he released them both.

The story of Damon and Pythias became the model of loyal friendship.

In Hamlet, reference to the Greek legend occurs in Scene 9, after the 'Mousetrap' play, when Hamlet sings to Horatio: "For thou dost know, oh Damon dear..." Hamlet's line is a high compliment to his friend Horatio, but in voicing the line Hamlet casts himself as Pythias, which is not so good for Hamlet, since Pythias was the one condemned to death. Shakespeare would have known the story from common knowledge. Also, an English play, 'Damon and Pythias,' written by Richard Edwards, was published in 1571.

Hecate

Hecate is a goddess in Greek mythology. Typically for mythological figures, many ideas are associated with her. Of most significance to Hamlet, she is the chief goddess of magic. In other associations, perhaps also of significance, she has been viewed as having power to return a woman's lover; as associated with a crossroads; as associated with graves and the dead; as presiding when the soul leaves the body at death; and her favored animal is the dog. Of additional interest, directly related to the 'Mousetrap' speech of Lucianus, and its reference to "thrice," Hecate is depicted in triplicity, having three bodies joined. Among Greek sources, she's mentioned in the poetic works of Hesiod, and of Theocritus.

Helsingør

The town of Elsinore, near Elsinore Castle, is based on the real Danish town of Helsingør. The town of Elsinore should be pictured as a small town, or a large fishing village. Historically, the Danish town of Helsingør had only a small harbor when Hamlet was written, and was not a major port city. The Danish navy operated from the port of Copenhagen.

Kronborg Castle

Elsinore Castle in Hamlet is based on Kronborg Castle, Denmark. Kronborg Castle is at the tip of Zealand, beside the modern town of Helsingør, and about 45 km (27 miles) north of Copenhagen.

A fortress named Krogen was built by the Danes in the early 1400s, to control shipping through the Øresund, which is an ocean channel, or strait, that's only about 2.5 miles wide at its narrowest point. It's narrow enough that the cannons of the time could threaten shipping in the strait, forcing ships to pay a tax for passage. King Frederick II of Denmark rebuilt the fortress as Kronborg Castle and gave it that name in 1585. Kronborg was one of the great castles of Renaissance Europe, and was an important source of revenue for the Danish government.

Kronborg Castle was well known to the English in the 1590s. For one thing, James VI of Scotland, who later became James I of England, married Anne of Denmark at Kronborg twice, the first time by proxy in 1589, and the second time in person, in 1590. The events would have been major news in England, especially because James was a favorite to succeed Elizabeth I as the English monarch. Kronborg Castle was already well known to English sailors and statesmen.

Ossa and Pelion

"Ossa" is the historical name of Mount Kissavos in Greece. It's in Thessaly, between Mount Pelion and Mount Olympus. In Greek mythology, twin giants attempted to stack Mt Pelion on Mt Ossa, and thereby attack the home of the gods, but failed. The story is widely repeated in ancient literature. Writings of Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, Ovid, Virgil, Seneca, and others, contain reference to it.

Mount Pelion is now called Mt Pilio. Otherwise, as above.

The phrase "to pile Pelion on Ossa," (and variations of that,) means to make a great effort which comes to nothing, or to make great plans that don't work out.

In relation to Hamlet, first, in Scene 16, when Laertes storms the castle with his town mob, and confronts Claudius, Claudius speaks of Laertes's rebellion being "giant-like," as if Laertes were one of the mythological giants trying to challenge a god. Later, in Scene 19, Laertes mentions Pelion, and Hamlet mentions Ossa, when they're talking about mountains of dirt. Further, in Greek mythology the two giants eventually killed each other, which is analogous to Hamlet and Laertes killing each other in the final Scene.

platform

The "platform" mentioned in Hamlet is a large mound of hard-packed earth with a flat, leveled top. It provides an elevated position for cannons, and observers, outside the castle wall. There is a strategic reason for having cannons outside the Castle: if an attacker's cannons have the same range as the defending cannons, the defenders can hit the attackers before the attackers can hit the Castle. The cannon platform provides an advanced defensive position to keep attackers away from the Castle, and help prevent damage to it in the event of attack.

Saint James of Compostela

Saint James "the Greater" is a figure from Biblical times, the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of the disciple John. James was one of those called by Jesus to become a "fisher of men." He was martyred by Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great. He's mentioned in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and in Acts, but not in the Gospel of St. John, his own brother.

Legend associates St James with Compostela, Spain. According to tradition he preached in Spain, and after his death his body was translated to Compostela by a miracle. Be that as it may, the tradition made Compostela a popular place of pilgrimmage. St James became the national patron of Spain, and Christian soldiers fought under the banner of St James to drive the Moors out of Spain. St James became emblematically associated with "the sword" of Christian faith.

In Hamlet, Ophelia casts Hamlet's trip to England as a pilgrimage, like a pilgrimage in honor of St James of Compostela, which probably involves name wordplay since James I was King of England when the Second Quarto was printed. Also, Hamlet, in the Closet Scene, refers to the picture of Claudius as that of a "moor," offering an analogy to Spanish history, with Hamlet as the "Christian soldier" trying to drive out the "Moor," Claudius. Hamlet's return when the pirates release him implies him returning from his pilgrimage with "the sword," which is ironic in advance of the fencing match that involves swords in the shape of foils.

(Regained)

Here are some short notes on things that are minor with respect to Hamlet. This is sidelight information, not vital to understanding the play, itself. The notes are intended to assist the reader who wants to learn more. More information can be found for almost any of these subjects by doing a World Wide Web search, or through research at a library.

[This page is very much "In Progress." I'll add notes on the listed items as time permits.]

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