ΕΥΔΟΞΑ ΑΓΝΩΣΤΑ ΚΑΤΑΓΕΛΑΣΤΑ
Let no one think that the past several years’ worth of very public conversations about the more chilling and uncomfortable parts of classics have had no effect. As I interviewed for a new Latin position last year (something I’ve done rather a lot of over the past fifteen years), I was asked a question that … Continue reading Sexual Violence in Ancient Myth
According to just a few sources, Klytemnestra was married and had a child before she married Agamemnon. As one might expect, the story is not a happy one and includes many of the themes from the unhappy marriage between the two, including husband-killing and child-murder. The most famous accounts of this come from the 12th … Continue reading Agamemnon Killed Klytemnestra’s First Husband (and Child!)
Euripides, Trojan Women 25-27 “I am leaving famous Ilion and my altars. Whenever terrible isolation overtakes a city The gods’ places turn sick and don’t want to receive worship” λείπω τὸ κλεινὸν Ἴλιον βωμούς τ᾽ ἐμούς: ἐρημία γὰρ πόλιν ὅταν λάβῃ κακή, νοσεῖ τὰ τῶν θεῶν οὐδὲ τιμᾶσθαι θέλει. I have been helping the Center … Continue reading Our Unexamined Fears: Reading Euripides’ “Trojan Women” online
Homer, Iliad 22.93-98 “As a serpent awaits a man in front of its home on the mountain, One who dined on ruinous plants [pharmaka], and a dread anger overtakes him As it coils back and glares terribly before his home. So Hektor in his unquenchable [asbestos] fury [menos] would not retreat, After he leaned his … Continue reading Hektor’s Body and the Burden
According to just a few sources, Klytemnestra was married and had a child before she married Agamemnon. As one might expect, the story is not a happy one and includes many of the themes from the unhappy marriage between the two, including husband-killing and child-murder. The most famous accounts of this come from the 12th … Continue reading Agamemnon Killed Klytemnestra’s First Husband (and Child!)
A few days back I ran a twitter poll setting the Iliad against the Odyssey. I figured that the Iliad would win, but I did not expect this to be as close as it was. Another question for #classicstwitter. You can only save 1. Do you protect Homer's — sententiae antiquae (@sentantiq) May 23, 2018 If we were … Continue reading Iliad vs. Odyssey? An Essential Complementarity
Atopia: “Strangeness,” from a-topos, “out of place” Hesychius *ἄτοπα· πονηρά, αἰσχρά: “wretched, shameful” *ἀτοπία· αἰσχρότης. πονηρία: “shamefulness, wretchedness” Etymologicum Genuinum “Atopon: atopon is used in place of something that is amazing or illogical” ῎Ατοπον· τὸ ἄτοπον ἀντὶ τοῦ θαυμαστοῦ ἢ ἀλόγου τάττεται https://twitter.com/vsharriman/status/947108478094540802 Earlier today, I posted a list of the most-read posts on this site. … Continue reading Annual Atopia: The Non Top Ten Posts We Loved
Homer, Iliad 3.3.146-160 The men who were near Priam, Panthoos, Thymoites Lampos, Klutios, and Hiketaôn, the descendent of Ares, Were Oukalegôn and Antênôr, two intelligent men. The council of elders sat there on the Skaian gates Slowed by old age, but still fine public speakers Something like cicadas who sit on the leaf Of a … Continue reading Re-post for #MythMonth: Helen’s Ghost
In comments to a recent post a reader mentioned a story I had forgotten to mention. According to just a few sources, Klytemnestra was married and had a child before she married Agamemnon. As one might expect, the story is not a happy one and includes many of the themes from the unhappy marriage between … Continue reading More #MythMonth: Agamemnon Killed Klytemnestra’s First Husband (and Child!)
Homer, Iliad 3.3.146-160 The men who were near Priam, Panthoos, Thymoites Lampos, Klutios, and Hiketaôn, the descendent of Ares, Were Oukalegôn and Antênôr, two intelligent men. The council of elders sat there on the Skaian gates Slowed by old age, but still fine public speakers Something like cicadas who sit on the leaf Of a … Continue reading Fighting Over Helen Just Might Make Sense
