Archive

Visiting Scholars

Open House | Killing With Words: Character Assassination with Dr. Maria G. Xanthou

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Maria G. Xanthou FHEA, of the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies to join members of the Kosmos Society for an Open House discussion on: “Killing with words: Isocrates, Dio Chrysostom, and Libanius on how to commit character assassination with style.” As Monty Python’s sketch Argument Clinic illustrates, abusive discourse (psogos, loidōria, mempsis) lies at the heart of oratory and rhetorical education. Abuse informs the… Read more

History

Ambrosia and Nectar: Where? What? When?

Hebe serving her father [Zeus] nectar Ivory-armed Hera smiled at this, and as she smiled she took the cup from her son’s hands. Then Hephaistos drew sweet nectar from the mixing-bowl, and served it round among the gods, going from left to right; and the blessed gods laughed out a loud approval,[1] According to mythology ambrosia is a food of the gods, thus named because it is ‘a-brotos,’ not for… Read more

Gallery

Gallery of pictures taken in the Louvre in the Department of Prints and Drawings:

In January 2024, I went back to the Department of Prints and Drawings in the Louvre to access some paintings and drawings which are not shown in the Museum. I followed the same procedure to have the authorization to look at, consult and take pictures of the specific artworks kept at the Louvre. I wanted to see a painting, which was acquired by the Louvre a few years before the… Read more

Book Club

 Book Club | October 2024: Lucian of Samosata : Alexander the False Prophet  

First I shall draw you a word-picture of the man himself, making as close a likeness as I can, although I am not particularly good at drawing. As regards his person—in order that I may exhibit this also to you—he was tall and handsome in appearance, and really godlike; his skin was fair, his beard not very thick; his long hair was in part natural, in part false, but very… Read more

History,  Topic for Discussion

Women and Sport in the Ancient World: Response to Olympics

This post has been inspired by recent posts regarding the Olympic Games. It consists of some thoughts that occurred to me when reading the posts, and various other musings from reading a number of sources over the years. What struck me most was the relative absence of women in the written and pictorial record of ancient sports. This is reflected, too, in the absence of women in the early modern… Read more