Archive

Ancient Greek language,  Reading Homer

Greek dialects and the poetic super-language

In this video, Gregory Nagy, Douglas Frame, and Leonard Muellner provide an introduction to how ancient Greek dialects function in Homeric poetry: : what the different dialects are, how different forms fit into the metrical structure, and the evolution and perpetuation of the poetic super-language.. Topics include: Attic Greek koinē Ionian Aeolian metrical differences and lack of redundancy formulae evolution and perpetuation of the poetic super-language Related topics Greek dialects… Read more

Word Study

Core Vocab: nemesis

In our Core Vocab definitions, found in The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours[1] and the associated Sourcebook[2], Gregory Nagy provides the following definition: “nemesis indicates the process whereby everyone gets what he or she deserves.” Here are some passages in which the word is used, as a starting point for further exploration and discussion of the word. When Penelope complains about the bard Phemios’ song: [345] “Mother,” answered the… Read more

Announcements

An interview with Dr. Filippos Tsimpoglou, Director General, National Library of Greece

Pilot transfer of the first 10,000 books at the SNFCC, in order to test and secure the procedure for the relocation of all collections and equipment in the fall 2017. Dr. Filippos Tsimpoglou, Director General, National Library of Greece, sat down with CHS recently for a discussion about his vision for the National Library of Greece (NLG) and its relocation to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). The National… Read more

Book Club

Book Club | July 2017: Virgil Aeneid Books 9 & 10

While thus in distant region moves the war, down to bold Turnus Saturn’s daughter sends celestial Iris. In a sacred vale, the seat of worship at his grandsire’s tomb, Pilumnus, Faunus’ son, the hero mused. And thus the wonder-child of Thaumas called with lips of rose: (Aeneid 9.1–7  translated by Theodore C.Williams) In previous Book Club discussions we have read Virgil’s Aeneid Books 1–8, which covered the fall of Troy, the escape… Read more

Travel

Visiting Malta

Strange place Malta. At times, you feel in Greece, at times in Muslim North Africa, or even the Levant. These islands have been inhabited for millennia. In 5200 BCE they were organized in villages and by 3600 BCE, they already had megalith temples, that is 1000 years before the Egyptian pyramids were built. And 2000 years before the Mycenae Palace of Agamemnon. It seems to me that its history has… Read more