After we finish reading the last scroll of the Iliad, we might wonder what happens in Troy after Hector’s funeral. We have parts of what happens next in the Odyssey, in tragedies, and in fragments and plot-summaries. However, in his Description of Greece Pausanias writes an interesting description of a painting which depicted “Troy taken and the Greeks sailing away” (Pausanias 10.25.2)[1], and which was still at Delphi when he… Read more
We were pleased to welcome back Casey Dué, University of Houston, for a discussion on Homeric papyri. This event was streamed live on Thursday, March 28th, 2019, at 11 a.m. EDT, and was recorded. In preparation for this event you might like to read the following passages, by following these links: The description of the Shield of Achilles in Iliad 18.463–610 The Proclus summaries of the Epic Cycle You may… Read more
We were pleased to welcome Justin Arft, University of Tennessee, for an Open House discussion entitled “A Cyclic Odysseus is a Dead Odysseus: Homer and the Epic Cycle on (Mis)Recognition.” It took place on Thursday, November 16, at 11:00 a.m. EST, and was recorded. In preparation, you might like to read the following passages from the Odyssey: Hermes recognizes Calypso: 5.44–80, especially 76–80 Penelope does not recognize Odysseus: 23.1–110, especially… Read more
In this video clip, Professor Gregory Nagy discusses the epic cycle, as a body of oral poetry, and helps us to understand how the ancient Greeks viewed their tradition of composition in performance through the metaphor of the chariot wheel, the κύκλος [kuklos, ‘circle, cycle, chariot wheel’]. You can watch on our YouTube channel, or in the frame below References: Albert B. Lord: Singer of Tales Gregory Nagy: Homeric Questions… Read more