Finding Helen in texts is frustrating. Many contradictory facts may be encountered. Who was Helen? What about her life, her power, her birth, her beauty? Was she hated or was she loved? If we were to write a short biography, it might read like this: Helen was the daughter of Leda and Tyndareus/Zeus, and Clytemnestra, Castor and Polydeuces’ sister. Penelope was her cousin. She married Menelaos king of Sparta,… Read more
Marbled head of a veiled woman (500BCE)Metropolitan Museum of Art Andromache is a fascinating woman. Following her different bedfellows or husbands, we learn about her life. Andromache appears in many texts, among them the Iliad, Euripides’ play Andromache, the Aeneid, and the French play Andromache written by Racine who offers another perspective about Andromache. Her name means battle of a man, from ἀνδρός of a man and μάχη battle. How come,… Read more
Prince Khâemouaset, son of Ramses II This Gallery will take you to Egypt, where Helen was supposed to be during the Trojan War according to Euripides. Before the palace of Theoklymenos in Egypt. It is near the mouth of the Nile. The tomb of Proteus, the father of Theoklymenos, is visible. Helen is discovered alone before the tomb. Helen These are the lovely pure streams of the Nile, which waters the plain and… Read more
Hour 25 Community Reading Medea, Euripides Thursday, July 23 2015 @11:00 a.m. EDT [Nurse] Would that the Argo had never winged its way to the land of Colchis through the dark-blue Symplegades! Would that the pine trees had never been felled in the glens of Mount Pelion and furnished oars for the hands [5] of the heroes who at Pelias’ command set forth in quest of the Golden Fleece! For… Read more
Dear readers, The Hour 25 Book Club will host a discussion on Euripides’ Medea via Google+ Hangout on July 17 2015 at 2:00 p.m EDT. You can read the text online for free in the translation by Ian Johnston, here. If you are unable to make the Hangout or want to start the conversation right away, please post on the related Forum thread. Please sign up on the Forum thread if… Read more