Herakles

Visiting Scholars

Open House | Thinking comparatively about Greek mythology, with Gregory Nagy

We were excited to welcome back Gregory Nagy of Harvard University, Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature and the Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington, DC. for an Open House. The topic of the discussion is “Thinking comparatively about Greek mythology.” The event was live-streamed on Thursday, October 10 at 11:00 a.m. EDT, and was recorded. In preparation, you might like to… Read more

Book Club

Book Club | July 2019: Apollodorus Library, Books 2–3.7

Hercules was taught to drive a chariot by Amphitryon, to wrestle by Autolycus, to shoot with the bow by Eurytus, to fence by Castor, and to play the lyre by Linus. … Even by the look of him it was plain that he was a son of Zeus; for his body measured four cubits, and he flashed a gleam of fire from his eyes; and he did not miss, neither… Read more

Gallery

The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours | Gallery: Part 1

The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours[1] is based on a course that Professor Gregory Nagy has been teaching at Harvard University since the late 1970s. The book discusses selected readings of texts, all translated from the original Greek into English. The texts include the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey; selected Homeric Hymns; the Hesiodic Theogony and Works and Days; selected songs of Sappho and Pindar; selections from the Histories of Herodotus;… Read more

Gallery,  Texts

Gallery: Inspiration from Greek Mythology

Zeus (200 CE) British Museum Greek Mythology has influenced both literature and arts. The Minotaur, Μῑνώταυρος, and Ariadne have inspired artists. The Minotaur was killed by Theseus who was helped by Ariadne. This description from a glossary to Philostratus on Heroes tells us more about him. Theseus Athenian hero, son of Aigeus or Poseidon and eventually a king of Athens. The legends surrounding Theseus include numerous labors in Attica, partly influenced by… Read more

Topic for Discussion

Herakles’ Ambivalence in Euripidean Tragedy: the Age of the Heroes, the Age of Humanity

~ A bilingual English-Portuguese guest post by Renan Falcheti Peixoto ~ Chorus antistrophe “If the gods were wise and understood men                                                  655 they would bring a second youth, as a visible mark on those who display excellence [aretē], and dying, would come                                              660 back to the light of the sun again to run a… Read more