We are pleased to share this segment in our series on reading Homeric epic in ancient Greek. In each installment we read, translate, and discuss a small passage in the original Greek in the most accessible way. If you’ve ever wanted to read Homer in ancient Greek, here is your chance to do so with teachers who have spent a lifetime studying these works. Together they help even new readers… Read more
Night bore also hateful Destiny, and black Fate, and Death; she bore Sleep [Hupnos] likewise, she bore the tribe [phūlon] of Dreams [Oneiroi]; these did the goddess, gloomy Night bear after union with none. Theogony 211–212, adapted from Sourcebook[1] In the Homeric epics, dreams sometimes play an important part in the narrative. In this post we look at some examples, and how people react in response. Dreams are from Zeus… Read more
A few weeks ago I watched the coronation of a king. At one point I noticed the king holding in his hands not one but two scepters. The mental image of Agamemnon holding his scepter involuntarily jumped into my thoughts and disturbed me briefly. Although there is probably no direct link, I decided to explore certain symbols of royalty in Homeric and Hesiodic poetry. Scepters were used in the ancient… Read more
We are pleased to share this video interview with Joel Christensen, of Brandeis University, in which he talks about his experiences in teaching ancient Greek and Classics. You can watch the video in the frame below, or on our YouTube channel. Related topics Interview | Teaching and learning Greek, with Suzanne Lye Interview | Teaching and learning Latin, with Bettina Joy de Guzman Beyond Translation: Decoding Ancient Greek Dictionary Entries,… Read more
Having come across across references to trees and to wooden construction in the Iliad and Odyssey, my curiosity was piqued, and I decided to gather a few examples where wood and trees were mentioned, to try and better understand what these meant in Homeric and Hesiodic poetry. Are there any special associations with trees or using wood? What kinds of trees are mentioned? There are a number of similes with… Read more