In this part of our series on marriage in ancient Greek texts (following part 1: Music, and part 2: Wedding), we look at the courtship phase. How are suitors or prospective bridegrooms portrayed, what agency does the bride-to-be have, and how are marriages arranged? Émile Benveniste, in Indo-European Language and Society[1], discusses how “there is, properly speaking, no Indo-European term for “marriage.”” He explains that the words are different for… Read more
I read with great interest and enjoyment the recent posts by Jacqui Donlon “Divine Doppelgänger: Hermes and Odysseus” and by Bill Moulton: “The Divine Doublet: Odysseus and Hermes“, and became intrigued to learn more about Hermes as deceiver, as portrayed in the Homeric Hymns. Although the longer hymn is number 4, there is another, much shorter, hymn dedicated to Hermes, number 18. So I’ll start with that one: …He [=… Read more
Our next Open House discussion was on ‘A Hero Named Heather and Other Peculiarities in the Early Medieval Irish Saga The Cattle-Raid of Fráech‘ with Dr. Joseph Nagy. You can watch below, or on our YouTube channel. Mentioned in the discussion: Rees, Alwyn D. and Rees, Brinley. Celtic Heritage: Ancient tradition in Ireland and Wales. Joseph Falaky Nagy Joseph Falaky Nagy, the Henry L. Shattuck Professor of Irish Studies, began teaching… Read more
Fair, of deeds, the man I see; Wounded sore is his fair skin; On his brow shines hero’s light; Victory’s seat is in his face! Seven gems of champions brave Deck the centre of his orbs; Naked are the spears he bears, And he hooks a red cloak round! Noblest face is his, I see; He respects all womankind. Young the lad and fresh his hue, With a dragon’s form… Read more
We were pleased to welcome Professor Richard P Martin, Anthony and Isabelle Raubitschek Professor in Classics at Stanford University, for our Open House discussion on the Táin, concentrating on The Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúailnge) Numbers 7–7b, on the young Cuchulain. Members can start the conversation on the Forum. You can watch the recording of this discussion in the frame below, or on our YouTube channel. Mentioned in the… Read more