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Greek Tragedy
Rabinowitz' Greek Tragedy is like a modern, lecture-based course on Greek Tragedy, but in book form. As a supplement to a college course on the topic or for someone who has already studied Greek tragedy, yet wants a look at modern scholarship and perspectives, Greek Tragedy is a vein of gold. It is particularly useful for those intrigued with femininist and structuralist perspectives.Read the rest of the review of Greek Tragedy. Cover photo showing Medusa courtesy of Wiley-Blackwell. Sunday May 18, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) Thargelia Apollo © Clipart.com Friday May 16, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) This Month in Greek History - ThargelionIt's easy to say roughly what day it is in the Roman calendar, although there are problems with inaccuracy, especially before Caesar reformed the calendar, but in all, the Ides of March was approximately the 15th of March in Caesar's time as it is now. But the same can't be said of events in the Greek calendar -- even if we restrict it to the Athenian calendar. Today's date, based on the Athenian calendar, is the 6/7 of the month of Thargelion, in the 3rd year of the 696th Olympiad. This year, Thargelion runs from May 6/7 to June 4-5, 2008. Last year this was the month of Mounukhion. At least that is what it says on the calendar at HMEPA
Hellenic Month Established Per Athens. A link to the HMEPA site was provided by ANCIEN-L@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU.
Events for the Month of Monukhia, from the same site (Compiled List of Festivals):
Roman Calendar Quiz Monday May 12, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) On This Day in Ancient History Constantine Public Domain Sunday May 11, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) On this Day in Ancient HistoryOn this day in ancient Rome, Romans appeased the spirits of the dead with beans.This was part of the Lemuria or Lemuralia, which was held on May 9, 11, and 13. Ovid describes the event in Book V of the Fasti. Also, from May 7-14, the Vestal Virgins prepared sacred cakes (mola salsa) for the Vestalia, held in June.
In modern history, Sir James Frazer died on this day in 1941. Friday May 9, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) Roman Mothers In last night's newsletter, I sent out a link to an article on Roman Mothers.
Rose Williams suggested that I had left out a couple of important ones and sent me excerpts from her book Duces Romanorum to go along with one of her top pick Roman mothers, Octavia (69 - 11 B.C.), sister of Augustus and wife of Mark Antony. This passage shows how saintly this good woman was:
Quamquam matrimonium cum femina aliena civile non erat et uxorem Octaviam habebat, Antonius Cleopatram in matrimonium duxit. Octavianus iratissimus adversus Antonium ob Octaviam sororem erat; haec una e plurimis causa belli in Antonium erat. Post mortem Antonii in Aegypto, Octavia benignitate amoreque quinque liberos suos ex matrimoniis cum Marcello et Antonio et liberos Antonii ex matrimoniis cum Fulvia et Cleopatra educavit.Reviews of works by and more from Rose Williams:
Photo of painting by Jean-Joseph Taillasson (1787) showing Vergil reading the Aeneid to Augustus and Octavia. Courtesy of Wikipedia. Thursday May 8, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) PentecostFor the Western Church, the Christian holiday of Pentecost coincides with Mother's Day this year. For the Eastern Church, Pentecost will be on June 15, 2008, according to Nancy Gaifyllia, About.com's Guide to inspiring Greek foods. Pentecost is also a Jewish holiday known better as Shavuot, which will be held on June 9- 10.
Pentecost comes from a Greek word for 50 and refers to the 50th day following another special event. Easter is the Christian holiday. Like Easter, Pentecost falls on a Sunday. Pentecost is said to be 50 days after Easter because Easter and Pentecost are both counted when you use the inclusive counting method. Pentecost celebrates "speaking in tongues". This is a reference to a section from Acts 2:1-4. Here's the relevant passage from the King James Version: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. More on Pentecost. Thursday May 8, 2008 | permalink | comments (1) Top Mothers in Ancient Rome Most of the women who were important in the history of ancient Rome were wives and mothers. From these roles they could exert influence over both their children and husbands. Motherhood itself was highly valued. However, just because a woman was able to produce children and marry an influential man did not mean that her name would come down to us. She had to be somewhat special -- for good or ill. Here are my picks for the most important mothers in ancient Roman history: Top Mothers in Ancient Rome.Julia Soaemias Denarius Courtesy of Wikipedia. Tuesday May 6, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) For Falco FansBingley, one of this site's guest writers and one of the bloggers for the Roman History Books and More blog, has come up with a great quiz for Falcophiles -- fans of Lindsey Davis' Roman mysteries featuring Marcus Didius Falco. After scoring 50% on the first quiz, which covers the first two books, I figured I'd better re-read before trying the second and third quizzes he's come up with:
Venus in Copper, The Iron Hand of Mars, and Poseidon's Gold (Quiz 2) and
Last Act in Palmyra, Time to Depart, and A Dying Light in Corduba (Quiz 3).
Lindsey Davis' Historical FictionMonday May 5, 2008 | permalink | comments (0) Display Latest Headlines | powered by WordPress |
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