"Hereupon Jason snatched the golden fleece from the oak, at the maiden bidding; and she, standing firm, smeared with the charm the monster's head... so at that time did Jason uplift the mighty fleece in his hands; and from the shimmering of the flocks of wool there settled on his fair cheeks and brow a red flush like a flame." This month we complete our reading of Argonautica with Books… Read more
"Beginning with thee, O Phoebus, I will recount the famous deeds of men of old, who, at the behest of King Pelias, down through the mouth of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks, sped well-benched Argo in quest of the golden fleece." In July and August we will be reading the complete Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes. This month we will read Books 1 and 2. Discussion starts in the… Read more
Our Book Club readings for this month are selections from the Roman poet Gaius Valerius Catullus, whose themes include love, lust, and Roman life. We will start the discussion in the Forum, and there will be a Google Hangout on Tuesday, June 26 at 11 a.m. EDT—the link will be posted in the Forum at that time. Read more
"I'll find some isolated place and then inter my sword, of all my weapons the one I most despise. I'll dig the earth where no one else will see. Then let Night and Hades keep it there below the ground." The Book Club selection for this month is the Ajax of Sophocles. The discussion will start in the forum, and we will meet via Google+ Hangout at 11 a.m. EDT… Read more
"In an epic text, how were poets able to represent emotion? How can we understand today their way of speaking? Did Achilles “copy” the behavior of warriors from those distant times? Or might it be the reverse: did the epic influence certain real behaviors?" Our Book Club selection for April is taken from Hélène Monsacré: The Tears of Achilles, newly available online at CHS in an English translation. Read more
