The Hēraklēs myths have inspired many artworks from classical times onward: he is probably the most represented of all the ancient Greek heroes. So we have prepared two galleries with a selection. This first includes depictions of the Twelve Labors of Hēraklēs. Read more
"When Thetis had got a babe by Peleus, she wished to make it immortal, and unknown to Peleus she used to hide it in the fire by night in order to destroy the mortal element which the child inherited from its father, but by day she anointed him with ambrosia. But Peleus watched her, and, seeing the child writhing on the fire, he cried out; and Thetis, thus prevented from… Read more
In this segment Douglas Frame, Leonard Muellner, and Gregory Nagy read, translate, and discuss Odyssey 1.221–229. Topics include long-term and short-term genealogies; asyndeton as an expressive tool; a hubristic feast; Telemachus, son of Odysseus/son of Penelope; larger-than-life heroes. Read more
"Sky was the first who ruled over the whole world. And having wedded Earth, he begat first the Hundred-handed, as they are named: Briareus, Gyes, Cottus, who were unsurpassed in size and might, each of them having a hundred hands and fifty heads." The Book Club selection for June is the first installment of Apollodorus Library. Read more
We have had a discussion about the parts of armor and clothing, which did include some of the words for weapons, and a gallery of images related to the subject, so now I would like to focus on the passages that describe the weapons themselves in more detail. In particular, I am interested in the passages where the weapons almost have a fame of their own, a micro-narrative which perhaps… Read more
