In this part of our series on marriage in ancient Greek texts, we look at the courtship phase. Benveniste shows that there is no Indo-European term for marriage but a "persistence of usages inherited from a common past and of the same family structure, where the husband “led” the young woman, whom her father has “given” him, to his home." In the ancient Greek tradition, how do fathers reach the… Read more
"I will swear a great oath by my father’s head and vow that neither am I guilty [aitios] myself, neither have I seen any other thief [klopos] of your cows —whatever cows may be; for I know them only by hearsay [kleos].” Following the recent posts "Divine Doppelgänger: Hermes and Odysseus" and “The Divine Doublet: Odysseus and Hermes," I became intrigued to learn more about Hermes as deceiver, as portrayed… Read more
This Open House discussion was with Joseph Falaky Nagy, the Henry L. Shattuck Professor of Irish Studies at Harvard University, who introduced the story and themes in this early medieval Irish saga, The Cattle-Raid of Fráech. 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! Our next Book Club selection is the Irish epic Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúalnge), part of which formed the basis for the recent CHS Open House discussion with Richard Martin. Our Book Club discussion will start and continue in the forum, and by Google+… Read more
We were pleased to welcome Professor Richard P Martin, Anthony and Isabelle Raubitschek Professor in Classics at Stanford University, for our CHS Open House discussion on Táin, concentrating on The Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúailnge), numbers 7–7b, on the young Cuchulain. Read more
