Triumvir Clio

Greek Myth XLIX: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VIII – Lycaon, Callisto, or Maybe You Should Have Stopped at 49

There’s a bear in the sky! Discussion Prompts What’s the deal with 50 sons? Why are they always so ill-behaved? Do you think things would be different if there were only 49 of them? What do you think is the “real” story about Callisto? Which version of Callisto’s death do you prefer? Why?

Roman Epics XXV: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 4, or Bedtime Stories

Ovid goes meta by telling stories about people telling stories. Discussion Prompts What’s the deal with the house of Cadmus and the very specific form of madness resulting in people thinking other people are animals and killing them with their bare hands? Why that specific curse? What do you think of Cadmus and Harmonia beingContinue reading “Roman Epics XXV: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 4, or Bedtime Stories”

Greek Myth XLVIII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VII – Epigoni, or The Ring Cycle

That necklace gets around… Discussion Prompts Alcmaeon punishes his mother before he returns later to murder her. What do you think that first punishment is? Retell this story from Arsinoe’s perspective. Retell this story as though you are Euripides. Retell this story as though you are Callirrhoe. Retell this story as though you are Wagner.Continue reading “Greek Myth XLVIII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VII – Epigoni, or The Ring Cycle”

Roman Epics XXIV: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 3, or Those Ancient Gods Are Vindictive

Listen to Tiresias, if you know what’s good for you. Discussion Prompts Does anyone deserve their fate? Who? Why or why not? What would you do if you were Tiresias? What does this book have to say about the role of the gods in the lives of mortals? What does this book say to usContinue reading “Roman Epics XXIV: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book 3, or Those Ancient Gods Are Vindictive”

Greek Myth XLVII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VI – Seven Against Thebes, or Including the Parts Aeschylus Left Out!

I think Aeschylus skipped some of these parts. Discussion Prompts Is it really necessary for Amphiaraus to join the war? Why or why not? Was there ever really a possibility that sharing the throne of Thebes would work out? Why or why not? Tell this story from the point of view of Eriphyle. What doesContinue reading “Greek Myth XLVII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter VI – Seven Against Thebes, or Including the Parts Aeschylus Left Out!”

Roman Epics XXIII: Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book 2, or Hold Your Tongue!

Any number of individuals get in trouble for speaking rashly in Book 2 of Metamorphoses. Discussion Prompts Why is Juno so upset about Jupiter’s creation of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor? What would you do if you were the Raven? What does the story of Phaethon have to say about generations? Parenting? Hubris? What doContinue reading “Roman Epics XXIII: Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book 2, or Hold Your Tongue!”

Roman Tragedy XII: Humanism in Roman Tragedy

Summing up our stoic tragedies Discussion Prompts Do these tragedies achieve their goal of teaching about stoic philosophy? Why or why not? If you were to use theatre to teach stoicism, what would you do? What do these plays have to say about being human today? What do these plays have to say about love,Continue reading “Roman Tragedy XII: Humanism in Roman Tragedy”

Greek Myth XLVI: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter V – Dionysus, Antiope, Amphion & Zethus, Oedipus, or Dionysus’s Bite Is Worse Than His Bark

So much territory to cover… Discussion Prompts Is Dionysus an earth goddess? Why or why not? Niobe and Grief. Discuss. How difficult is the riddle of the sphinx? Does she already know the answer? Or is she trying to figure it out herself? Retell the whole Oedipus story from Jocasta’s point of view. Why doContinue reading “Greek Myth XLVI: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book III, Chapter V – Dionysus, Antiope, Amphion & Zethus, Oedipus, or Dionysus’s Bite Is Worse Than His Bark”

Roman Epics XXII: Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book 1, or Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

It’s a new epic! And a new poet! Ovid is going to change. Or at least write about changes. Something like that. Another plug for the Galleria Borghese in Rome: This is where you can see Bernini’s beautiful, heartbreaking Apollo and Daphne. How that man managed to turn marble into flesh and bark and leaves,Continue reading “Roman Epics XXII: Ovid’s Metamorphoses Book 1, or Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes”

Roman Tragedy XI: Pseudo-Seneca’s Octavia, or Definitely Not a Play by Seneca

You know it’s not going to be good when Nero is your husband… Discussion Prompts Why do you think this play was attributed to Seneca? Who is the best stoic? Why? Discuss the character of the nurse. How would you portray her? Directing questions: Vision, Setting, Dream Cast, etc. What does this play (and family)Continue reading “Roman Tragedy XI: Pseudo-Seneca’s Octavia, or Definitely Not a Play by Seneca”