Triumvir Clio

Greek Epics XXXVII: Odyssey Book 12, or Tiresias Warned You

How many people have to tell you not to eat the Cattle of the Sun? We’ll find out in Book 12 of The Odyssey. Discussion Prompts What would you do if you were Eurylokhos and the rest of Odysseus’s men? Starve? Or eat Helios’s cattle? Do you trust Odysseus? Why or why not? Why isContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXVII: Odyssey Book 12, or Tiresias Warned You”

Greek Tragedy XXV: Euripides’s Heracles, or Not to Be Confused with Disney’s Hercules

In Disney’s Hercules, we see how Meg and Herc meet and fall in love. In Euripides’s Herakles, we see how Megara and Herakles… well… Let’s just say that the ending isn’t pretty… Discussion Prompts What does this play have to say about the role of the gods in the lives of mere mortals? This playContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXV: Euripides’s Heracles, or Not to Be Confused with Disney’s Hercules”

Greek Myth XVII: Hymns to the Dioskouroi, or Who Else is a Gemini?

Today we cover the Homeric Hymns numbered 17 and 33, dedicated to a certain pair of twins that happen to be the star-sign for a certain podcast host. Discussion Prompts Kastor or Polydeukes? Why? What’s your sign? (lol — seriously, this is a question that my Italian teacher made sure we knew because he wantedContinue reading “Greek Myth XVII: Hymns to the Dioskouroi, or Who Else is a Gemini?”

Greek Epics XXXVI: Odyssey Book 11, or Who Ya Gonna Call?

Odysseus talks to a lot of ghosts, no busting required. Also, I used to have this comic strip pinned to my bulletin board back when I had a real office with a bulletin board. It still makes me giggle. ‘Cause I’m that kind of nerd. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Liminality. And… go! How do youContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXVI: Odyssey Book 11, or Who Ya Gonna Call?”

Roman Comedy VII: Plautus’s Persa, or What Just Happened?

Remember everything I told you about Roman Comedy’s use of stock characters? Well, you can forget everything I told you about Roman Comedy’s use of stock characters. In Persa, Plautus breaks that form. Discussion Prompts If you were directing this play today, how would you handle any issues of orientalism? How does the daughter fitContinue reading “Roman Comedy VII: Plautus’s Persa, or What Just Happened?”

Greek Epics XXXV: Odyssey Book 10, or Men are Pigs

Odysseus and his men visit a few more islands. Not every island results in someone’s death, but for the most part, it’s not going very well. Discussion Prompts Odysseus doesn’t trust his men with the bag of winds. Is he justified in this lack of trust? Why or why not? If you were Aiolos, wouldContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXV: Odyssey Book 10, or Men are Pigs”

Greek Tragedy XXIV: Euripides’s Electra, or An Ancient Greek Rashoman?

Each of our tragedians tackled the story of Orestes and Electra. In today’s episode, we get Euripides’s take, and as one should expect from the most depressing of the three, it is bloody. Discussion Prompts Which version of this story do you like best? Why? What does Klytaemestra tells us about motherhood? AP Credit: DiscussContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXIV: Euripides’s Electra, or An Ancient Greek Rashoman?”

Greek Myth XVI: Hymn to Askelpios, or I Guess We Know Who His Parents Are Now

Today we have another short Homeric Hymn in #16: Hymn to Asklepios. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Asklepios is a healer. He is also the son of a god and a mortal and was originally mortal. How do all of these details work together in a logical way? When you think of Asklepios, what do youContinue reading “Greek Myth XVI: Hymn to Askelpios, or I Guess We Know Who His Parents Are Now”

Greek Epics XXXIV: Odyssey Book 9, or Vizzini Told Me to Go Back to the Beginning

In Book 8, Alkinoös asks Odysseus to tell his tale, and in Book 9, that tale finally starts. This is probably what you were thinking The Odyssey would be about. Discussion Prompts AP Credit: The mistake Odysseus’s men make with the Kikonês is not the original plunder; it is that they are too greedy. WhatContinue reading “Greek Epics XXXIV: Odyssey Book 9, or Vizzini Told Me to Go Back to the Beginning”

Roman Comedy VI: Plautus’s Casina, or Where’s Waldo?

It’s episode 100! But nothing exciting happening here. Instead it’s a really weird play. Not Plautus’s finest. And not one that aged well. We see a similar plot in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, so for a little fun: Discussion Prompts How would you rewrite this play for a modernContinue reading “Roman Comedy VI: Plautus’s Casina, or Where’s Waldo?”