Triumvir Clio

Roman Epics III: De Rerum Natura Book 3, or Shuffling Off This Mortal Coil

Who’s right? Lucretius and Epicurus? Or Hamlet? Discussion Prompts See above. What, if anything, is the distinction between the mind and the body? Is there a soul? Why or why not?

Greek Tragedy XXXV: Humanism in Greek Tragedy

In today’s episode we wrap up Greek Tragedy, so I have one question for you: What does Greek Tragedy teach us about being human?

Greek Myth XXVII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book I, Chapter I – Theogony: Birth of Zeus, or I Just Can’t Wait to Be King

Apollodorus didn’t write the Bibliotheca, but we don’t know who did, so we’ll keep using his name. Sort of. Discussion Prompts Why do you think we see ultimogeniture in Greek mythology? AP Credit: Compare/contrast Pseudo-Apollodorus with Hesiod. What do you think of Earth’s actions? Rhea’s? Which path would you take if your partner imprisoned and/orContinue reading “Greek Myth XXVII: Pseudo-Apollodorus’s Bibliotheca Book I, Chapter I – Theogony: Birth of Zeus, or I Just Can’t Wait to Be King”

Roman Epics II: De Rerum Natura Book 2, or If You Wanna Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life

We learn about happiness and atoms in Book 2 of De Rerum Natura. Discussion Prompts Is Lucretius a monotheist? Why or why not? What would your ancient Roman self-help book be about? When you think of “epicurean,” what do you think of? AP Credit: Discuss Lucretius’s accuracies and inaccuracies in his description of atoms.

Roman Comedy XVII: Plautus’s Mercator, or The Merchant of Athens

Merchants buy and sell and get in a pickle in Plautus’s Mercator. Discussion Prompts If you were directing this today, what would be your vision? Setting? Dream cast? Etc.? Why? AP Credit: Discuss the two families seen and the parallels between Charinus and Eutychus. What do you think of the matrona character type as presentedContinue reading “Roman Comedy XVII: Plautus’s Mercator, or The Merchant of Athens”

Roman Epics I: De Rerum Natura Book 1, or Lucretius Isn’t Wrong

Welcome to Roman Epics! We start with Lucretius’s De Rerum Natura, or On the Nature of Things. Discussion Prompts If you were to write an epic based on philosophy, what philosophy would you write about? How do you think Lucretius (and Epicurus) managed to philosophize physics as well as they did? What does this book teach aboutContinue reading “Roman Epics I: De Rerum Natura Book 1, or Lucretius Isn’t Wrong”

Greek Tragedy XXXIV: Euripides’s Iphigenia at Aulis, or the Mystery of Iphi Drood

Just as Charles Dickens died before he finished writing The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Euripides died before he finished Iphigenia at Aulis. But unlike Dickens, Euripides had a descendant to finish the writing for him. Discussion Prompts What does this play have to say about family loyalty? Where do you think this play should end? Why? DoContinue reading “Greek Tragedy XXXIV: Euripides’s Iphigenia at Aulis, or the Mystery of Iphi Drood”

Greek Myth XXVI: Hymn to Guest Friends, or Not a Hymn

We conclude the Homeric Hymns with Hymn 34, which isn’t really a hymn after all. Discussion Prompts What is the difference between a friend and a guest friend? What do you think is the reason, if any, that this poem is directed at a specific community? We’ve now read all 34 Homeric Hymns. Which isContinue reading “Greek Myth XXVI: Hymn to Guest Friends, or Not a Hymn”

Greek Epics LIV: Humanism in Greek Epics

Today we wrap up the Greek Epics course. We covered a lot of themes over the course of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Argonautica. They include, but aren’t limited to, honor and glory, life and death, family, coming of age, war and peace, fate, and the gods. I have one question for you today.Continue reading “Greek Epics LIV: Humanism in Greek Epics”

Roman Comedy XVI: Plautus’s Menaechmi, or Shakespeare’s Favorite Source Material

If one Menaechmus is good, then two must be better! Discussion Prompts AP Credit: Discuss the concept of alienation as seen the the twin Menaechmi brothers. How would you cast this play? Would you riff on Shakespeare’s double set of twins by casting the same actor as both Peniculus (Diddley – the parasite) and MessenioContinue reading “Roman Comedy XVI: Plautus’s Menaechmi, or Shakespeare’s Favorite Source Material”