Rush Rehm: Classical Greek Theater
February 19, 2012
Rush Rehm's Greek Tragic Theater is a excellent review of the classical Greek theater. The book has two parts: an extended essay on the social and theatrical background of the classical Greek tragedies and analyses of six "exemplary plays."
Read more...
How Did Achilles Die?
February 15, 2012
Everyone agrees that Paris killed Achilles with an arrow during the siege of Troy, but the details of his death are subject to debate.
Read more...
A Gift From an Enemy
February 4, 2012
After fighting for several years against the Trojans, Ajax went mad. He was infuriated because Agamemnon and Menelaus gave the armor of Achilles to Odysseus instead of to him. One night he prowled the camp intent on killing the three men, but Athena cast a spell on him.
Read more...
When Did the Herdsman Know?
August 22, 2010
Everything in Sophocles' Oedipus the King leads up to or follows from Oedipus' horrible realization that he is the murderer of his father and husband of his mother. But before he recognizes the truth, two others precede him
Read more...
When Did Jocasta Know?
2010
In Oedipus the King, the Corinthian messenger's announcement leads Oedipus to a search for his identity. But before Oedipus realizes who he is, Jocasta recognizes the awful truth and recoils in horror.
Read more...
Who Took Orestes from Argos?
June 17, 2010
In each of the three versions of the return of Orestes, Orestes comes back from Phocis where he was taken as a baby. Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides give differing accounts of who took him away.
Read more...
Pheres: A Horrible Old Man?
June 17, 2010
In his introduction to Alcestis, Richmond Lattimore describes Pheres, the father of Admetus, as 'a horrible old man'. I am not sure I agree.
Read more...
