The Center for Hellenic Studies

CHS Learning Module
CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | "Genre, Occasion, and Choral Mimesis Revisited," by Gregory Nagy

"What happens if the occasion for performing a given genre of song becomes obsolete?" Gregory Nagy considers this question in his recent article on Classical Inquiries: "Genre, Occasion, and Choral Mimesis Revisited—with special reference to the 'newest Sappho'.” (2015.10.1) Drawing on the songs of Sappho and the modern lyrics of Lesley Gore, Nagy argues that genre can compensate for, and even absolutize, the occasion of performance. For Nagy, the occasion of choral performance is the mimesis of emotions by way of song and dance. "The emotions themselves are not the occasion." Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

Classical Inquiries | “Genre, Occasion, and Choral Mimesis Revisited,” by Gregory Nagy

"What happens if the occasion for performing a given genre of song becomes obsolete?" Gregory Nagy considers this question in his recent article on Classical Inquiries: "Genre, Occasion, and Choral Mimesis Revisited—with special reference to the 'newest Sappho'.” (2015.10.1) Drawing on the songs of Sappho and the modern lyrics of Lesley Gore, Nagy argues that genre can compensate for, and even absolutize, the occasion of performance. For Nagy, the occasion of choral performance is the mimesis of emotions by way of song and dance. "The emotions themselves are not the occasion." Read more

CHS Learning Module

CHS Essentials | Beating the Odds

We are very happy to share our featured CHS Essentials video with Greg Nagy where he is arguing whether or not ancient Greek heroes have the possibility of living with kleos (ancient Greek word for glory and fame) and also gain nostos (ancient Greek word for homecoming; return to light and life). Can heroes beat the odds? Greg Nagy goes on to explore the meaning of the ancient Greek word moira, which… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

CHS Essentials | Beating the Odds

We are very happy to share our featured CHS Essentials video with Greg Nagy where he is arguing whether or not ancient Greek heroes have the possibility of living with kleos (ancient Greek word for glory and fame) and also gain nostos (ancient Greek word for homecoming; return to light and life). Can heroes beat the odds? Greg Nagy goes on to explore the meaning of the ancient Greek word moira, which… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

CHS Essentials Videos

The Center for Hellenic Studies has compiled a collection of short, topic driven videos for your viewing pleasure called CHS Essentials. This series of videos is comprised of clips from the CHS open house discussions as well as discussions and interviews with different members of the classics community.  The CHS Essential videos can be found on YouTube either under the CHS channel or when you search CHS… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

Connections: Drugs, Roosters, and Asklepios

Jacques-Louis David, “The Death of Socrates”(1787), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Many community members have been reading Gregory Nagy’s “The Last Words of Socrates in the Place Where He Died” on H24H Dialogues. In that post he explores the meaning of sacrificing a rooster to Asklepios.  We are happy to share a curated selection of resources designed to help readers explore this topic in greater depth and make new… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

Connections: Dice Games, Ajax, and an Epic Loss

Many community members have been reading Gregory Nagy’s “A Role of the Dice for Ajax” on H24H Dialogues, which explores how ”Ajax dooms himself to an eternity of angry frustration over losing a chance to become the best of the Achaeans.”  We are happy to share a curated selection of resources designed to help readers explore this topic in greater depth and make new connections. Iconography Cited by Nagy in “A Role… Read more

CHS Learning Module

Enroll in "The Ancient Greek Hero" with Gregory Nagy and Kevin McGrath at Harvard Extension School

Examine the human condition by studying the ancient Greek hero Registration is now open for “The Ancient Greek Hero,” a distance learning course taught by Gregory Nagy and Kevin McGrath at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Over 10,000 Harvard students have taken this class over the years. “The Ancient Greek Hero” invites learners to experience, in English translation, some of the most beautiful works of ancient Greek literature and song-making: the Homeric Iliad and… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

Enroll in “The Ancient Greek Hero” with Gregory Nagy and Kevin McGrath at Harvard Extension School

Examine the human condition by studying the ancient Greek hero Registration is now open for “The Ancient Greek Hero,” a distance learning course taught by Gregory Nagy and Kevin McGrath at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Over 10,000 Harvard students have taken this class over the years. “The Ancient Greek Hero” invites learners to experience, in English translation, some of the most beautiful works of ancient Greek literature and song-making: the Homeric Iliad and… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours: Plato and Beyond

Registration is now open for Module 5 of the Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours (Hours 22-24), “Plato and Beyond”, on edX. HUM 2.5x, the fifth and final module in The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, “Hours 22-24: Plato and Beyond” challenges the idea that Socrates was a hero, just as Plato’s Socrates himself challenges that same idea. And yet, as we will see from reading… Read more