Barbara Graziosi back to Homerizon Conference main page Homer and the Definition of Epic Epic, as a genre, is defined using many different criteria, from mode of discourse (although some epics are not predominantly narrative), length (though some epics are short), relationship to other genres (though not all epics incorporate minor genres), subject matter (though not all epics involve war or travel), theological framework (though not all… Read more
Doug Frame back to Homerizon Conference main page The Homeric Poems after Ionia: A Case in Point The general topic of this paper is the reception of the Homeric poems in mainland Greece after their substantial formation in Ionia in the late eighth and early seventh centuries B.C. The case in point is Sparta in the late seventh and early sixth centuries B.C. in the aftermath of the… Read more
Mary Ebbott back to Homerizon Conference main page Butler’s Authoress and gendered readings of the Odyssey How do or should considerations of gender affect our interpretation of Homeric poetry? This is the central question in my article. I explore it by examining Samuel Butler’s 1897 book The Authoress of the Odyssey and then various interpretations of the Odyssey from the past 15 years that also focus on gender. Read more
Casey Dué back to Homerizon Conference main page The Invention of Ossian In this paper I argue that by exploring James Macpherson’s alleged “invention” of the ancient Celtic bard Ossian Homerists can learn something about the way that contemporary theory about the nature of poetry influences our scholarly attempts to objectively analyze the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey. I will summarize briefly here the Macpherson controversy before moving on… Read more
Jonathan S. Burgess back to Homerizon Conference main page Tumuli of Achilles Achilles died at Troy and was buried there, ancient myth and poetry agree. After his corpse was burned on a pyre, a great tomb, or tumulus, was heaped up over his bones. But the tumulus of Achilles is not just a mythological motif; it has also been regarded as a real piece of topography in the landscape… Read more
Ellen Bradshaw Aitken Back to Homerizon Conference main page An Early Christian Homerizon? Decoy, Direction, and Doxology In the first centuries of the development of Christianity, the Homeric poems and Homeric traditions continued to occupy a central place in Hellenistic and Roman cultural arenas. This paper explores some of the “Homeric horizons” evident in texts from the formative period of ancient Christianity (first through third centuries C.E.). It focuses… Read more
The Shield of Achilles [478] First he [the divine Hephaistos] shaped the shield so great and strong, adorning it all over and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three layers; and the baldric was made of silver. He made the shield in five thicknesses, and with many a wonder did his cunning hand enrich it. [483] He wrought the earth, the heavens, and the sea;… Read more
Discussion Series The Center for Hellenic Studies offers web-based seminars through on-line lecture and discussion series. Such series are part of the Center’s mission to promote the study of Hellenic Civilization and to engage as wide an audience as possible. To this end, this planned series and all future offerings will be free of charge and open to the public. Previous experience with ancient Greek literature or history is not… Read more
Athenian Law Timeline Athenian Law Other Athenian History 632: Cylon fails to establish tyranny in Athens 621/20: Drakon’s laws 594/93: Solon’s reforms 546: Peisistratos establishes tyranny 508/7: Cleisthenes’ reforms; establishment of democracy 490: Battle of Marathon 487/6: Nine archons henceforth chosen by lot 480-79: Xerxes’ invasion; battles of Thermopylae, Artimisium; Salamis and Plataea 478: Creation of Delian League… Read more
CHS Gallery In this section, the Center for Hellenic Studies features photographs from its various activities and events as well as artistic contributions from the CHS community. CHS Events Annual May Party CHS celebrated its annual end-of-year party on May 17, 2005. This year’s Persian-themed party was held under a tent on the lawn behind the Director’s house with Persian food and musicians. This sketch of the Persian musicians… Read more
