Classical Inquiries

CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | A sampling of comments on Iliad Scroll 6

In his recent Classical Inquiries posting, Gregory Nagy focuses on Iliad Scroll 6 and shares a sampling of selected comments with his readers. Nagy’s commentary will be incorporated into a larger, forthcoming project: A Homer commentary in progress. I.06.289–292 tagging: variant readings; detours of Helen; pan-poikilo- ‘completely pattern-woven’ lemmatizing: παμποίκιλοι vs. παμποίκιλα There are variant stories about detours experienced by Helen after her abduction by Paris. A trip to Sidon in Phoenicia is… Read more

CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | A sampling of comments on Iliad Scroll 5

In his recent Classical Inquiries posting, Gregory Nagy focuses on Iliad Scroll 5 and shares a sampling of selected comments with his readers. Nagy’s commentary will be incorporated into a larger, forthcoming project: A Homer commentary in progress. I.05.103 tagging: best of the Achaeans; aristeiā ‘epic high point’; plot of the Iliad; narrative arc This verse shows that the hero Diomedes has a chance to qualify as ‘the best of the Achaeans’, aristos… Read more

CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | A sampling of comments on Iliad Scroll 5

In his recent Classical Inquiries posting, Gregory Nagy focuses on Iliad Scroll 5 and shares a sampling of selected comments with his readers. Nagy’s commentary will be incorporated into a larger, forthcoming project: A Homer commentary in progress. I.05.103 tagging: best of the Achaeans; aristeiā ‘epic high point’; plot of the Iliad; narrative arc This verse shows that the hero Diomedes has a chance to qualify as ‘the best of the Achaeans’, aristos Akhaiōn. BA 30. Read more

CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | A sampling of comments on Iliad Scroll 4

In his recent Classical Inquiries posting, Gregory Nagy focuses on Iliad Scroll 4 and shares a sampling of selected comments with his readers. Nagy’s commentary will be incorporated into a larger, forthcoming project: A Homer commentary in progress. I.04.227 tagging: therapōn ‘attendant, ritual substitute’; Eurymedon; Sthenelos; Patroklos; chariot driver/fighter In this first Iliadic attestation of therapōn in the singular, we see at first only the surface meaning, ‘attendant’. But… Read more

CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | A sampling of comments on Iliad Scroll 4

In his recent Classical Inquiries posting, Gregory Nagy focuses on Iliad Scroll 4 and shares a sampling of selected comments with his readers. Nagy’s commentary will be incorporated into a larger, forthcoming project: A Homer commentary in progress. I.04.227 tagging: therapōn ‘attendant, ritual substitute’; Eurymedon; Sthenelos; Patroklos; chariot driver/fighter In this first Iliadic attestation of therapōn in the singular, we see at first only the surface meaning, ‘attendant’. But there… Read more

CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | Trying to read the Will of Zeus

In his recent posting on Classical Inquiries, Gregory Nagy focuses on the Homeric expression Dios boulē, which has has translated at times as ‘the Will of Zeus’ and at other times ‘the Plan of Zeus’. Nagy explains the variation in his translation: I see no contradiction here, since I have always understood the Will of Zeus to be the functional equivalent of the… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

Classical Inquiries | Trying to read the Will of Zeus

In his recent posting on Classical Inquiries, Gregory Nagy focuses on the Homeric expression Dios boulē, which has has translated at times as ‘the Will of Zeus’ and at other times ‘the Plan of Zeus’. Nagy explains the variation in his translation: I see no contradiction here, since I have always understood the Will of Zeus to be the functional equivalent of the… Read more

CHS Learning Module

Classical Inquiries | Things noted during five days of travel-study, 2016.03.13–18

Gregory Nagy and the participants of the 2016 Harvard Spring Break travel study program recently completed their trip to Greece. Professor Nagy shares his experience and that of the study group on a day-to-day basis in his posting of 03.24.2016. I tried each day to focus on three things to see—or at least to note if they cannot be seen—at each ancient site we visited. In cases where we visited a… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

Classical Inquiries | Things noted during five days of travel-study, 2016.03.13–18

Gregory Nagy and the participants of the 2016 Harvard Spring Break travel study program recently completed their trip to Greece. Professor Nagy shares his experience and that of the study group on a day-to-day basis in his posting of 03.24.2016. I tried each day to focus on three things to see—or at least to note if they cannot be seen—at each ancient site we visited. In cases where we visited a… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

Classical Inquiries | Just to look at all the shining bronze here, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven: Seeing bronze in the ancient Greek world

Head of a Bearded God, first century BC, bronze, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Museum purchase funded by Isabel B. and Wallace S. Wilson Today, February 25, at 3:30 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington DC, Gregory Nagy and Gloria Ferrari Pinney are holding a panel discussion on “A poet or a god: The Iconography of Certain Bearded Male Bronzes.” This is the… Read more