The Center for Hellenic Studies

hero cult

Curated Articles

Signs of Hero Cult in Homeric Poetry

Originally published in Homeric Contexts: Neoanalysis and the Interpretation of Oral Poetry (ed. F. Montanari, A. Rengakos, and C. Tsagalis) 27–71. Trends in Classics Supplementary Volume 12. Berlin and Boston 2012. The page-numbers of the printed version are embedded within brackets in this electronic version: for example, {27|28} marks where p. 27 stops and p. 28 begins. Introduction to the main argument This essay centers on the ancient Greek practice… Read more

Curated Books

The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry

Despite widespread interest in the Greek hero as a cult figure, little was written about the relationship between the cult practices and the portrayals of the hero in poetry. The first edition of The Best of the Achaeans bridged that gap, raising new questions about what could be known or conjectured about Greek heroes. In this revised edition, which features a new preface by the author, Gregory Nagy reconsiders his conclusions in… Read more

Curated Articles

Hero Cult in Apollonius Rhodius

[[This article was originally published in 2012 in Gods and Religion in Hellenistic Poetry (edited by M. A. Harder, R. F. Regtuit, and G. C. Wakker) 131-162, Peeters Publishers: Leuven. The page-numbers of the printed version are embedded within braces in this electronic version: for example, {131|132} marks where p. 131 ends and p. 132 begins.]] The divinity of heroes, and the cult honors they received in the Greek world,… Read more

Curated Articles

The Sign of the Hero: A Prologue to the Heroikos of Philostratus

Originally published in J. K. Berenson Maclean and E. B. Aitken, eds., Flavius Philostratus, Heroikos (Atlanta 2001) xv-xxxv. The original pagination,which was indicated in roman numerals, will be indicated in this electronic version by way of the corresponding arabic numerals within braces (“{“ and “}”). For example, “{16|17}” indicates where p. xvi of the printed article ends and p. xvii begins. The traditional practice of worshipping heroes, commonly known as… Read more

News, Publications

Now Available Online – The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry

The CHS is pleased to announce that The Best of the Achaeans: Concepts of the Hero in Archaic Greek Poetry by Gregory Nagy is now available online on the CHS website. Despite widespread interest in the Greek hero as a cult figure, little was written about the relationship between the cult practices and the portrayals of the hero in poetry. The first edition of The Best of… Read more

News, Programs & Events News

Hour 25: Continuing Content, Community, and Conversation

Hour 25 is a vibrant intellectual community that studies and creates open source content associated with and inspired by Gregory Nagy’s work on ancient Greek heroes. Drawing on the massive open online content (MOOC) known as HeroesX and in a collaborative partnership with the Center for Hellenic Studies, Hour 25 offers readers and scholars access to an evolving, informed conversation about ancient Greek literature that is based upon close reading… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours: Cult of Heroes

Registration is now open for Module 3 of the Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours (Hours 12-15), “Cult of Heroes”, on edX. HUM 2.3x., the third of five modules in The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, “Hours 12-15: Cult of Heroes” explores the vast variety of perspectives brought to bear on the idea of the ancient Greek hero in the versatile medium of prose, as exemplified by authors as varied as… Read more

CHS Learning Module

HeroesX "Epic and Lyric" begins September 2

Registration is now open for the latest session of “The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours,” a groundbreaking, open-access educational project from HarvardX that introduces participants to the literature and heroes of ancient Greece. Based upon one of Harvard College’s longest running residential courses, “HeroesX,” for short, is now divided into five separate but integrated units, or learning “modules,” all running on the edX platform. Directed by Gregory Nagy,… Read more

CHS Learning Module, News

HeroesX “Epic and Lyric” begins September 2

Registration is now open for the latest session of “The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours,” a groundbreaking, open-access educational project from HarvardX that introduces participants to the literature and heroes of ancient Greece. Based upon one of Harvard College’s longest running residential courses, “HeroesX,” for short, is now divided into five separate but integrated units, or learning “modules,” all running on the edX platform. Directed by Gregory Nagy, Francis Jones… Read more