The hottest Classical Studies Substack posts right now

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Weekend Roundup

Classical Wisdom • 255 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🚌 Education History Mythology Literature Podcasts Classical Studies
  1. Listen to the wisdom of Herodotus and learn about the Scythians, an ancient nomadic people who were once considered 'invincible'
  2. Explore mythological fiction like Tad Crawford's 'On Wine-Dark Seas', a sequel to the Odyssey, to delve deeper into the story of Odysseus and Telemachus
  3. Access exclusive content and resources by becoming a member of Classical Wisdom, including podcasts with professors, webinars, e-books, and magazines

After the Epic's End

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 119 implied HN points • 11 Apr 24
📚 Literature Greek mythology Literary Analysis Book Discussion Classical Studies
  1. The author discusses their transition to using Substack as a platform for their work, focusing on deepening their engagement with the epic Iliad.
  2. The author emphasizes the importance of sharing and promoting scholarly work, aiming to reach a broader audience beyond traditional academic circles.
  3. Through their Substack posts, the author explores various themes and new scholarship related to the Iliad, offering insights and analyses for readers interested in the epic.

The Politics of Rage

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 159 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
📚 Literature Classical Studies Political themes
  1. The first book of the Iliad sets up surprising inversions and initiates a plot that revolves around themes like honoring Achilles and political conflicts.
  2. Achilles' rage in the Iliad is multi-faceted, influenced by different reasons and contexts, not just political, and resonates with cosmic disorder.
  3. The Iliad intertwines the political dynamics between characters like Achilles and Agamemnon, reflecting on concepts of authority, dissent, and decision-making.

Starving Then Stoned

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 03 Apr 24
📚 Literature Mythology Narrative analysis Classical Studies Interpretation Comparative Analysis
  1. In the story Achilles tells Priam about Niobe, there is a comparison to encourage Priam to join him for a meal, showcasing the theme of shared suffering and the necessity of returning to normalcy after loss.
  2. The ancient responses to Niobe's narrative in the text show how the blending of myth and reality can create a powerful symbolic message, even if it seems illogical at first glance.
  3. Achilles learns important lessons about life and loss through the story of Niobe, emphasizing the importance of enjoying life and sharing moments with others despite grief and hardship.

Disfiguring the Fallow Earth

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 25 Mar 24
📚 Literature Classical Studies Criticism Themes Characters Narrative structure
  1. The final book of the Iliad, Book 24, ties up major tensions, transitions between the living and dead worlds, and revisits themes like reciprocity and mourning, notably in the meeting of Priam and Achilles.
  2. Zeus serves as a figure of justice in Book 24, intervening to settle the dispute between gods over giving Hektor a proper burial; this showcases a different approach to politics and the separation between mortals and gods.
  3. The opening scene of Iliad 24 sets the stage for the return of Hektor's body by emphasizing the importance of divine intervention and the resolution of conflicts, presenting Zeus as a symbol of ethical thinking and justice.
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They're Just Not That Into Us

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 39 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
📚 Literature Epic poetry Greek mythology Classical Studies
  1. Book 21 of the Iliad showcases the cosmic disorder inherent in a world where gods and mortals coexist, highlighting the danger of heroes like Achilles.
  2. The Homeric poems, including the Iliad and the Odyssey, narrate the development of the cosmos and the transition towards a world closer to the audience's lives, exploring the concept of demigods and the divine history.
  3. Through the dialogue between Poseidon and Apollo in the Iliad, the gods decide to step back from interfering in mortal affairs, illustrating the theme that humans gain glory through their sacrifices and actions in the face of mortality.

Erasing the Past

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
📚 Literature Greek mythology Narrative analysis Epic poetry Classical Studies
  1. Poseidon's concern about his fame in the Iliad reflects a zero-sum game of kleos, demonstrating the importance of recognition in ancient mythology.
  2. Zeus authorizes Poseidon to destroy the Achaean wall, emphasizing the balance of memory and forgetting controlled by divine agency.
  3. The detailed destruction of the wall in Book 12 expands upon the narrative of the Trojan War, showing a cosmic perspective and the cyclical nature of destruction in the heroic age.