Bethany Banner

Triumvir Clio's School of Classical Civilization

Education EN ↓ 245 episodes

The literature, philosophy, and history of the Greek and Roman world covered sometimes irreverently but always with love. If you've always wanted to read ancient literature but don't know where to begin, join me at Triumvir Clio's School of Classical Civilization.

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Bethany Banner

Episodes

Roman Comedy V: Plautus’s Bacchides, or Parent Trap 12.10.2020 28:35

This is Bacchis.  And this is her sister Bacchis.  Confused yet? To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization .  If there’s no hyperlink showing up here, you can go to triumvirclio.school.blog to find a feed of recent episodes as well as discussion pages for every episode. References Parker, Douglass, translator.  “Appendix 1: A Not...

Greek Epics XXXI: Odyssey Book 6, or The Princess and the Frog 07.10.2020 8:39

To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization .  If there’s no hyperlink showing up here, you can go to triumvirclio.school.blog to find a feed of recent episodes as well as discussion pages for every episode. References Cartwright, Mark. " Odyssey ."  Ancient History Encyclopedia . Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Mar 2017. Web. 24 Aug 2020....

Greek Tragedy XXII: Euripides’s Hekabe, or Queen Lear 05.10.2020 10:11

Hekabe loses power and her children in this play about what happens after the fall of Troy. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References “Hecuba – Euripides | Play Summary & Analysis | Greek Mythology – Classical Literature".  Ancient Literature , https://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_euripides_hecuba.html .  Accessed 19...

Greek Myth XIV: Hymn to Mother of the Gods, or Your Guess Is As Good As Mine 02.10.2020 4:26

In this episode, we review #14 of the Homeric Hymns: Hymn to the Mother of the Gods. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . Reference Shelmerdine, Susan Chadwick.  The Homeric Hymns . Focus Information Group, 1995.

Greek Epics XXX: Odyssey Book 5, or It Turns Out the Odyssey Really IS About Odysseus 30.09.2020 12:37

We finally join Odysseus as he tries to get home from Troy. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwright, Mark. " Odyssey ."  Ancient History Encyclopedia . Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Mar 2017. Web. 24 Aug 2020. Homer.   The Odyssey .  Translated by Robert Fitzgerald, Vintage Classics, 1990. Tsykynovska, Hel...

Roman Comedy IV: Plautus’s Pseudolus, or Is “Comedy Tonight” Stuck In Your Head, Too? 28.09.2020 22:16

We'll talk about tragedy tomorrow and comedy tonight. Okay, we'll really talk about tragedy next week and comedy today. Yes, this is the source for Sondheim's Pseudolus, and if you already know A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum , this play should have a familiar feel to you. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwri...

Greek Epics XXIX: Odyssey Book 4, or Something is Rotten in the State of Sparta 23.09.2020 20:21

Despite what the title would have you believe, the Telemachy takes up a decent part of the Odyssey. In this episode, Telemakhos continues his own journey in search of news of his father. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwright, Mark. " Odyssey ."  Ancient History Encyclopedia . Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Mar 2017...

Greek Tragedy XXI: Euripides’s Andromache, or If Euripides and Clare Boothe Luce Wrote a Play Together 21.09.2020 20:50

If Euripides had helped Clare Boothe Luce to write The Women, Andromache might have been the result, only with more witty ripostes. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References “Andromache – Euripides – Ancient Greece – Classical Literature".  Ancient Literature , https://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_euripides_andromache.html . &...

Greek Myth XIII: Hymns to Hera, or Don’t Forget the Queen of the Gods 18.09.2020 2:54

In this short episode, we'll look at the one short Homeric Hymn to Hera. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . Reference Shelmerdine, Susan Chadwick.  The Homeric Hymns . Focus Information Group, 1995.

Greek Epics XXVIII: Odyssey Book 3, or Nestor Tells Stories 16.09.2020 11:38

Telemakhos meets Nestor, and the old man regales him with tales of the Trojan War and its aftermath. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwright, Mark. " Odyssey ."  Ancient History Encyclopedia . Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Mar 2017. Web. 24 Aug 2020. Homer.   The Odyssey .  Translated by Robert Fitzgerald,...

Roman Comedy III: Plautus’s Stichus, or Meet the Parasite 14.09.2020 17:55

Henry Thomas Riley describes the plot of today's play as "extremely meagre".  I think you'll see why. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwright, Mark. " Plautus ."  Ancient History Encyclopedia . Ancient History Encyclopedia, 04 Jan 2016. Web. 06 Sep 2020. Owens, William M. "Plautus' Stichus and the Political Crisis...

Greek Epics XXVII: Odyssey Book 2, or Don’t Mess With a Clever Woman 09.09.2020 13:22

Telemakhos takes Athena's advice, and Penelope tries to control her own life in Book 2 of the Odyssey . To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwright, Mark. " Odyssey ."  Ancient History Encyclopedia . Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Mar 2017. Web. 24 Aug 2020. Homer.   The Odyssey .  Translated by Robert Fitzgera...

Greek Tragedy XX: Euripides’s Hippolytus, or Aphrodite Has a Curl Right in the Middle of Her Forehead 07.09.2020 19:42

When Aphrodite is good, she is very very good, but when she is bad, she is horrid. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References “Hippolytus – Euripides – Ancient Greece – Classical Literature".  Ancient Literature , https://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_euripides_hippolytus.html .  Accessed 2 Sep 2020 Mitchell, Robin N. "Mias...

Greek Myth XII: Hymns to Athena, or She’d as Soon Love You as Destroy You 04.09.2020 6:08

In this episode, we'll look at the two Homeric Hymns dedicated to Athena. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . Reference Shelmerdine, Susan Chadwick.  The Homeric Hymns . Focus Information Group, 1995.

Greek Epics XXVI: Odyssey Book 1, or The Gods Get the Action Started 02.09.2020 19:17

In this episode, we start reading the second of the great Homeric epics, the story of Odysseus's journey home from Troy. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwright, Mark. " Odyssey ."  Ancient History Encyclopedia . Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Mar 2017. Web. 24 Aug 2020. Homer.   The Odyssey .  Translated b...

Roman Comedy II: Plautus’s Miles Gloriosus, or That Soldier from Funny Thing… Forum’s Backstory 31.08.2020 24:35

You may know Miles Gloriosus as the braggart soldier in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum . This play is the source material for that character. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Berg, Deena, translator.  “Major Blowhard [Plautus’s Miles Gloriosus].”   Five Comedies , Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1999...

Greek Epics XXV: Iliad Book 24, or A Farewell to Arms 26.08.2020 18:32

We have reached the concluding book of the I.  It's time to say farewell to Achilles, Patroklos, Hektor, and the rest. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Delahoyde, Michael. " HOMER'S ILIAD: BOOK XXIV".  Public. Wsu. Edu , https://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/mythology/iliad24.html .  Accessed 14 Aug 2020. Lattimore, R...

Greek Tragedy XIX: Euripides’s Heracleidae, or Somehow… Someday… Somewhere… 24.08.2020 18:50

We already read Sophocles's take on the death of Heracles.  In this episode, we'll look at Euripides's take on what happens to the children of Heracles, or Heracleidae in Greek. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Coleridge, E.P., translator.  “The Heracleidae.” Euripides’s Collection [19 books] .  Publish This, LLC...

Greek Myth XI: Hymns to Artemis, or You Remember Apollo’s Sister 21.08.2020 6:18

Today we have two more Homeric Hymns, numbers 9 and 27, both dedicated to Artemis. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . Reference Shelmerdine, Susan Chadwick.  The Homeric Hymns . Focus Information Group, 1995.

Greek Epics XXIV: Iliad Book 23, or That’s Your Funeral (If Your Name is Patroklos) 19.08.2020 10:12

The Ancient Greeks knew how to throw a funeral! To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Delahoyde, Michael. " HOMER'S ILIAD: BOOK XXIII".  Public. Wsu. Edu , https://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/mythology/iliad23.html .  Accessed 7 Aug 2020. Lattimore, Richmond, translator.  The Iliad Of Homer . University of Chicago Press....

Roman Comedy I: Plautus’s Cistellaria, or Maybe Plautus’s Oldest Play? 17.08.2020 15:25

Welcome to Roman Comedy! We don't know much about Plautus, including the dates of many of his plays. Cistellaria , or the Casket Play, might be the oldest. Or it might not. But it's as good of a place to start as any, so that's where we'll start. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Cartwright, Mark. " Plautus ."  Ancient Hist...

Greek Epics XXIII: Iliad Book 22, or Chariots of Fire 12.08.2020 14:44

It may not be a marathon, but there's a lot of running in Book 22 of the Iliad . To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Delahoyde, Michael. " HOMER'S ILIAD: BOOK XXII".  Public. Wsu. Edu , https://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/mythology/iliad22.html .  Accessed 3 Aug 2020. Lattimore, Richmond, translator.  The Iliad Of Home...

Greek Tragedy XVIII: Euripides’s Medea, or Kramer vs Kramer 10.08.2020 29:17

Welcome to the messiest divorce in Greek mythology. To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References " Medea – Euripides – Play Summary – Medea Greek Mythology".  Ancient Literature , https://www.ancient-literature.com/greece_euripides_medea.html .  Accessed 27 Jul 2020 Roche, Paul, translator.  Three Plays of Euripides . W. W....

Greek Myth X: Hymn to Ares, or He’s a God AND a Planet! 07.08.2020 6:02

Today we have one weird little poem about Ares... or is it Mars? To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . Reference Shelmerdine, Susan Chadwick.  The Homeric Hymns . Focus Information Group, 1995.

Greek Epics XXII: Iliad Book 21, or Achilles is Fighting Who Now? 05.08.2020 11:57

It’s Achilles against the world in Book 21 of the Iliad . To join the discussion, visit the blog at Triumvir Clio’s School of Classical Civilization . References Delahoyde, Michael. " HOMER'S ILIAD: BOOK XX".  Public. Wsu. Edu , https://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/mythology/iliad20.html .  Accessed 16 Jul 2020. Lattimore, Richmond, translator.  The Iliad Of Homer . University of Chicag...