History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides is an epic. Loved it. And most of Sophocles as well. A great list to expand reading of Ancient Greek Literature beyond Homer. I’d add Herodotus’ Histories as well.
These are great recommendations but would also be interested to know if there were specific translations that are also recommended. I know there are some feelings and potential controversy around different translations providing a different interpretation of the original works.
I remember reading Oedipus Rex in HS in the mid 70s, and when my teacher asked me what I thought I said, "Those Greeks were really weird people" !
Now that I'm (much) older, and have seen how the dynamics have played out with many friends and their sons, especially divorced Dads, the play seems brilliant. Metaphorically spot on. I've, sadly, seen many divorced dads whose sons have essentially killed them, by writing them out of their lives. And usually being very supportive sons to their mothers. US society or human nature?
Now, it's been 50 yrs since I read it, but, as I recall, the confrontation began when they met at a crossroads and neither would yield. And then it escalated to Laius' death. Similarly, the fracturings of father/son that I have seen have also usually been (at least initially) some petty thing where the two egos refuse to back down. And it escalates from there.
Recently read The Oresteia by Aeschylus and The Theban plays by Sophocles with my teens and we really enjoyed both. They were huge Percy Jackson fans so they enjoyed seeing the world those books were based on. They were already familiar with The Odyssey when we read it and enjoyed it also.
Thank you for this latest of your short pieces. I confess to have never read any of the works that you mention, a good education yes, but no great literature 😕.
Having said that, I know the story of the Iliad and the Odyssey, they seem to seep into most people's cultural consciousness like the stories of Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Juliet or 1984 although many (most?) have never seen the play or read the book. I mean, it's about Helen of Troy and Ulysses and his adventures getting home past all those giants and women etc (yes, I have seen the films). And I did some evaluation work on the OU course on Homer that presented students with a searchable digital copy of the text on a CD-ROM with accompanying historical contextual information back in the '90s.
But after your post I have determined to seek out some of your 5 and attempt to improve my education! They must be out of copyright by now so fairly easily available.
Guilty as charged. My greek literature reading began and ended with Homer. I’ll be looking to pick some of these up soon!
Exactly the response I was hoping for! 🙌
I know two of them, 'Oedipus Rex' and 'The Clouds'. The other three, I shall look for the other three. Excellent advice.
Wow!!! Such a fantastic article, thank you for sharing.
History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides is an epic. Loved it. And most of Sophocles as well. A great list to expand reading of Ancient Greek Literature beyond Homer. I’d add Herodotus’ Histories as well.
Back in middle and high-school (I grew up in Russia) Greek literature was a mandatory part of the program in public schools.
I do wish they would have the same approach to literature in Canadian schools.
Thank you for this post, it inspired me to add Greek classics to the reading list of the year.
These are great recommendations but would also be interested to know if there were specific translations that are also recommended. I know there are some feelings and potential controversy around different translations providing a different interpretation of the original works.
The Landmark editions of the Peloponnesian War and the Anabasis are both outstanding.
Thanks!
The greatest philosophers, still to this day!
I remember reading Oedipus Rex in HS in the mid 70s, and when my teacher asked me what I thought I said, "Those Greeks were really weird people" !
Now that I'm (much) older, and have seen how the dynamics have played out with many friends and their sons, especially divorced Dads, the play seems brilliant. Metaphorically spot on. I've, sadly, seen many divorced dads whose sons have essentially killed them, by writing them out of their lives. And usually being very supportive sons to their mothers. US society or human nature?
Now, it's been 50 yrs since I read it, but, as I recall, the confrontation began when they met at a crossroads and neither would yield. And then it escalated to Laius' death. Similarly, the fracturings of father/son that I have seen have also usually been (at least initially) some petty thing where the two egos refuse to back down. And it escalates from there.
Tragic is the only word for these instances......
Recently read The Oresteia by Aeschylus and The Theban plays by Sophocles with my teens and we really enjoyed both. They were huge Percy Jackson fans so they enjoyed seeing the world those books were based on. They were already familiar with The Odyssey when we read it and enjoyed it also.
Thank you for this latest of your short pieces. I confess to have never read any of the works that you mention, a good education yes, but no great literature 😕.
Having said that, I know the story of the Iliad and the Odyssey, they seem to seep into most people's cultural consciousness like the stories of Oedipus Rex, Romeo and Juliet or 1984 although many (most?) have never seen the play or read the book. I mean, it's about Helen of Troy and Ulysses and his adventures getting home past all those giants and women etc (yes, I have seen the films). And I did some evaluation work on the OU course on Homer that presented students with a searchable digital copy of the text on a CD-ROM with accompanying historical contextual information back in the '90s.
But after your post I have determined to seek out some of your 5 and attempt to improve my education! They must be out of copyright by now so fairly easily available.