Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius, or "Jerome," is likely the most significant Biblical translator in history. He was born in northeast Italy in 345, and by the time he was 29, Jerome had become a devout and ascetic Christian. He claims to have had a dream chastising him for being a follower of Cicero, not of Christ. … Continue reading The Story of Jerome’s Vulgate
poetry
What is Love in the Symposium?
Plato’s famous dialogue, the Symposium, takes place the day after the tragic poet, Agathon, wins his first and only award at the Lenaia in 416 BC, the year before Alcibiades’s failed quest to Sicily. The dramatic setting occurs with a group of Athenians gathered at Agathon’s house in Athens in celebration of his victory. It is a … Continue reading What is Love in the Symposium?
Aristotle, Oedipus, and Greek Tragedy
There has been a longstanding debate, dating back to Aristotle, regarding the purpose, or telos, of a tragedy, and whether or not the "tragic" element is the result of is the result of a unique or particular character flaw stemming from the central protagonist. In other words, is Oedipus, indeed, a flawed human being who has brought about … Continue reading Aristotle, Oedipus, and Greek Tragedy
Oedipus and Greek Tragedy
Often in ancient Greek tragedy we find protagonists committing the sin of hubris, extreme pride or arrogance. Recall in Aeschylus's Agamemnon that Agamemnon returns home with a stolen concubine from Ilium, and also he fails to foresee the extent to which Clytemnestra holds a grudge against his decision to sacrifice Iphigenia. In another case, consider the … Continue reading Oedipus and Greek Tragedy
Thoughts on Aeschylus
Agamemnon, the first play of the Oresteia trilogy begins much like other great plays, such as Hamlet, on the walls of the city with a a lone watchman who bemoans the state of affairs, waiting for a light showing that Agamemnon, his king, is returning home from the Trojan War. Upon spotting the foreboding beacon, he … Continue reading Thoughts on Aeschylus
The Oresteia: An Affirmation of the Noble Lie
In Aeschylus's The Libation Bearers, we are first introduced to Orestes, the son of the late and betrayed Agamemnon. He appears, hidden, before the grave of his father as his sister Electra is making libations in her father's honor. This second part of the trilogy takes place an unknown number of years after the murder … Continue reading The Oresteia: An Affirmation of the Noble Lie
