-I'm running a series now. Finished Circe awhile ago and have just finished Casati's Clytemnestra. It made me want to read the Illiad again and then The Song of Achilles. I just started Wilson's Illiad and the introduction greatly impressed me with her style. Then the Odyssey is next. Thanks for your great suggestion!
Love this! May I suggest Goddesses in Everywoman and Gods in Everyman, by Jean Shinoda Bolen? Once you start typing people according to their classical archetypes, it all starts to make a lot more sense
Plenty of other museums: the Walter’s in Baltimore, the Penn museum in Philly, the Carlos in Atlanta. I am of the pre internet generation that was assigned Edith Hamilton’s mythology in school, which is good but only a small part of the story. I just finished a wonderful book, sadly out of print, called “Great Classical Myths” edited by FRB Godolphin. It is an anthology of the Greek and Latin writings from which those stories come.
Always more museums!! I didn’t even scratch the surface when it comes to Middle Eastern or South American, they’ve got some truly excellent ones. And I’m glad you enjoyed that anthology! 🏺
I absolutely agree with you about Natalie Haynes Children of Jocasta, but I’d also add Colm Tóibín’s House of Names - a powerful retelling of the horrific story of the murdering and murdered members of the House of Atreides- Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Iphigenia, Orestes and Electra.
Great suggestions! If I may add, imo, if you have to visit only one museum in Athens, then it's the National Archaeological Museum, not the Acropolis one.
An excellent suggestion! Some absolute treasures there (and a lovely cafe). Although I have been disappointed a handful of times when certain sections have been closed to the public.
Always something to renovate, something to move etc. I understand that it can be frustrating. And I'm afraid it's gonna get worse the following years, because of the massive renovation and extention that is planned.
It breaks my heart because I’d always prefer to recommend a public museum over a privately funded one (e.g. the Benaki) but it’s tricky with so much of the collection not being consistently accessible.
Absolutely in love with this post! ❤️ Bodily Fluids in Antiquity sounds RIGHT up my alley 👀 I can’t wait to dig into all of these wonderful recs! (And thank you so much for the mention!)
Wow! Thanks for these recommendations and your writing. I'm starting a part time classical studies degree later this year so am easing myself into these stories and worlds
Art galleries - artists were obsessed with painting classical myth, probably because nudity. I learned most of my classics by reading the labels on pre-Raphaelite paintings.
'Clytemnestra', by Costanza Casati, narrated (brilliantly) by Olivia Vinall.
– I would suggest this tells the story probably more like it was rather than how it has been presented to us.
A Real Book:
'Stone Blind', by Natalie Haynes.
– Again, going counter to received popular wisdom on the subject and characters of Medusa, other gorgons, gods and goddesses (particularly Athena).
Okay, Haynes may perhaps overwhelm herself by getting a bee in her bonnet about some things, but her voice coming through her writing and characterisations are so vivid and engaging, I find her books compelling.
This article came to me a day too late! Yesterday, I did my Junior Certificate classics exam, which I took up as an extra subject and studied myself. I used Stephen Fry’s Mythos and Heros for Greek mythology and SPQR by Mary Beard for ancient Roman life, plus I used Wheelock’s Latin to study Latin as my ancient language. It is so worth it to study and really fun!
So many great recommendations here! I discovered and devoured A Thousand Ships while I was in Ireland earlier this month for the Rory Gallagher festival in Ballyshannon. Now Jocasta is going to be on my shelf.
What are your opinions of the accelerated summer program in ancient Greek at the University of Texas for a soon-to-be-retired failed classes?Your list, your videos, and your Substack all have rekindled that fire.
There are so many great novels about classics these days. Circe, in particular, was great!
Okay the fact that I accidentally left out The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is going to haunt me forever 😳
I enjoyed that one too! I didn’t love it as much as I loved Circe though. I need a paper copy of that one; I just discovered it on KU!
-I'm running a series now. Finished Circe awhile ago and have just finished Casati's Clytemnestra. It made me want to read the Illiad again and then The Song of Achilles. I just started Wilson's Illiad and the introduction greatly impressed me with her style. Then the Odyssey is next. Thanks for your great suggestion!
I loved reading Circe so, so much! The song of Achilles left me crying like a baby, but Circe was so poetic.
Love this! May I suggest Goddesses in Everywoman and Gods in Everyman, by Jean Shinoda Bolen? Once you start typing people according to their classical archetypes, it all starts to make a lot more sense
Oooh I haven’t read these! Does she get all Jungian with it?
Absolutely!
Plenty of other museums: the Walter’s in Baltimore, the Penn museum in Philly, the Carlos in Atlanta. I am of the pre internet generation that was assigned Edith Hamilton’s mythology in school, which is good but only a small part of the story. I just finished a wonderful book, sadly out of print, called “Great Classical Myths” edited by FRB Godolphin. It is an anthology of the Greek and Latin writings from which those stories come.
Always more museums!! I didn’t even scratch the surface when it comes to Middle Eastern or South American, they’ve got some truly excellent ones. And I’m glad you enjoyed that anthology! 🏺
Robert made my comment redundant. The Penn Museum is fantastic. Madeline Miller, author of Circe and Song of Achilles, lives in Philly too.
i love turtles 🐢. thank you for this selection.
same 💚 and you’re so welcome !
Great follow up. I read Lolo's post yesterday. These have both been bookmarked. Makes for the perfect Ernie Banks' , "Let's play two".
Thank you so much! ❣️
I absolutely agree with you about Natalie Haynes Children of Jocasta, but I’d also add Colm Tóibín’s House of Names - a powerful retelling of the horrific story of the murdering and murdered members of the House of Atreides- Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Iphigenia, Orestes and Electra.
Ooooh SO many people love House of Names but honestly I found it so confusing I couldn’t get into it?? Maybe I need to have another crack.
Great suggestions! If I may add, imo, if you have to visit only one museum in Athens, then it's the National Archaeological Museum, not the Acropolis one.
An excellent suggestion! Some absolute treasures there (and a lovely cafe). Although I have been disappointed a handful of times when certain sections have been closed to the public.
Always something to renovate, something to move etc. I understand that it can be frustrating. And I'm afraid it's gonna get worse the following years, because of the massive renovation and extention that is planned.
It breaks my heart because I’d always prefer to recommend a public museum over a privately funded one (e.g. the Benaki) but it’s tricky with so much of the collection not being consistently accessible.
this is lit as hell, I'm putting all the books on my TBR!!
hell yeah !!!!! let me know what you think of each individual one pls and ty xx
Absolutely in love with this post! ❤️ Bodily Fluids in Antiquity sounds RIGHT up my alley 👀 I can’t wait to dig into all of these wonderful recs! (And thank you so much for the mention!)
If you come to London you can borrow my copy… 🥹 thank you for such a gorgeous/informative source of inspiration!! 💛
Wow! Thanks for these recommendations and your writing. I'm starting a part time classical studies degree later this year so am easing myself into these stories and worlds
You’re so welcome! Let me know how you go 🥰
Art galleries - artists were obsessed with painting classical myth, probably because nudity. I learned most of my classics by reading the labels on pre-Raphaelite paintings.
Mary Beard’s “Meet the Romans” tv series will send you straight to the airport to experience in person what she describes so well.
Loved this! Just put An Odyssey by Mendelsohn on my reading list—even just the description has me ready for tears lol.
I bought and read SPQR while traveling in Italy for the first time and it was a **delight**. Mary Beard is a legend.
Please allow me to add:
An Audiobook:
'Clytemnestra', by Costanza Casati, narrated (brilliantly) by Olivia Vinall.
– I would suggest this tells the story probably more like it was rather than how it has been presented to us.
A Real Book:
'Stone Blind', by Natalie Haynes.
– Again, going counter to received popular wisdom on the subject and characters of Medusa, other gorgons, gods and goddesses (particularly Athena).
Okay, Haynes may perhaps overwhelm herself by getting a bee in her bonnet about some things, but her voice coming through her writing and characterisations are so vivid and engaging, I find her books compelling.
This article came to me a day too late! Yesterday, I did my Junior Certificate classics exam, which I took up as an extra subject and studied myself. I used Stephen Fry’s Mythos and Heros for Greek mythology and SPQR by Mary Beard for ancient Roman life, plus I used Wheelock’s Latin to study Latin as my ancient language. It is so worth it to study and really fun!
So many great recommendations here! I discovered and devoured A Thousand Ships while I was in Ireland earlier this month for the Rory Gallagher festival in Ballyshannon. Now Jocasta is going to be on my shelf.
What are your opinions of the accelerated summer program in ancient Greek at the University of Texas for a soon-to-be-retired failed classes?Your list, your videos, and your Substack all have rekindled that fire.