Elizabeth Vandiver

An introduction to the work of Herodotus, the first Greek historian. Considers Herodotus' work in its cultural context, both as history and as literature.

Presents Virgil's epic poem about Aeneas and his journey west from ruined Troy to the founding of a new nation in Italy. The Aeneid is an examination of leadership, a study of the conflict between duty and desire, a meditation on the relationship of the individual to society and of art to life, and a Roman's reflection on the dangers, and the allure, of Hellenistic culture. It represents both Virgil's tribute to Homer, and his attempt to re-imagine...

Professor Vandiver makes it clear why, after almost 3,000 years, the Homeric epics remain not only among the greatest adventure stories ever told, but also two of the most compelling meditations on the human condition ever written. Questions include, why does Achilles rage? What are the limits of our freedom? Who or what shapes our actions and our ends? Why do we love our own so strongly? Where is the line between justice and revenge, and what does...