Shows
Classical Wisdom SpeaksAncient Greece's Most Complicated Women?Take a deep dive into three of ancient Greece's most fascinating women - both historical and mythological. What can we discover about Sappho, Medea and Antigone by studying the original texts? Join Diane Rayor, an extremely talented and engaged translator as she takes you 'behind the scenes' of some of the most powerful works from the ancient world. DIANE J. RAYOR is Professor Emerita of Classics at Grand Valley State University, Michigan. She has published six book translations of ancient Greek poetry and drama: Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works (Cambridge University Press, p...2025-01-1049 min
Keeping Her Keys: At The Crossroads of Modern Life and the Deeper WorldGoddesses of The Depths: Persephone Hekate Demeter Chthonia
Descend into the mysteries of these enduring goddesses of the deeper world.
"None of the immortal gods or mortal folk heard her cry, nor the Olives shining with fruit— except the daughter of Perses,tender-hearted Hekate, veiled in light, heard from her cave…"- From The Homeric Hymn to Demeter The Homeric Hymns: A Translation, with Introduction and Notes (Joan Palevsky Imprint in Classical Literature) by Diane J. Rayor
"Chthonia (usually pronounced "ka-thon-ee-ah," but also as "thon-ee-ah") is one of Hekate’s most ancient titles. A deity is considered chthonic i...2023-11-1644 min
Radical PhilosophySappho - Professor Diane RayorSappho - Professor Diane Rayor discusses Sappho's poetic output, who her poetry was written for and Sappho's philosophy on life.2023-08-2600 min
The History of Literature518 The Curse of the Marquis de Sade - A Notorious Scoundrel, a Mythical Manuscript, and the Biggest Scandal in Literary History (with Joel Warner) | My Last Book with Diane RayorNot even imprisonment could stop the Marquis de Sade from writing his insanely intense, unrelenting erotica - and not even Sade's eventual death could stop his secret manuscript, temporarily hidden in a Bastille wall to protect it from looters and revolutionaries, from haunting its owners as though possessed by a demonic force. Now one of the most valuable manuscripts in the world and viewed as a French national treasure, Sade's novel 120 Days of Sodom has been fascinating and repelling readers for more than two hundred years. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Joel Warner about his new book...2023-06-0141 minThe History of Literature516 Sappho (with Diane Rayor)When Diane Rayor was in college, a professor recommended a work by a 2600-year-old poet that changed her life. Now, after years of studying and translating the works of Sappho, the greatest woman poet in Ancient Greece, she joins Jacke for a conversation about her book Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works.Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at www.thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature. Learn more about your ad c...2023-05-2553 min
DemythifyingDeMyth talks Sappho with Diane RayorSend us a textDiane Rayor joins Demythifying to discuss all things Sappho! We are in awe of how interesting this poet and her translator are. Hear excerpts from the audio recordings of all fragments, which are freely available and join the debate of how sexual the words dripping linen may or may not be! Diane throws in some Ancient Greek and tells us how important context is to translations, and how sad it it that we only have a few fragments left at this time. Thanks to Cambridge University press and Diane Rayor. Audio r...2023-04-101h 25
Smarty Pants#271: Filling in the FragmentsThe Greek poet Sappho’s reputation looks something like a parabola: at the height of her powers, her lyrics were so beloved that grammarians quoted them as exemplars of the Greek language; Plato called her the “Tenth Muse.” Then, after a thousand years of exaltation, she tumbled from the pantheon. Today, we know very little of her life and precious few of her works remain, most of them recovered from ancient garbage heaps in the 19th century. The surviving 306 fragments of her verse—dozens of them but a single word or phrase—are compiled in a new and updated translatio...2023-03-1731 min
More HumanEp. 22 - What Are the Classics, and Why Should You Care? -- with Anika PratherThere are a number of controversies surrounding the humanities and the classics, including concerns about their usefulness (why should anyone bother to read old books?) and racial dynamics (doesn't studying the classics simply reinforce and perpetuate a white, Eurocentric perspective?). In this episode of More Human, Dr. Anika Prather of Howard University and Johns Hopkins University joins Dean Jordan for a wide-ranging conversation about the nature and value of studying the classics. Dr. Prather's book Living in the Constellation of the Canon: The Lived Experiences of African-American Students Reading Great Books Literature can be found on Amazon a...2022-10-2541 min
Sweetbitter | Women & LGBTQIA+ HistorySappho: Fragment 4 ]heart ]absolutely ]I can ]]would be for me ]to shine in answer ]face ] ]having been stained ]Translated by Carson.Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter.Our guests this episode were Diane Rayor, Ian Oliver and Tracey Walters. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them on our website.You can find the episode transcript here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo2021-03-2556 min
Sweetbitter | Women & LGBTQIA+ HistorySappho: Fragment 31To me it seems that man has the fortuneof gods, whoever sits beside youand close, who listens to yousweetly speakingand laughing temptingly. My heartflutters in my breast wheneverI quickly glance at you –I can say nothing,my tongue is broken. A delicate fireruns under my skin, my eyessee nothing, my ears roar,cold sweatrushes down me, trembling seizes me,I am greener than grass....2021-03-0446 min
Sweetbitter | Women & LGBTQIA+ HistorySappho: Fragment 23 ] of desire ] ] for when I look at you ] such a Hermione] and to yellow haired Helen I liken you]] among mortal women, know this] from every care] you could release me ] ] dewy riverbanks ] to last all night long ] [Translated by CarsonThank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter.Our guests this episode were Chris Mason from Old Songs, Jane Montgomery Griffiths & Diane Rayor. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them on our we...2021-02-1147 min
Sweetbitter | Women & LGBTQIA+ HistorySappho: Fragment 130Once again Love, that loosener of limbs,bittersweet and inescapable, crawling thing,seizes me.Translation by Rayor.Rayor, Diane. Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works, Cambridge University Press, 2014. Introduction & notes by André Lardinois.Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sweetbitterpod. You can support us on patreon.com/sweetbitter.Our guests this episode were Marguerite Johnson, Alex Purves, Jade Esteban Estrada and Diane Rayor. You can learn more about our guests and where to find them here.2020-11-1232 min
Sweetbitter | Women & LGBTQIA+ HistorySappho: Fragment 94I simply wish to die. Weeping she left me.and told me this, too:We've suffered terribly, Sappho.I leave you against my will.I answered: Go happilyand remember me -- you know how we cared for you.If not, let me remind you*. . . the lovely times we shared.Many crowns of violets, roses, and crocuses together. . . you put on by my sideand many scented wreathswoven fro...2020-10-2939 min
Sweetbitter | Women & LGBTQIA+ HistorySappho: Fragment 16Some men say and army of horses and some men say an army on footand some men say an army of ships is the most beautiful thingon the black earth. But I say it is what you love.Easy to make this understood by all.For she who overcame everyonein beauty (Helen) left her fine husbandbehind and went sailing to Troy.Not for her children nor her dear parentshad she a thought, no- ]le...2020-10-1532 min
Sweetbitter | Women & LGBTQIA+ HistorySappho: Ode to AphroditeOn the throne of many hues, Immortal Aphrodite,child of Zeus, weaving wiles: I beg you,do not break my spirit, O Queen,with pain or sorrowbut come--if ever before from far awayyou heard my voice and listened,and leaving your father'sgolden home you came,your chariot yoked with lovely sparrowsdrawing you quickly over the dark earthin a whirling cloud of wings downthe sky through midair,suddenly here. Blessed...2020-10-1519 min