Shows
The Good Life: Andrew Leigh in Conversation150. Rhiannon Evans on lessons from Ancient Rome150. Rhiannon Evans on lessons from Ancient Rome.
To mark The Good Life's 150th episode, we're conducting a listener survey.
The survey is HERE . It will take you about three minutes, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape future episodes.
N.B. Rhiannon's podcast is "Emperors of Rome", available here.
Rhiannon's publications include "Utopia Antiqua" and "Caesar's triumphs over Gaul and Rome" (with Sarah Midford). The latter is available for free do...2021-07-221h 02
Property, Australia's Favourite ObsessionRhiannon Evans - The Empress of RomeToday we are traveling back to Ancient Rome to see ALL of our drivers in action!And who better to help guide us around the Ancient Empire of Rome than Associate Professor Dr Rhiannon Evans from LaTrobe University.Rhiannon co-hosts a podcast called the Emperors of Rome and when I first heard it I thought "WOW there are our 5 Drivers again!"As listeners If you can recognise the drivers in an ancient society then hopefully I can help you recognise them in todays.Those of you who have followed my work...2021-02-181h 36
Raising Standards1.06: Egeria (with Alan Poul)Mark Antony considers throwing in with Pompey before he packs his bags, follows Caesar and leaves Rome. Vorenus rekindles his romance with Niobe before he packs up his bag, raises his standard and leaves Rome. Octavian becomes a real man before he puts on his toga, packs up his bag and leaves Rome.
We are also joined by special guest Alan Poul, director of the episode.
Raising Standards, an occasional rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome, hosted by Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith of the Emperors of Rome podcast.2020-11-031h 04Raising Standards1.05: The Ram Has Touched the Wall (with Parvez Qadir)Lucius Vorenus has a setback in his new career when all his slaves die of the flux. After a brief crisis of identity he re-enlists in the 13th legion. Octavian helps Titus Pullo investigate his suspicions. Attia engages in some light public vandalism. Servilia engages in some light public cursing. Caesar chases Pompey out of Italy.
We are also joined by special guest Parvez Qadir, who plays the role of Tanjit.
Raising Standards, an occasional rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome, hosted by Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith of the Emperors of Rome podcast.2020-09-1546 minRaising Standards1.04: Stealing From Saturn (with Julian Farino)Caesar receives a dictator's welcome as he enters Roman society and seeks approval of the auspices. Vorenus has a party and an offering as he enters civilian life. Pullo throws his newfound wealth around.
We are also joined by special guest Julian Farino, director of this episode of Rome.
Raising Standards, an occasional rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome, hosted by Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith of the Emperors of Rome podcast.2020-08-1255 minRaising StandardsLee Boardman interviewLee Boardman played the Timon across two seasons of Rome, a character who grew in more prominence and bought some much needed diversity to the ethnic melting pot of the Roman Empire.
Raising Standards, an occasional rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome, hosted by Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith of the Emperors of Rome podcast.2020-07-2131 minRaising Standards1.03: An Owl in a ThornbushVorenus and Pullo deliver Caesar's demands to the senate, Attia makes the most of Caesar's impending arrival, and Pompey makes a strategic departure from Rome!
Raising Standards, an occasional rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome, hosted by Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith of the Emperors of Rome podcast.2020-07-0356 minRaising Standards1.02: How Titus Pullo Brought Down the RepublicCaesar crosses the Rubicon, Mark Antony becomes the Tribune of the Plebs, and Pullo, somehow, gets the blame for bringing down the Roman republic!
Raising Standards, an occasional rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome, hosted by Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith of the Emperors of Rome podcast.2020-05-231h 02Raising Standards1.01: The Stolen EagleWill Vorenus and Pullo recover Caesar's stolen standard? Will anyone explain why Octavian needs to go to Gaul? Find out in the inaugural episode of Raising Standards, a true rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome for true Romans!
Raising Standards, an occasional rewatch podcast of HBO's Rome, hosted by Rhiannon Evans and Matt Smith of the Emperors of Rome podcast.2020-05-081h 06
Podcast Archives - The Partial Historians - Ancient Roman History with smart ladies*Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon Evans
Dr Radness travelled to Melbourne recently and met with the fantastic and erudite Dr Rhiannon Evans from La Trobe. Dr Evans is one of the famous voices on the Emperors of Rome podcast. In this special episode, Dr Rad and Dr Evans explore barbarians!
*Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon Evans
Tune in to learn more about how the Romans thought about the peoples they came into contact with.
What makes a
Barbarian?
Connotations have a very important place when thinking about barbarians. Our modern usage also influences how we think of the ca...2019-08-2957 min
The Partial Historians*Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon EvansDr Radness travelled to Melbourne recently and met with the fantastic and erudite Dr Rhiannon Evans from La Trobe. Dr Evans is one of the famous voices on the Emperors of Rome podcast. In this special episode, Dr Rad and Dr Evans explore barbarians! *Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon EvansTune in to learn more about how the Romans thought about the peoples they came into contact with.What makes aBarbarian?Connotations have a very important place when thinking about barbarians. Our modern usage also influences how we think of th...2019-08-2957 min
The Partial Historians*Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon EvansThe Romans define themselves against this barbarians. In this special episode, Dr Rad is joined by Dr Rhiannon Evans to talk all things barbarian!
Read the post*Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon Evans
The post *Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon Evans appeared first on The Partial Historians.2019-08-2900 minSpecial Episodes Archives - The Partial Historians - Ancient Roman History with smart ladies*Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon Evans
Dr Radness travelled to Melbourne recently and met with the fantastic and erudite Dr Rhiannon Evans from La Trobe. Dr Evans is one of the famous voices on the Emperors of Rome podcast. In this special episode, Dr Rad and Dr Evans explore barbarians!
*Special Episode* – Barbarians with Dr Rhiannon Evans
Tune in to learn more about how the Romans thought about the peoples they came into contact with.
What makes a
Barbarian?
Connotations have a very important place when thinking about barbarians. Our modern usage also influences how we think of the ca...2019-08-2957 min
Ancient Greece Declassified22 Rome's Lost Epics w/ Rhiannon Evans (Ennius, Gnaeus Naevius)The oldest Roman epics we have were produced during the Roman Empire. But before becoming an empire, Rome was a powerful republic for hundreds of years. What happened to the Roman epics from the republican period? In this episode, we examine the evidence from this fascinating yet elusive early period, when Rome was a powerful Republic, but there were still other powerful states around, all competing for cultural prestige. Our guest on the show is someone who has spent years studying the early fragments as well as the later complete epics of the empire. Rhiannon...2019-04-1354 min
Emperors of RomeEpisode LXXV - Flying Too Close to the SunCommodus wasn't the most attentive emperor to rule Rome, preferring to dedicate his time to indulging his vices. Inevitably, someone will step forward to call the shots, as someone has to keep the grain flowing.
Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans (Senior Lecturer, Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University).
Support the crowdfunding campaign for When in Rome series 3 on Kickstarter.2017-07-1123 minEmperors of RomeEpisode LXXIV - Iron and RustWith the passing of Marcus Aurelius, his son Commodus is made emperor. The 19 year old youth had been raised knowing the empire would be his to rule, and he spent it doing what he pleased. The next twelve years under the reign of Commodus would be bloody and chaotic, and many historians believe it to mark the beginning of the end of the Roman empire.
Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans (Senior Lecturer, Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University).
Support the crowdfunding campaign for When in Rome series 3 on Kickstarter.2017-06-2624 minEmperors of RomeEpisode LXXIII - From a Kingdom of GoldMarcus Aurelius faced many threats to Rome during his time as Emperor and spent more time at war than he did at peace. Unlike most Emperors, succession was never an issue, as he had a legitimate son, Commodus, ready to take his place.
Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans (Senior Lecturer, Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University).2017-06-1324 minEmperors of RomeEpisode LXXII - On Behalf of the State"For it is on behalf of the State that I continue to toil and to undergo dangers and that I have spent so much time here outside of Italy, though already an old man and weak, unable to take either food without pain or sleep without anxiety." - Dio 72:24
An ageing Marcus Aurelius continues to toil and undergo dangers – be they warring tribes to the north, the insurrection of Avidius Cassius, an alleged betrayal by his beloved wife, or the disappointing prospects of his son and heir.
Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans (Senior Lecturer, Mediterranean Studies, La...2017-05-3034 minEmperors of RomeEpisode LXX - The Marcomannic WarsWith the Parthians once again defeated and the Antonine plague sweeping through the empire, Marcus Aurelius must defend Rome from yet another opportunistic enemy – the tribes to the north, or as Rome called them, the barbarians. The northern borders were under threat from a rough coalition chiefly lead by the Marcomanni, and Marcus heads out to take control of the Roman forces himself. It is a conflict that will dominate his time for the rest of his life.
Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans (Senior Lecturer, Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University).2017-05-0228 minEmperors of RomeEpisode LXVIII - Never Underestimate the ParthiansThe reign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus quickly erupts into war, a state which will continue for the rest of their lives. The first threat the empire encounters comes from the east, where the long-time enemy of the Romans, the Parthians, make their move.
Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans (Senior Lecturer, Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University).2017-04-0425 minEmperors of RomeEpisode LXVII - Heir and a SpareIntroducing Marcus Aurelius: scholar, warrior, philosopher,leader, lover. And his younger brother, Lucius Verus.
Guest: Dr Rhiannon Evans (Senior Lecturer, Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University).2017-03-2125 minEmperors of RomeInterlude - Q and A IIIn which listeners provide well-composed and thoughtful questions on topics of Rome, Matt Smith butchers all the names he reads out, and Rhiannon Evans provides the answers!2016-03-2221 min
Animation Podcasts | SkwiglySkwigly Podcast 38 (16/11/2015) - Sheldon Cohen & Rhiannon EvansThe 38th episode of the Skwigly Animation Podcast, brought to you by skwigly.com
Special guests:
•Sheldon Cohen, director of the BAFTA-winning National Film Board of Canada film 'The Sweater' discussing his most recent NFB film 'My Heart Attack'
•Rhiannon Evans, director of 'Heartstrings' and the NFTS graduation film 'Fulfilament'
Presented by Ben Mitchell, Laura-Beth Cowley and Steve Henderson
Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell
Music by Ben Mitchell2015-11-161h 03Emperors of RomeBiography 1- Spartacus the GladiatorWho exactly is Spartacus? Many of the sources are fragmentary, and provide little insight into the motives of the slave gladiator turned rebellious legend. Dr Rhiannon Evans (Ancient Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) explores the early years of Spartacus.
Subscribe to Biography now in iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/biography/id1042186814?2015-10-0621 minEmperors of RomeEpisode XV - The Assassination of CaligulaCaligula's erratic rule has led to a fast erosion in popularity and support, and rumours of assassination come to head just four short years after he becomes emperor.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at downfall of this hated ruler of Rome.2015-01-1913 minEmperors of RomeEpisode XIV - The Madness of CaligulaCaligula is best known for his erratic and tyrannical behaviour, but were his reactions a result of deviance or madness?
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at the literary sources on Caligula and the wrongs that they accuse him of.2015-01-1112 minEmperors of RomeEpisode XIII - The Rule of CaligulaWhen Caligula became emperor there was a lot of expectations after the disappointing neglect of Tiberius. But for an emperor with such a short time in power he had a lasting impact on the Roman Empire.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith discuss the promising beginning of the reign of Caligula.2015-01-0515 minEmperors of RomeEpisode XII - Tiberius the Gloomiest of MenTiberius has withdrawn to a life of seclusion on the island of Capri, and while he’s there he loses control of both Rome and his reputation.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at the downfall of Tiberius, his trashed reputation, and the scheme of Sejanus.2014-12-2217 minEmperors of RomeEpisode XI - Tiberius the Reluctant EmperorTiberius became emperor of Rome at the relatively advanced age of 55. He was well-known as a military commander and was popular with the soldiers, but history portrays him as a reluctant leader.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith discuss the reality of Tiberius.2014-12-1517 minEmperors of RomeEpisode X - The Augustan SuccessionAfter a lengthy reign of 41 years the Emperor Augustus needs to designate his successor, and after a number of candidates die young he is left with limited options.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at Augustus' succession problem and how he secures his legacy.2014-12-0811 minEmperors of RomeInterlude - Pax RomanaPax Romana - the 'Roman peace' was a long period of relative peace experienced by the Roman Empire, and is said to have been established during the rule of Augustus.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at the contemporary views of peace and how Augustus used it to his advantage.2014-12-0206 minEmperors of RomeEpisode IX - Augustan RomeDuring Augustus’ time as emperor he had a lasting impact on Rome, during which culture thrived and there was extensive building projects.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at Augustan Rome’s good and bad - from culture to censorship.2014-11-2416 minEmperors of RomeEpisode VIII - The Augustan RevolutionAugustus was the founder of the Roman Empire and its first emperor, and after the tumultuous rule of Caesar he enjoyed a long reign.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at how he came to power and whether he was a man of war or peace.2014-11-1416 minEmperors of RomeInterlude - What is an Emperor?What does the word 'emperor' mean and who can it be applied to in Rome's history?
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at what the emperors called themselves in antiquity, and why the title doesn't apply to Julius Caesar.2014-10-1507 min
Life Of CaesarJulius Caesar – CONSUL #7 – Dr Rhiannon EvansOur guest on this VIP episode is Dr Rhiannon Evans from Latrobe University in Melbourne! She joined us to talk about the meaning of latin terms like natio (tribe) and babarus (barbarians), which, she says, don’t have the same implication today as they had back in ancient Rome, and to deliberate on the reliability of Caesar’s Commentaries. […]
The post Julius Caesar – CONSUL #7 – Dr Rhiannon Evans appeared first on Life Of The Caesars.2014-10-0359 minEmperors of RomeEpisode VII - The Legacy of CaesarFor someone who had power for a short amount of time, Caesar’s impact is undeniable.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at the impact of Julius Caesar – the veneration, the public works in his name, and the attempts of emperors to style themselves in his image.2014-06-2314 minEmperors of RomeEpisode VI - The Death of CaesarBetween winning the civil war and holding power, Caesar's won the support of the people of Rome, but gains more than one enemy in the Roman Senate.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Ancient Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University) and host Matt Smith look at Caesar's great downfall.2014-06-1013 min
Epics of RomeAfterlife II: The NovelThe Aeneid and Metamorphoses have continued to be rediscovered and reinterpreted throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The two world wars which defined the first half of the 20th century forced a reconsideration of all war poetry, particularly the Aeneid, which began to be recognised as a work of art which dealt with loss and lament just as much as glory and patriotism - a work which potentially questioned militarism and imperialism. Meanwhile Ovid's explorations of love, desire and identity chimed with the development of psychoanalysis, while his apparently chaotic epic became a major focus of interest later in...2014-05-2700 minEpics of RomeAfterlife II: The Novel (handout)The Aeneid and Metamorphoses have continued to be rediscovered and reinterpreted throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The two world wars which defined the first half of the 20th century forced a reconsideration of all war poetry, particularly the Aeneid, which began to be recognised as a work of art which dealt with loss and lament just as much as glory and patriotism - a work which potentially questioned militarism and imperialism. Meanwhile Ovid's explorations of love, desire and identity chimed with the development of psychoanalysis, while his apparently chaotic epic became a major focus of interest later in...2014-05-2719 minEmperors of RomeEpisode V - Caesar and Civil WarJulius Caesar turns his eyes on a greater prize - the Roman Empire itself.
Dr Rhiannon Evans (Lecture in Mediterranean Studies, La Trobe University and host Matt Smith discuss Caesar’s civil war, and the resistance within the Senate.2014-05-2613 minEpics of RomeAfterlife I: Late Latin and RenaissanceVirgil and Ovid were both incredibly influential upon later poetry and culture, and in this lecture we look at some of the texts which look back to their epics in the late antique period through to the Renaissance, in particular Claudian's Rape of Proserpina and Shakespeare's poetry and drama, as well as other creative arts. By looking at the reception of Roman epic we gain some perspective on these ancient works and can appreciate how they were read and interpreted by their European cultural inheritors.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2014-05-2100 minEpics of RomeAfterlife I: Late Latin and Renaissance (handout)Virgil and Ovid were both incredibly influential upon later poetry and culture, and in this lecture we look at some of the texts which look back to their epics in the late antique period through to the Renaissance, in particular Claudian's Rape of Proserpina and Shakespeare's poetry and drama, as well as other creative arts. By looking at the reception of Roman epic we gain some perspective on these ancient works and can appreciate how they were read and interpreted by their European cultural inheritors.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2014-05-2119 minEpics of Rome'I shall live': ImmortalityOvid ends his work with a series of deifications: Julius Caesar becomes a god; Augustus will become a god. This most allusive and transformative of texts apparently ends with a pat celebration of the Julian family. However, this is not the end at all, for Ovid actually completes his work with his own immortality: he will live through his work and thus go beyond death and also beyond the holders of political power. It is a confident statement of the transcendence of poetry. Yet nothing is stable in Ovid's world, and the final book also contains a lengthy speech...2014-05-1400 minEpics of Rome'I shall live': Immortality (handout)Ovid ends his work with a series of deifications: Julius Caesar becomes a god; Augustus will become a god. This most allusive and transformative of texts apparently ends with a pat celebration of the Julian family. However, this is not the end at all, for Ovid actually completes his work with his own immortality: he will live through his work and thus go beyond death and also beyond the holders of political power. It is a confident statement of the transcendence of poetry. Yet nothing is stable in Ovid's world, and the final book also contains a lengthy speech...2014-05-1419 minEpics of RomeAeneid again? Troy and RomeIn books 11-14 of the Metamorphoses Ovid takes on the stories of Troy's fall and Rome's origin - have we finally reached the point of 'real epic'? In fact, Ovid's approach is very different from Virgil's in the Aeneid, and tends to focus on characters tangential to the canonical Virgilian and Homeric versions. There are also long diversions as characters from the Trojan War narrate non-military tales, with the result that Troy's destruction and Rome's foundation are told in a non-linear fashion. This lecture will explore Ovid's narrative strategy in these later books, and investigate the political and poetic...2014-05-0700 minEpics of RomeAeneid again? Troy and Rome (handout)In books 11-14 of the Metamorphoses Ovid takes on the stories of Troy's fall and Rome's origin - have we finally reached the point of 'real epic'? In fact, Ovid's approach is very different from Virgil's in the Aeneid, and tends to focus on characters tangential to the canonical Virgilian and Homeric versions. There are also long diversions as characters from the Trojan War narrate non-military tales, with the result that Troy's destruction and Rome's foundation are told in a non-linear fashion. This lecture will explore Ovid's narrative strategy in these later books, and investigate the political and poetic...2014-05-0719 minEpics of RomeArt and Song: Orpheus and PygmalionThis lecture focusses on the two most prominent lovers in Metamorphoses 9-11, Orpheus and Pygmalion. Both also happen to be artists. We first examine Orpheus, paying particular attention to the ways in which Ovid reworks the Virgilian account in Georgics 4, and then Pygmalion, concentrating on the nature of his passion and the connections between the sculptor and the internal narrator who tells his story. We conclude with reflections on the implications of these stories for our understanding of Ovid’s representation of artists in Metamorphoses.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2014-05-0200 minEpics of RomeChanging Nature: Genre in the MetamorphosesIt is often said that Ovid's is a 'Callimachean epic', in other words an episodic and aetiological poem which eschews big scale narratives. As we are now tow thirds of the way through this poem, it is worth considering the degree to which the Metamorphoses 'plays by the rules' of epic poetry. In this lecture we consider the techniques and conventions which place this poem in the epic genre - particularly the scenes of battle or conflict; as well as the literary techniques which mark this poem as a hybrid or parodic epic.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La...2014-04-1500 minEpics of RomeChanging Nature: Genre in the Metamorphoses (handout)It is often said that Ovid's is a 'Callimachean epic', in other words an episodic and aetiological poem which eschews big scale narratives. As we are now tow thirds of the way through this poem, it is worth considering the degree to which the Metamorphoses 'plays by the rules' of epic poetry. In this lecture we consider the techniques and conventions which place this poem in the epic genre - particularly the scenes of battle or conflict; as well as the literary techniques which mark this poem as a hybrid or parodic epic.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La...2014-04-1519 minEpics of RomeGods and Mortals: VengeanceEpic poetry often features a hostile and punitive god, who forms a barrier to the hero’s journey, but the Metamorphoses takes the theme of vengeful gods to the extreme, as the divinities are paraded as cruel and petty. In addition, when the poem ventures into the world of mortals, tales of grotesque and bloody revenge are frequent. Ovid’s inspiration here is often tragic drama, but this lecture will also look at the connections with contemporary political events, such as Augustus’ unusual move to bring ‘Mars the Avenger’ into the city of Rome itself.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La...2014-04-1000 minEpics of RomeGods and Mortals: Vengeance (handout)Epic poetry often features a hostile and punitive god, who forms a barrier to the hero’s journey, but the Metamorphoses takes the theme of vengeful gods to the extreme, as the divinities are paraded as cruel and petty. In addition, when the poem ventures into the world of mortals, tales of grotesque and bloody revenge are frequent. Ovid’s inspiration here is often tragic drama, but this lecture will also look at the connections with contemporary political events, such as Augustus’ unusual move to bring ‘Mars the Avenger’ into the city of Rome itself.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La...2014-04-1019 minEpics of RomeOvid Metamorphoses: Gods and NymphsOn the surface Ovid’s Metamorphoses appears to question traditional gender norms, in particular those held about elite Roman men. Even women are given the opportunity to tell their own stories in the poem. Yet, the Metamorphoses is full of stories about violent rapes that effectively silence the voice of the victim. Moreover, women are often presented in two stereotyped roles: as lovers or mothers. This then raises the question of whether or not gender stereotypes about women are really contested in Ovid’s work, and it would seem that, as is often the case with Roman literature, which was...2014-04-0200 minEpics of RomeOvid Metamorphoses: Gods and Nymphs (handout)On the surface Ovid’s Metamorphoses appears to question traditional gender norms, in particular those held about elite Roman men. Even women are given the opportunity to tell their own stories in the poem. Yet, the Metamorphoses is full of stories about violent rapes that effectively silence the voice of the victim. Moreover, women are often presented in two stereotyped roles: as lovers or mothers. This then raises the question of whether or not gender stereotypes about women are really contested in Ovid’s work, and it would seem that, as is often the case with Roman literature, which was...2014-04-0219 minEpics of RomeIntroducing Ovid’s MetamorphosesWhen Virgil died in 19 BCE, the Aeneid became an instant classic, and even before his death references had been made to it in the works of other authors. In some ways it may have seemed impossible to write epic now – how could you follow up Virgil? The up and coming poet, Publius Ovidius Naso was working on quite a different form of poetry, and composed his love poems, the Amores around the time of Virgil’s death. Even in a different genre, Ovid cannot help but be aware of the Aeneid’s presence; but when he did come to write...2014-03-2500 minEpics of RomeIntroducing Ovid’s Metamorphoses (handout)When Virgil died in 19 BCE, the Aeneid became an instant classic, and even before his death references had been made to it in the works of other authors. In some ways it may have seemed impossible to write epic now – how could you follow up Virgil? The up and coming poet, Publius Ovidius Naso was working on quite a different form of poetry, and composed his love poems, the Amores around the time of Virgil’s death. Even in a different genre, Ovid cannot help but be aware of the Aeneid’s presence; but when he did come to write...2014-03-2519 minEpics of RomeVirgil’s Iliad? Epic IntertextualityVirgil was undoubtedly very well-read: he had a deep knowledge of the epics of Homer and Ennius, as well as a myriad of other Greek and Roman poets. In this lecture, we shall look at the way that Virgil refers back to the literary tradition and what the effect of this is. In particular, we shall investigate Virgil’s intertextual use of earlier epic poets, as well as the way in which he infuses other genres, such as tragedy and erotic poetry into the Aeneid.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2014-03-1900 minEpics of RomeVirgil’s Iliad? Epic Intertextuality (handout)Virgil was undoubtedly very well-read: he had a deep knowledge of the epics of Homer and Ennius, as well as a myriad of other Greek and Roman poets. In this lecture, we shall look at the way that Virgil refers back to the literary tradition and what the effect of this is. In particular, we shall investigate Virgil’s intertextual use of earlier epic poets, as well as the way in which he infuses other genres, such as tragedy and erotic poetry into the Aeneid.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2014-03-1919 minEpics of RomeEpic and Augustus: Poetry and PoliticsVirgil’s Aeneid is the first complete Latin epic which remains to us, and it is arguably the most important literary work we have from ancient Rome. Virgil lived at a time of enormous political and social upheaval: this lecture will address the ways in which Virgil’s poetry refers to contemporary events. We shall consider the much-discussed position of Virgil as pro- or anti-Augustan, and think about whether this terminology is relevant.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2014-03-1200 minEpics of RomeEpic and Augustus: Poetry and Politics (handout)Virgil’s Aeneid is the first complete Latin epic which remains to us, and it is arguably the most important literary work we have from ancient Rome. Virgil lived at a time of enormous political and social upheaval: this lecture will address the ways in which Virgil’s poetry refers to contemporary events. We shall consider the much-discussed position of Virgil as pro- or anti-Augustan, and think about whether this terminology is relevant.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2014-03-1219 minEpics of RomeEarly Roman Epic, Part IIWhere did Roman epic poetry come from? In the third century BCE Latin literature emerged in the form of drama and epic. Ancient Greek literature was influential, and Rome’s first epic was a kind of Greek-Roman hybrid, appropriately by an author with a Latin and a Greek name; it was a Greek tale, but written in a native Italian form. This lecture will explore how Roman writers founded a distinctive style by infusing Greek epic with Roman material. We’ll also see how problematic early epic is, for it unfortunately survives only in fragments.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evan...2014-03-0500 minEpics of RomeEarly Roman Epic, Part IWhere did Roman epic poetry come from? In the third century BCE Latin literature emerged in the form of drama and epic. Ancient Greek literature was influential, and Rome’s first epic was a kind of Greek-Roman hybrid, appropriately by an author with a Latin and a Greek name; it was a Greek tale, but written in a native Italian form. This lecture will explore how Roman writers founded a distinctive style by infusing Greek epic with Roman material. We’ll also see how problematic early epic is, for it unfortunately survives only in fragments.
Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evan...2014-03-0500 min
Classical MythologyMyth in FilmClassical myth and film have a long history of being intertwined, as myth was made into film from the days of silent movies, and ancient texts themselves often use what we might see as ‘cinematic’ techniques when framing a scene. This lecture explores how Greek and Roman myths have appeared on screen from the ‘historical’ epics of the 1950s and 1960s, through dubbed Italian musclebound heroes to the new CGI epics such as Clash of the Titans. It also considers how mythic tropes are recontextualised in modern scenarios, in films like Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? which models itself on the O...2013-06-0540 minClassical MythologyMyth in Film (handout)Classical myth and film have a long history of being intertwined, as myth was made into film from the days of silent movies, and ancient texts themselves often use what we might see as ‘cinematic’ techniques when framing a scene. This lecture explores how Greek and Roman myths have appeared on screen from the ‘historical’ epics of the 1950s and 1960s, through dubbed Italian musclebound heroes to the new CGI epics such as Clash of the Titans. It also considers how mythic tropes are recontextualised in modern scenarios, in films like Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou? which models itself on the O...2013-06-0500 minClassical MythologyGreek Myth at Rome: PowerOvid’s Metamorphoses was written during the Augustan period, and it is clear that its author was often out of tune with the political regime. This lecture explores the different ways in which the poem transforms Greek mythology to explore issues such as power, justice and censorship. Ovid’s gods often exert power arbitrarily, punishing those who are already victims or taking revenge for perceived slights. Here we explore the ways in which Greek myth can function as a contemporary critique of Roman society.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-06-0539 minClassical MythologyGreek Myth at Rome: Power (handout)Ovid’s Metamorphoses was written during the Augustan period, and it is clear that its author was often out of tune with the political regime. This lecture explores the different ways in which the poem transforms Greek mythology to explore issues such as power, justice and censorship. Ovid’s gods often exert power arbitrarily, punishing those who are already victims or taking revenge for perceived slights. Here we explore the ways in which Greek myth can function as a contemporary critique of Roman society.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-06-0500 minClassical MythologyGreek Myth at Rome: MetamorphosisOvid’s Metamorphoses is one of the most significant ancient texts for the study of Greek mythology, but we should remember that this is a Roman work, which absorbs influences from the whole of the Mediterranean world. This lecture looks at the poem’s cosmogony in book and compares it to the Hesiodic version (explored earlier in lecture 2), showing how various philosophical and scientific ideas have been added to the Ovidian mix. We also see how Ovid sets up the parallel between the Olympian gods, particularly, Jupiter, and the emperor Augustus, a fact which makes this poem both topical and...2013-05-3150 minClassical MythologyRoman Identity II: HeroinesAlthough Ancient Rome was clearly a patriarchal society (literally so, as the father had supreme power in the Roman household), Roman myth also features many prominent women, from the Sabine wives who intervene to end a war, to individualised women (both heroines and demonised women) who show us which qualities Romans valued in women. These myths are often connected to female sexuality, particularly in the case of Lucretia, whose rape brings about a political revolution, inspiring the end of the Monarchy and the foundation of the Republic.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact...2013-05-2345 minClassical MythologyRoman Identity II: Heroines (handout)Although Ancient Rome was clearly a patriarchal society (literally so, as the father had supreme power in the Roman household), Roman myth also features many prominent women, from the Sabine wives who intervene to end a war, to individualised women (both heroines and demonised women) who show us which qualities Romans valued in women. These myths are often connected to female sexuality, particularly in the case of Lucretia, whose rape brings about a political revolution, inspiring the end of the Monarchy and the foundation of the Republic.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact...2013-05-2300 minClassical MythologyRoman Identity I: HeroesRome’s mythic history is littered with heroes who exemplify positive and negative ways of behaving. Livy in particular is fond of using mythic figures as exempla in his historical work, but we see it elsewhere too, for example in poetry and in public monuments. This lecture explores the qualities which are celebrated in Roman heroes, and examine the way that the state is prioritised over personal relationships and the family in many of them.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-05-2346 minClassical MythologyRoman Identity I: Heroes (handout)Rome’s mythic history is littered with heroes who exemplify positive and negative ways of behaving. Livy in particular is fond of using mythic figures as exempla in his historical work, but we see it elsewhere too, for example in poetry and in public monuments. This lecture explores the qualities which are celebrated in Roman heroes, and examine the way that the state is prioritised over personal relationships and the family in many of them.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-05-2300 minClassical MythologyRome II: Asylum: Romulus and RemusRomulus was revered as the founding hero of Rome, later made a god, but his myth is not without ambiguity. A significant element of the city foundation story is the murder of his brother Remus, and the most common version of this myth is that Romulus himself was responsible. This lecture explores the difficulties which fratricide presented to the Romans, how they tried to explain it, and how it has been analysed by scholars of Roman myth as a story which was makes sense of Rome’s social and political history.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, al...2013-05-1645 minClassical MythologyRome II: Asylum: Romulus and Remus (handout)Romulus was revered as the founding hero of Rome, later made a god, but his myth is not without ambiguity. A significant element of the city foundation story is the murder of his brother Remus, and the most common version of this myth is that Romulus himself was responsible. This lecture explores the difficulties which fratricide presented to the Romans, how they tried to explain it, and how it has been analysed by scholars of Roman myth as a story which was makes sense of Rome’s social and political history.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, al...2013-05-1600 minClassical MythologyRome I: FoundationRome was famously founded by Romulus in 753 BCE, but that’s not the end of the story, for the Romans also traced their ancestry back to Aeneas, a survivor of the Trojan War. In this lecture and the next, we explore what these two lineages offer Rome and how Rome’s first emperor, Augustus, claimed descent from the gods themselves. Here we consider the significance of history in Rome’s mythic beginnings, and how Rome’s early history and kings reflect important facets of Roman identity.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissi2013-05-1649 minClassical MythologyRome I: Foundation (handout)Rome was famously founded by Romulus in 753 BCE, but that’s not the end of the story, for the Romans also traced their ancestry back to Aeneas, a survivor of the Trojan War. In this lecture and the next, we explore what these two lineages offer Rome and howRome’s first emperor, Augustus, claimed descent from the gods themselves. Here we consider the significance of history in Rome’s mythic beginnings, and how Rome’s early history and kings reflect important facets of Roman identity.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-05-1600 minClassical MythologyThebes II: DestructionIncest, fratricide and patricideare central to the Theban myths explored in Athenian tragedy, particularly Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. Written during a plague at Athens, the play opens with plague at Thebes, which as Oedipus discovers, has been caused by his own unwitting murder of his father, Laius; he then marries and fathers children with his mother, Jocasta. This lecture explores the importance of the Oedipus myth at Athens; how it fits into the self-destructive and deviant myths which Athenian tragedy sets at Thebes, and how it still resonates for us, particularly after Freud wrote of it andused Oedipus’ quest for...2013-05-0839 minClassical MythologyThebes II: Destruction (handout)Incest, fratricide and patricideare central to the Theban myths explored in Athenian tragedy, particularly Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. Written during a plague at Athens, the play opens with plague at Thebes, which as Oedipus discovers, has been caused by his own unwitting murder of his father, Laius; he then marries and fathers children with his mother, Jocasta. This lecture explores the importance of the Oedipus myth at Athens; how it fits into the self-destructive and deviant myths which Athenian tragedy sets at Thebes, and how it still resonates for us, particularly after Freud wrote of it andused Oedipus’ quest for...2013-05-0800 minClassical MythologyThebes I: FoundationThebes, in central Greece, had its own distinctive foundation myths, which combined divine origin, autochthony and immigrant stories. There are several myths of foundation: the walls were built by sons of Zeus, while the territory was laid out by Cadmus, a refugee fromAsia Minor, who peoples Thebes with the offspring of the Spartoi (‘the Sown Men’), warriors who grow from the ground when Cadmus plants the teeth of a monstrous snake. Featured in several Athenian tragedies, Thebes has been seen as a displaced location on which Athens enacts dangerous and confrontational ideas. This lecture investigates this idea by looking in d...2013-05-0849 minClassical MythologyThebes I: Foundation (handout)Thebes, in central Greece, had its own distinctive foundation myths, which combined divine origin, autochthony and immigrant stories. There are several myths of foundation: the walls were built by sons of Zeus, while the territory was laid out by Cadmus, a refugee fromAsia Minor, who peoples Thebes with the offspring of the Spartoi (‘the Sown Men’), warriors who grow from the ground when Cadmus plants the teeth of a monstrous snake. Featured in several Athenian tragedies, Thebes has been seen as a displaced location on which Athens enacts dangerous and confrontational ideas. This lecture investigates this idea by looking in d...2013-05-0800 minClassical MythologyFounding Athens II: Ion and Origin Myths in TragedyMythological stories dramatized in Athenian tragedy provide us with a good opportunity to explore how myth is used in aparticular political and social context. Dramatists choose specific mythological episodes, which make it possible to reflect on Athenian society and to question the validity of the myths themselves. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Euripides’ Ion, which retells the myth of one of Athens’ early kings, and highlights contemporary issues from Euripides’ own time, such as the exclusivity of Athenian citizenship and the Athenian claim to authority over all Ionian peoples.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all ri...2013-05-0250 minClassical MythologyFounding Athens II: Ion and Origin Myths in Tragedy (handout)Mythological stories dramatized in Athenian tragedy provide us with a good opportunity to explore how myth is used in aparticular political and social context. Dramatists choose specific mythological episodes, which make it possible to reflect on Athenian society and to question the validity of the myths themselves. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Euripides’ Ion, which retells the myth of one of Athens’ early kings, and highlights contemporary issues from Euripides’ own time, such as the exclusivity of Athenian citizenship and the Athenian claim to authority over all Ionian peoples.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all ri...2013-05-0200 minClassical MythologyFounding Athens I: Creating HistoryOrigins of cities and peoples are an important component of Greek mythology, and were central to ancient Greeks’ conception of their own identity. The most famous Greek origin myth is that of the Athenians, who, unlike most other Greeks, thought of their ancestors as strongly connected to and even born from the earth, in other words as autochthonous. This lecture explores the birth myths of the early, mythical kings of Athens, such as Kekrops, Erichthonius and Erectheus, and ends withsome discussion Ion, who gave his name to the Ionians, and the various genealogies asssociated with him (N.B. Euripides’ vers...2013-05-0248 minClassical MythologyFounding Athens I: Creating History (handout)Origins of cities and peoples are an important component of Greek mythology, and were central to ancient Greeks’ conception of their own identity. The most famous Greek origin myth is that of the Athenians, who, unlike most other Greeks, thought of their ancestors as strongly connected to and even born from the earth, in other words as autochthonous. This lecture explores the birth myths of the early, mythical kings of Athens, such as Kekrops, Erichthonius and Erectheus, and ends withsome discussion Ion, who gave his name to the Ionians, and the various genealogies asssociated with him (N.B. Euripides’ vers...2013-05-0200 minClassical MythologyEssay Writing for MythThis lecture shows students which pitfalls should be avoided when writing an essay, and gives the basics on how to research, plan and structure an essay, as well as detailed information on how to quote, paraphrase and reference primary and secondary authors, and how to attribute their words and ideas without falling into the trap of plagiarism.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-04-2449 minClassical MythologyEssay Writing for Myth (handout)This lecture shows students which pitfalls should be avoided when writing an essay, and gives the basics on how to research, plan and structure an essay, as well as detailed information on how to quote, paraphrase and reference primary and secondary authors, and how to attribute their words and ideas without falling into the trap of plagiarism.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-04-2400 minClassical MythologyTheories of Mythology, Part IIHow can we explain where myths come from and what they mean? This lecture looks at the various ways that scholars have attempted to analyse and interpret classical myths. Through ritual theory to Freud and Jung’s psycholanalytical theories, and the Structuralism of Lévi-Strauss to ideological frameworks, such as Marxism and gender theory, to Post-structuralism, we ask whether one theory ever fits all sizes of myth, and how cultural context has come become a significant factor in how we look at these mythological narratives.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-04-2442 minClassical MythologyTheories of Mythology, Part II (handout)How can we explain where myths come from and what they mean? This lecture looks at the various ways that scholars have attempted to analyse and interpret classical myths. Through ritual theory to Freud and Jung’s psycholanalytical theories, and the Structuralism of Lévi-Strauss to ideological frameworks, such as Marxism and gender theory, to Post-structuralism, we ask whether one theory ever fits all sizes of myth, and how cultural context has come become a significant factor in how we look at these mythological narratives.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-04-2400 minClassical MythologyMurder and Retribution: the House of AtreusCannibalism, murder and revenge are at the heart of the complex of myths surrounding the House of Atreus, a family cursed to exact violence on one another from generation to generation. This lecture investigates the way that the murder of Agamemnon is treated in both Homer’s Odyssey and Aeschylus’ Oresteia, and discusses how each version of the myth reflects contemporary concerns. In particular,Aeschylus’ trilogy deals with themes which were significant to the political culture of democratic Athens, which gave power to civic institutions ratherthan to the household, and put authority firmly in the hands of Athenian males.
...2013-04-1749 minClassical MythologyMurder and Retribution: the House of Atreus (handout)Cannibalism, murder and revenge are at the heart of the complex of myths surrounding the House of Atreus, a family cursed to exact violence on one another from generation to generation. This lecture investigates the way that the murder of Agamemnon is treated in both Homer’s Odyssey and Aeschylus’ Oresteia, and discusses how each version of the myth reflects contemporary concerns. In particular,Aeschylus’ trilogy deals with themes which were significant to the political culture of democratic Athens, which gave power to civic institutions ratherthan to the household, and put authority firmly in the hands of Athenian males.
...2013-04-1700 minClassical MythologyGolden Age and the Five RacesThe Golden Age and subsequent decline through inferior 'races' is an important element of Greek myth from our earliest mythological texts, and reflects a distancing between gods and humans. The utopian aspects of the Golden Age include a simple but entirely carefree existence, with no work, warfare or agriculture, yet no lack of food or shelter. However, the stages of decline can vary: the different versions of and reasons for decline are analysed in this lecture as critiques of contemporary life, using texts from archaic and classical Greece, and also a parody of the Golden Age from imperial Rome...2013-03-2552 minClassical MythologyGolden Age and the Five Races (handout)The Golden Age and subsequent decline through inferior 'races' is an important element of Greek myth from our earliest mythological texts, and reflects a distancing between gods and humans. The utopian aspects of the Golden Age include a simple but entirely carefree existence, with no work, warfare or agriculture, yet no lack of food or shelter. However, the stages of decline can vary: the different versions of and reasons for decline are analysed in this lecture as critiques of contemporary life, using texts from archaic and classical Greece, and also a parody of the Golden Age from imperial Rome...2013-03-2500 minClassical MythologyOlympians in ArtA vast array of mythological narrative is found on Greek vases, temples and in free-standing sculpture. These visual representations of Greek myths are as malleable as narratives found in written texts, and sometimes give us information on mythological variations which are not found in other media. This lecture investigates the forms in which we find the gods in Greek art, and looks at some prime examples of artworks which show particular moments from myths, such as the Labours of Herakles overseen by the goddess Athena, which formerly decorated the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans...2013-03-2053 minClassical MythologyOlympians in Art (handout)A vast array of mythological narrative is found on Greek vases, temples and in free-standing sculpture. These visual representations of Greek myths are as malleable as narratives found in written texts, and sometimes give us information on mythological variations which are not found in other media. This lecture investigates the forms in which we find the gods in Greek art, and looks at some prime examples of artworks which show particular moments from myths, such as the Labours of Herakles overseen by the goddess Athena, which formerly decorated the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
Copyright 2013 Rhiannon Evans...2013-03-2000 minClassical MythologyFemale OlympiansThe two generations of female Olympians include various figures who represent aspects of ancient Greek female experience: Artemis, associated with young women; Hera with marriage; Demeter with marriage; and Aphrodite with illicit sexuality. This lecture further explores the variant versions of Aphrodite's origin in Hesiod (from Ouranos' castrated genitals) and Homer (from Zeus and Dione), to suggest that goddesses can pose a troubling challenge to Zeus' authority. The power of a goddess' anger is investigated in depth through the myth of Demeter's search for her daughter, as she effectively holds Zeus and the other gods to ransom until her...2013-03-2050 minClassical MythologyFemale Olympians (handout)The two generations of female Olympians include various figures who represent aspects of ancient Greek female experience: Artemis, associated with young women; Hera with marriage; Demeter with marriage; and Aphrodite with illicit sexuality. This lecture further explores the variant versions of Aphrodite's origin in Hesiod (from Ouranos' castrated genitals) and Homer (from Zeus and Dione), to suggest that goddesses can pose a troubling challenge to Zeus' authority. The power of a goddess' anger is investigated in depth through the myth of Demeter's search for her daughter, as she effectively holds Zeus and the other gods to ransom until her...2013-03-1900 minClassical MythologyMale GodsThis lecture explores male gods of Greek mythology and their various spheres of influence: Zeus, the chief god, associated with mountains and the sky, and known for his prolific sexual conquests, along with his brothers, who control the earth and the underworld. The youthful, second generation of Olympian gods represent quite different aspects of Greek culture and masculinity, from Apollo's controlled reason, to Hermes' role as a trickster and intermediary, and Dionysus, the god of wine and drama, who stands for ecstasy and changing identities.
Copyright 2012 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-03-1247 minClassical MythologyMale Gods (handout)This lecture explores male gods of Greek mythology and their various spheres of influence: Zeus, the chief god, associated with mountains and the sky, and known for his prolific sexual conquests, along with his brothers, who control the earth and the underworld. The youthful, second generation of Olympian gods represent quite different aspects of Greek culture and masculinity, from Apollo's controlled reason, to Hermes' role as a trickster and intermediary, and Dionysus, the god of wine and drama, who stands for ecstasy and changing identities.
Copyright 2012 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.2013-03-1200 minClassical MythologyCosmogonyThe creation of the universe and the gods is the subject of one of our earliest works of Western literature, Hesiod's short epic poem, the Theogony. This pre-scientific account of how the cosmos came into being describes creation as a series of births, as both natural features and successive generations of gods are born from one another. This lecture explores the gory tale of the gods' succession myth, and how it eventually leads to the permanent rule of the familiar Greek pantheon: Zeus and the Olympians.
Copyright 2012 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for...2013-03-1147 minClassical MythologyCosmogony (handout)The creation of the universe and the gods is the subject of one of our earliest works of Western literature, Hesiod's short epic poem, the Theogony. This pre-scientific account of how the cosmos came into being describes creation as a series of births, as both natural features and successive generations of gods are born from one another. This lecture explores the gory tale of the gods' succession myth, and how it eventually leads to the permanent rule of the familiar Greek pantheon: Zeus and the Olympians.
Copyright 2012 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for...2013-03-1100 minClassical MythologyTheories of Mythology, Part IWhat do we mean when we use the terms 'myth' and 'mythology'? This lecture introduces the concept of myth and shows how it is defined by its relationship to the oral tradition, as opposed to written text, despite the fact that many of the mythic narratives from Ancient Greece and Rome have come down to us through writing. We investigate why 'myth' has come to mean an 'untruth' and whether the Greeks and Romans believed their myths; and discover that, even in antiquity, myths were questioned and subject to change over time.
Copyright 2012 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe...2013-03-0543 minClassical MythologyTheories of Mythology, Part I (handout)What do we mean when we use the terms 'myth' and 'mythology'? This lecture introduces the concept of myth and shows how it is defined by its relationship to the oral tradition, as opposed to written text, despite the fact that many of the mythic narratives from Ancient Greece and Rome have come down to us through writing. We investigate why 'myth' has come to mean an 'untruth' and whether the Greeks and Romans believed their myths; and discover that, even in antiquity, myths were questioned and subject to change over time.
Copyright 2012 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe...2013-03-0500 min