Swansea University’s Department of Classics, Ancient History and Egyptology is offering a series of four sessions on HEROES in the ancient world as part of the Swansea University Virtual Summer School, which runs, online, from Monday 12 July to Thursday 15 July. All sessions are at 11:00am.
Monday 11:00 – Classics – Ian Repath
Heroes: Achilles Fights the River
In book 21 of Homer’s Iliad, Achilles, the greatest hero in the Trojan war, fights a river. In this session, we will explore the context and significance of this encounter within this epic poem, as Achilles struggles with the boundaries of heroic conduct and confronts the limitations of his status as a mortal.
Tuesday 11:00 – Languages – Maria-Elpiniki Oikonomou
Heroes: The language of the hero
How can Greek and Latin enhance our study and understanding of literature and the study of the ancient world in general? Let’s look at some examples together! N.B. No knowledge of Greek or Latin is required for this session!
Wednesday 11:00 – Egyptology – Hannah Sweetapple
Heroes: Who are the ‘Heroes’ of Ancient Egypt?
The mythology and literature of ancient Greece and Rome are populated by heroes. Many of these figures would be great warriors, sometimes of divine descent. However, ‘heroes’ are not as prominent in ancient Egyptian mythology. In this session we will explore who the heroes of ancient Egypt might be. We will discuss a number of figures from ancient Egypt and consider whether or not they can be seen as a hero. We will explore this topic using objects from the Egypt Centre’s collection.
Thursday 11:00 – Ancient History – Stephen Harrison
Heroes: Alexander the Great in Persia: The dark side of the hero
This session explores how Alexander the Great treated Persepolis, the capital of the Persian Empire, which Alexander had conquered. We will discuss the way that his actions, particularly his burning of the royal palaces, were interpreted by different groups of people. These different interpretations show how Alexander’s actions in Persia have been integral to the creation of the heroic image of Alexander and how we might challenge this image.
For more details, contact: Maria-Elpiniki Oikonomou (m.e.oikonomou@swansea.ac.uk) and to register, go to: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/study/summer-school/
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