'Birth of the Greek Gods' I - Four-week Course

Hesiod’s poetic epics Theogony and Works and Days (8th cent. BCE), are among the oldest and most influential sources on the Greek gods and their myths. They were disseminated across the ancient world through oral performances, with rich personifications that have inspired countless creatives down the millennia. Theogony has been considered a 'manifesto' on human origins, while Works and Days contains two enduring myths on the human condition. Celebrating Hesiod, this course explores:

  22 Nov. Hymn to the Muses         29 Nov. Cosmogony

  6 Dec. Cronos and Uranus           13 Dec. Spirits of Night and Hades

Beforehand, students watch a free pre-recorded lecture, Introduction to Hesiod. Then, Sasha Chaitow's live sessions follow the structure of the epic. She opens each 90-minute lecture with a recitation of the relevant part of the poem, illustrated with art inspired by Greek myth. She then gives an accessible scholarly presentation on the origins and history built…