Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Exploration of how alike and unlike the two female characters of Andromache and Kleopatra are. The discussion turned to a consideration of names: their meaning and significance, and in particular the Amazon references in Andromache's name with implications for the role of women warriors. Professor Nagy also noted that beyond her Amazon characteristics Andromache also stands as a superb lament artist who is quoted three times versus Kleopatra who is only paraphrased. From a Homeric point of view, Andromache is often seen as much more successful even though her husband at the time dies whilst Kleopatra's at this point in the narrative, is still alive. Discussion also turned to the theme of women's agency in lament as well as the question of lament as a whole; Professor Nagy characterized epic as super genre with its embedded independent genres of which lament is an important part. Participants also explored the likability of the character of Achilles and his virtuosity particularly when it came to oral poetics and the art of the verbal form.
Recorded in Spring 2021 during v15 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 3 and 4, and the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
Exploration of how alike and unlike the two female characters of Andromache and Kleopatra are. The discussion turned to a consideration of names: their meaning and significance, and in particular the Amazon references in Andromache's name with implications for the role of women warriors. Professor Nagy also noted that beyond her Amazon characteristics Andromache also stands as a superb lament artist who is quoted three times versus Kleopatra who is only paraphrased. From a Homeric point of view, Andromache is often seen as much more successful even though her husband at the time dies whilst Kleopatra's at this point in the narrative, is still alive. Discussion also turned to the theme of women's agency in lament as well as the question of lament as a whole; Professor Nagy characterized epic as super genre with its embedded independent genres of which lament is an important part. Participants also explored the likability of the character of Achilles and his virtuosity particularly when it came to oral poetics and the art of the verbal form.
Recorded in Spring 2021 during v15 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 3 and 4, and the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
