Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 9 minutes ago
Discussion covering a wide range of topics from the role of female characters and goddesses to the significance of botanical plants. Participants explored the role of Phaedra as a cult hero in her own right and whether the kleos of Phaedra is to be remembered. Discussion also turned to the coupling between Phaedra and Aphrodite, and Aphrodite and Artemis. Professor Nagy noted, how, if we were to shoot Aphrodite and Artemis through time we would find that we cannot really separate them. One has to have the two interacting so that the antagonism of this doomed couple, Phaedra and Hippoytus, becomes almost necessary. Professor Nagy also pointed out how the character of Artemis can be said to cover practically all womanly functions in life except sex—which Aphrodite comes to cover and represent.
Discussion also turned to the significance of the myrtle and its symbolic relation to the ritual of the young girls. Participants explored botanical facts of this plant where a scratching or pricking of a leaf of a myrtle bush gives off a very strong aroma that corresponds to the aroma of the blossom itself. This makes the Phaedra observation by Pausanias so much more meaningful. Phaedra may not enjoy seeing the blossom but by pricking the leaf she gets the aroma each time.
Finally, conversation also turned to the tragedy of Euripides and whether the kleos of Achilles is similar to the kleos of Pentheus. Participants explored the significance of these two characters' names as well as an understanding of kleos as what is seen as well as what is heard. The significance of visual art and vase paintings is an important component of ancient world's understanding of myth, affirming the symbiotic relation between visual and verbal art.
Mentioned in the discussion: Classical Inquiries: https://classical-inquiries.chs.harvard.edu/ — Now being updated and continued at Classical Continuum: https://continuum.fas.harvard.edu/
Recorded in Spring 2021 during v15 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 20 and 21, and the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
Discussion covering a wide range of topics from the role of female characters and goddesses to the significance of botanical plants. Participants explored the role of Phaedra as a cult hero in her own right and whether the kleos of Phaedra is to be remembered. Discussion also turned to the coupling between Phaedra and Aphrodite, and Aphrodite and Artemis. Professor Nagy noted, how, if we were to shoot Aphrodite and Artemis through time we would find that we cannot really separate them. One has to have the two interacting so that the antagonism of this doomed couple, Phaedra and Hippoytus, becomes almost necessary. Professor Nagy also pointed out how the character of Artemis can be said to cover practically all womanly functions in life except sex—which Aphrodite comes to cover and represent.
Discussion also turned to the significance of the myrtle and its symbolic relation to the ritual of the young girls. Participants explored botanical facts of this plant where a scratching or pricking of a leaf of a myrtle bush gives off a very strong aroma that corresponds to the aroma of the blossom itself. This makes the Phaedra observation by Pausanias so much more meaningful. Phaedra may not enjoy seeing the blossom but by pricking the leaf she gets the aroma each time.
Finally, conversation also turned to the tragedy of Euripides and whether the kleos of Achilles is similar to the kleos of Pentheus. Participants explored the significance of these two characters' names as well as an understanding of kleos as what is seen as well as what is heard. The significance of visual art and vase paintings is an important component of ancient world's understanding of myth, affirming the symbiotic relation between visual and verbal art.
Mentioned in the discussion: Classical Inquiries: https://classical-inquiries.chs.harvard.edu/ — Now being updated and continued at Classical Continuum: https://continuum.fas.harvard.edu/
Recorded in Spring 2021 during v15 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 20 and 21, and the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
