Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Discussion topics include considering the portrayal of Achilles through the eyes — and songs — of Sappho. Participants noted how Achilles seems to not just be presented as equal to gods through Sappho's song, but also more lovable. Professor Nagy noted the significance of this as the Iliad itself seems to provide a more impoverished perspective on Achilles given the many different angles that exist on this character. Conversation also turned to ritual, and specifically ritual mentality which Professor Nagy defined as any kind of conventional behavior in a traditional society that is set aside as special. This eventually led to a discussion of Achilles and Patroklos' relationship and the notion of dying as a therapōn; participants wondered to what extent Patroklos identifies with Achilles even as he dies for him; the panel considered how the deaths of both characters appear to emerge as a particularized experience. Other topics included: the significance of epithets, Patroklos' recessive rather than inferior personality, and the Master Narrator's portrayal of these two characters as 'double vision'.
Mentioned in the discussion:
Nagy, Gregory. 1996. Cambridge. Poetry as Performance
https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_Nagy.Poetry_as_Performance.1996
Nagy, Gregory. 2021.08.30. A question of "reception": how could Homer ever outlive his own moments of performance?
Originally published at Classical Inquiries; rewritten and now available at Classical Continuum:
https://continuum.fas.harvard.edu/a-question-of-reception-how-could-homer-ever-outlive-his-own-moments-of-performance/
Recorded in Fall 2021 during v16 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 5 and 6, and responses to the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith Destone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
Discussion topics include considering the portrayal of Achilles through the eyes — and songs — of Sappho. Participants noted how Achilles seems to not just be presented as equal to gods through Sappho's song, but also more lovable. Professor Nagy noted the significance of this as the Iliad itself seems to provide a more impoverished perspective on Achilles given the many different angles that exist on this character. Conversation also turned to ritual, and specifically ritual mentality which Professor Nagy defined as any kind of conventional behavior in a traditional society that is set aside as special. This eventually led to a discussion of Achilles and Patroklos' relationship and the notion of dying as a therapōn; participants wondered to what extent Patroklos identifies with Achilles even as he dies for him; the panel considered how the deaths of both characters appear to emerge as a particularized experience. Other topics included: the significance of epithets, Patroklos' recessive rather than inferior personality, and the Master Narrator's portrayal of these two characters as 'double vision'.
Mentioned in the discussion:
Nagy, Gregory. 1996. Cambridge. Poetry as Performance
https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_Nagy.Poetry_as_Performance.1996
Nagy, Gregory. 2021.08.30. A question of "reception": how could Homer ever outlive his own moments of performance?
Originally published at Classical Inquiries; rewritten and now available at Classical Continuum:
https://continuum.fas.harvard.edu/a-question-of-reception-how-could-homer-ever-outlive-his-own-moments-of-performance/
Recorded in Fall 2021 during v16 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 5 and 6, and responses to the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith Destone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
