Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Discussion ranging from a consideration of ancestral and heroic ritual and myth, to heroic pollution. Participants began by thinking about the notion of subsets and districts in relation to Colonus with Professor Nagy pointing out how democracy is so radical as to go back to the roots of the 2nd millennium BCE where dāmos (dēmos) actually meant district and where it seemed to be its own person or entity with agency.
Participants also explored the notion of realignment as typical of hero cult, and the role of the body of cult hero as talisman of good fortune. This is why possession of the body of Oedipus proves to be so crucial for the two regions of Athens and Thebes.
Participants also examined the various instances of heroic poisoning such as the event of Agamemnon's giving away of his daughter. Professor Nagy underscored how in our journey through the world of heroes all along we've seen that heroes are not necessarily admirable. They may be superior in some ways but in others can't help be shockingly dysfunctional. A figure like Oedipus makes us shocked by the hero's capacity to do unspeakable acts of 'immortality.'
Recorded in Fall 2021 during v16 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 18 and 19, and responses to the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
Discussion ranging from a consideration of ancestral and heroic ritual and myth, to heroic pollution. Participants began by thinking about the notion of subsets and districts in relation to Colonus with Professor Nagy pointing out how democracy is so radical as to go back to the roots of the 2nd millennium BCE where dāmos (dēmos) actually meant district and where it seemed to be its own person or entity with agency.
Participants also explored the notion of realignment as typical of hero cult, and the role of the body of cult hero as talisman of good fortune. This is why possession of the body of Oedipus proves to be so crucial for the two regions of Athens and Thebes.
Participants also examined the various instances of heroic poisoning such as the event of Agamemnon's giving away of his daughter. Professor Nagy underscored how in our journey through the world of heroes all along we've seen that heroes are not necessarily admirable. They may be superior in some ways but in others can't help be shockingly dysfunctional. A figure like Oedipus makes us shocked by the hero's capacity to do unspeakable acts of 'immortality.'
Recorded in Fall 2021 during v16 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 18 and 19, and responses to the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith DeStone, and members of the HeroesX Team.
