Te Amo.

I think I came across one of the coolest things ever! Marvel has released a series of 'Classics' and one of them includes the Iliad (obviously haha) and it looks so awesome!

Check out the cover, oh man this is so awesome! I'm guessing that is either Hector or Achilles :)

Love Yags

xxx

From King Phillipe to Giganget!

Hi

Long time no post I hear you say. I have been busy, busy with the first week of Uni! It's been quite fun I must say, except for Monday. It took me half an hour to find my lecture theatre, and then when I finally found it, I realised that it would take me another half an hour to get to my second lecture and instead of missing out on both, I would rather miss out on one and go to a full one. I really love all my tutes. They all have the perfect number of students and the subjects are very interesting! Yesterday, Shel and I were reunited with Lenka after a very long 5 weeks. It was a bit humiliating because her hands and arms were tanner than mine! It was great to see her again. And I actually screamed when I ran up to hug her *sorry random people at the food court of MC*. I have never ever screamed, have been extremely overjoyed but I screamed and jumped!

I also had my tute for my Ancient Greek related subject today, I realised how much I had missed studying it and being with other people my age who enjoy it too! I was having a crappy day but when I got into the classroom, it all changed! It felt so nice.

This was a pic taken by Lenka, after she says "He looks like Eggxerxes".......LOL Shel and I burst out laughing like crazy because of the way she pronounces Xerxes. Aha good times!

Robert Fagles:

Lately I have become very intrigued by Robert Fagles, so after a bit of researching I found out some ever interesting facts.

• Completed a Bachelor of Arts. The year after he received his masters from Yale University. Three years later he received his PhD in English from Yale University.
• The translations of Fagles are as follows- Bacchylides, the Oresteia, the Theban Plays, the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid (whoa that's heaps lol)

So I leave you with a quote by Robert Fagles-

" The catastrophe of the tragic hero thus becomes the catastrophe of the fifth century man; all his furious energy and intellectual daring drive him on to this terrible discovery of his fundamental ignorance- he is not the measure of all things but the thing measured and found wanting".

Love Yags

xxx

Never thought this day would come!

Hi all

So tomorrow I'm officially going to start Uni! I'm so excited/nervous/scared I will get lost! haha. As usual I have everything planned out, maps, booklist, highlighters but you never know what tomorrow may bring you. Yesterday I was watching Criminal Minds, and they do this thing where at the beginning and end of each episode they state a quote something that relates to the crime or what they are feeling. In one of the episodes there was a quote from Euripides, I sort of half squealed when they said it. But to my surprise, my sister also watched it and she came into my room and said " Did you see the Euripides quote in that episode?", I must say I felt so proud, she's learning!! I also looked at my Greek related unit I am studying this semester, I am so bloody excited it's not funny! We get to do the Odyssey (Lattimore translation, bit shattered I am team Fagles), Bacchae, Parthenon, Roman texts (Seneca? off the top of my head), and monsters and heroes! It will feel slightly weird at the start, getting used to actually studying it again but I am super psyched about it! Of course I shall keep you all posted! But for now here is a quote I love from Audrey Hepburn which really is awesome!

Love Yags

xxx

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”

Shock of my life.

Hey

So yesterday I received the best news I have ever had the privelage of receiving! I got into my Uni of choice, to finally study Classics at an undergraduate and tertiary level. I just happened to apply randomly as a 'oh I might get in', mind you that 'might' was seriously like a 10% chance! So I got my letter yesterday! Everyone was so surprised, I was and still am surprised/shocked/ecstatic!

Today my sister and I went so I could enrol, we were both so excited! The Classics building

is so beautiful, it literally took my breath away, even more so at the fact that I would get the chance to study here and see it every day! It reminded me of a combination of Oxford University and Hogwarts! I still can't believe it, and probably won't ever!

I seriously feel like I have been given such a wonderful and epic opportunity! And I feel like the luckiest person in the world right now. I have never had a perfect day, but yesterday was it!

Love Yags

xxxx

Inspirational Quotes.

So I have started my everest, conquering this semester of Uni. Before I started preparing for my two presentations, I always like to get some sort of motivational quote, or wallpaper something that will keep me going and stop me procrastinating, this doesn't count by the way! Here was one I found from the epic, the awesome, the epically awesome Bear Grylls-

"The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is so often just simply that little word - extra. And for me, I had always grown up with the belief that if someone succeeds it is because they are brilliant or talented or just better than me… and the more of these words I heard the smaller I always felt! But the truth is often very different… and for me to learn that ordinary me can achieve something extra-ordinary by giving that little bit extra, when everyone else gives up, meant the world to me and I really clung to it…"

— Bear Grylls

He's so cool!

p.s. Inception is coming out Thursday, I'm extremely excited!! And the lead female role played by Ellen Page or Juno her character's name is ARIADNE how awesome! She has a knack for playing Greek/Roman peeps first Juno now Ariadne, she's lucky!

Yags.

xxx

Achilles!

My favourite Greek hero would have to be Achilles. I think he is just awesome seriously! Here's why-

(aww Ancient Greek is such a pretty language, can't wait to be able to read it! and yes that says Achilles)

Birth: Achilles was born to the nereid Thetis an immortal, and the mortal Peleus. Thetis was very beautiful, and had been eyed off by Zeus and Poseidon, however once they heard a prophecy that her son would outshine and would be stronger than it's father, she was quickly married to the mortal Peleus. Peleus, was one of the members of the Argonauts, who accompanied Jason on the long journey to retrieve the Golden Fleece. When Achilles was born, Thetis tried vigorously to make him immortal. So she held, baby Achilles by the heel and dipped him into the River Styx. Thus he was immortal everywhere, except for his tendon. The place we now refer to the Achilles Tendon (awesome eh! I mean think about it, according to the Iliad here was a hero who strove for glory and sacrificed his life knowing he would die at Troy all for the sake of glory and having his name remembered all throughout the ages, and it worked! I mean he has a body part named after him, and a saying!)

Upbringing: Achilles was brought up by the wise centaur Chiron, who lived on Mount Pelion. Here he was educated and taught they ways of the world.

Troy: Thetis knew that it was fated that Achilles would die at Troy. So she dressed him as a woman, and hid him among the other girls at the court of King Lycomedes of Scyros. When the war at Troy had been confirmed and the soldiers were being rounded up. Odysseus comes and presents for the girls at the court all these clothes and jewellery and amongst them he places a sword. Once Achilles grabs the sword they realise it's him and there is no way out, he goes to Troy with his Myrmidons.

The War: Achilles was given a two way street, when it came to his fate. Either he goes to Troy lives a short life with everlasting fame and glory.....or......he stays and lives a long fame and gloryless life. I guess it's a bit obvious why he chose the first option!

Iphigenia at Aulis: Written by Euripides, it depicts the human sacrifice of Iphigenia for the goddess Artemis, as a punishment for Agamemnon. I really enjoy Achilles' characterisation by Euripides in the play, he is the ultimate 'hero' and strives to defend Iphegenia from her unjust death. For example when these are a few lines said by Achilles in a stichomythia type structure with Clytemnestra: "Kill my bride to be, ", I said, "you shall not.", "you faced the inevitable and saw your duty. When I witness the nobility of your soul I yearn all the more for your love" ( awwwwwww), "I shall put my weapons at the ready by the altar to rescue you from dying".

Book 1 of the Iliad: First of all I seriously do not like Agamemnon! He is a very self motivated leader, which I think is a non-leader type quality. He becomes quite arrogant, especially when he won't return Chryseis to her father. Achilles the only one who stands up to Agamemnon makes a proper defence and says:

" Shameless armoured in shamelessness- always shrewd with greed! How could any Argive soldier obey your orders, freely and gladly do your sailing for you or fight your enemies, full force?"

The best Greek swear word I have ever heard, and still makes me crack up laughing when I read it is when Achilles says to Agamemnon- " and you, you dog-face!" *insert loud laughter* gets me every time!

So by the end of the book, Achilles has said he will never fight for the Greeks again but we know this changes with Patroclus' death, no not my fish his friend.

"Both hands clawing the ground for soot and filth, he poured it over his head, fouled his handsome face and black ashes settled onto his fresh clean war-shirt. Overpowered in all his power, sprawled in the dust, Achilles lay there, fallen...

tearing his hair, defiling it with his own hands" . ( wow, Homer sure knows how to paint a picture, this description is just beautiful as it is sorrowful especially where is says " Achilles lay there fallen..." this is such an different description of Achilles as oppose to other descriptions of him, and we see just how strong the bond between them was. *tear*)

Angry and Vengeful Achilles: Patroclus' death brings about a seriously angry, macho, feared Achilles. Just goes to show don't piss off someone like Achilles!

Epic Achilles quote to Hector, when Hector says we should make a pact to give each other the proper burial rights: "There are no binding oaths between men and lions -

wolves and lambs can enjoy no meeting of the minds-

they are all bent on hating each other to the death. So with you and me."

This scene from the Iliad where Priam goes to ransom Hector's body from Achilles is so very sad and sentimental.

And Achilles' famous death by an arrow shot by Paris (guided by Apollo), was this great warrior's downfall.

So yes I really really like Achilles, and no he is not just a "mumma's boy" who "sulks in his tent", he's a sensitive hero.....seriously how many hero's do you know who cry! Achilles really reminds me of Alexander, there's just something about both of them that sparks a similarity. And yes if I ever do have a son I shall name him Achilles and if I have another Haemon.

And I can yell out his name " Achillllllleeeeeeeeeesssssss" haha!

He is awesome!

love Yags

xxxx

Sophocles' Ajax and the BBB!

Hi all,

Finished reading Ajax and really enjoyed it! Shel and I also found our ultimate coffee shop the BBB, and yes it has chairs on it's ceilings just epic!!

This is a quick little summary of Ajax and what I found interesting.

Plot: The play basically starts off with Athena informing Odysseus about how Ajax slaughtered all the cattle thinking it was the Greek soldiers. This had happened because when Achilles died, his armour was awarded to Odysseus not Ajax who was the second best Achaen fighter and thus led to a humiliated Ajax. Later on, Ajax kills himself seeing death as the only solution.

Character rundowns-

Ajax: is undoubtedly known by the Greek audience members, he is a noble hero portrayed as such by Homer, where in the Iliad he was the next greatest Achaen fighter after Achilles and even a match for Hector with his helmet flashing. Sophocles presents the paradox between Ajax' life and death. There is a major contrast between his undoubted abilities and his painful and dishonourable death. Sophocles shows not just the madness and shameful death of the hero but the restoration of his character after his death. The play demonstrates why he falls and why he is honoured. The second half of the play demonstrates this notion, Sophocles displays that he is not like other men in that his virtues outweigh his faults and that he ultimately deserves the high regard in which he had been held. Ajax' character also establishes the rules which govern men in relation to the gods. Ajax is presented in three different ways as the commander where he is highly respected, the husband where he is loved and cherished by his wife and as the brother/comrade where he is the ideal version of both. His major flaw would be a lack of sophrosyne where he does not know his place, in the male dominated society that he resides in alongside the other soldiers. His overbearing pride results in him not being able to listen to reason or judge rightly.

Tecmessa: Her attempt to stop Ajax from ending his life for the sake of her and their child whilst it has similarities to book six of the Iliad, the inferior status of Tecmessa being a concubine and captive presents the restrictions which Athens imposed on women. Tecmessa's status as a slave and captive she is one of the only characters who has felt and endures it. Her situation can relate to that of Ajax, where his status now has been ruined.

Her status is also quite similar to that of Teucer, this is evident when Agamemnon says ' if you'd been born of a decent woman, I do believe, you'd be walking on air, though in fact you're a nobody'.

Flawed Hero: Ajax is a flawed hero. Whilst he has the bravery and the stamina of a hero, he is the sheer example of the Sophoclean notion of hubris and over bearing pride, resembling characters such as Creon in this regard. His lack of understanding and 'knowing his place' is what ultimately causes his downfall. Ajax' pride stands in the way of him understanding and accepting that the armour was awarded to Odysseus, instead it causes him to act abruptly. Ajax also, doesn't really understand the choice/fate conundrum. He believes that because he is a warrior, he seals his own fate and is in control of his own future however in actual fact humans and thus their fate's are in the god's hands. When Ajax declines the help of Athena, ultimately his own doom has been set in stone. There is no doubt that Ajax the greater as he is own is exactly that, great. However the problem is he does not acknowledge that heroism is not just focused on bravery in battle but a balance of understanding and that accepting another man's capability does not necessarily reduce or decline his own.

Odysseus: He is known as the smart and cunning, and is no surprise that Odysseus is the one who persuades Agamemnon to allow Ajax to have a proper burial. Odysseus understands Sophrosyne and Hubris and ultimately the way of the gods.

Overall I think the play was really really good, and just by reading it you can tell it had been written by Sophocles. When I was reading it, all I could think about was the quote that Sophocles said, ' he portrayed men as they ought to be, Euripides as they were'. The play constantly, particularly with the chorus teaches the audience how to be, how to act in certain situations. It morally instructs how to leave a pious and balanced life. There are constant snippets that you can find in the play, that are like mini moral lessons.

Also interesting fact I read about Sophocles was that he died reading Antigone aloud, sounds kind of cliche but if it's true that's very cute!

That's it for now!

Yags

xx And this is the ceiling of the BBB WIN!

If I were a boy.....

Hi all,

Have not been blogging as often mainly due to the holidays keeping me busy! Tomorrow I will hopefully finally see the Hellenic Museum which I have been dying to see! But I have an epic post on the Iliad to be put up soon.......(Epic get it? ahha)

Another creation for Hermes, but you would think Nike would design these instead of Adidas!

Until tomorrow

Yags

xxxx

Hermes would have these!

Hi guys,

This is the last week of my holidays, and yesterday was quite eventful. Zee, Cindy and I made butterbeer, chocolate frogs and cupcakes! The butterbeer tasted weird so we decided we would drink a whole glass full at the theme park haha! Anyway this just made me laugh:

I think Hermes would wear/own a pair of these awesome headphones!!

And I also came across this article about extraordinary human abilities and one of them was called Genetic Chimerism. The description started off with "In the Iliad Homer described a creature having body parts from different animals, a chimera, from this mythological monster comes the name of the genetic equivalent – chimerism. Genetic chimerism, or tetragametism, in humans and other animals happens when two fertilized eggs or embryos fuse together early in pregnancy. Each zygote carries a copy of its parents DNA and thus a distinct genetic profile. When these merge, each population of cells retains its genetic character and the resulting embryo becomes a mixture of both. Essentially, a human chimera is their own twin".

Pretty awesome!!

http://listverse.com/2008/06/28/9-extraordinary-human-abilities/ (that's the link!)

Enjoy!

Yags

xxxx

Alphabetised.

Okay firstly this is just epic! haha.


Hey all,

long time no see. I must admit the holidays make me so lazy! I sleep too much, and everything I have wanted to do has not been done. Last night, I re-organised my desk at 2am and put all my novels in alphabetical order. I get so excited when Alenka texts me from Croatia!! It's so cool, and very awesome! Today I thought I would dedicate this post to the Judgement of Paris and the Golden Apple.

Vase depicting the judgement you can clearly see Athena holding the armour.

So the Judgement of Paris, is one of the main reasons as to why the great ten year war lasted between Greece and Troy. If Paris had chosen Hera or Athena, the war would have never had happened, and I would not be writing this post. I find it amusing, that before this happened, at the competition where Paris entered his bull, which was seen as quite magnificent, Apollo had transformed himself into a bull. Paris, upon seeing the Apollo-bull said outrightly that this bull was the clear winner. Thus Paris was deemed a "fair judge", and soon after that title was obviously not used again. But the blame could easily fall on the gods, if Zeus had not chosen Paris for deciding which of the three goddesses received the apple, it may have not happened. Nevertheless, it was Paris' fate to choose Aphrodite, it was fate to marry the woman whose 'face would launch a thousand ships', and it was the fate of Troy to not survive, but we are not supposed to 'judge up'.

The one example I think of is Disney's Sleeping Beauty, the villain when she enters uninvited, reminds me of this particular instance in Mythology. The golden apple in itself, can represent and stand for a few notions. Firstly, there is this notion of having something, for the sheer joy that it is placed in front of you, and therefore you must have it. The golden apple is rolled by the goddess of discord and lands in between the three goddesses, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. Secondly, there is the idea of competition if someone else wants it, I want it too. It is a much better victory if you win something from a competition between two other people than just being given something. The part where you are competing brings about another thrill and excitement. So I guess what I'm trying to show, is that the golden apple isn't just an apple it stands for something else, a representation or a symbol of how something so small can start an event so horrific. Also, the apple symbolises the notion that the goddess Strife was never invited to the wedding, because they were fearful she would cause 'strife and discord' but she came anyway because they offended her for not inviting her in the first place.

p.s. I seriously am thinking of becoming a secret agent, after last night! And Lenka you're awesome and I promise to build vast number of monuments depicting you promise :)haha

Yags

xxxx

Alexander the Great!

Hey all,

Firstly I would like to just say how epic Grey's Anatomy finale was. Shel and I were frantically conversing during the add breaks. It was insane. That has to be the most on edge, stressful, dramatic and tearful television I have watched! I started crying half way through it, it was just so shocking, and must be awarded for that. I also missed out on a greek quiz on tv, that was a major fail! I mean the one time it's on I miss out!!

And the Socceroos won last night, I was very proud!! Even though they didn't make it to the next round, they played incredibly well!

Anyway I have decided to dedicate this blog post to Alexander the Great and some fun facts about him and his family!

Birth: Alexander was the son of King Phillip the Second and Olympias, she was one of Phillip's many wives, the fourth one. Because Olympia was not from Macedonia but a princess of Epirus, when Phillip's other son was born Alexander was cast as a bastard for this very reason, and thus why he was not officially named heir of the throne. According to Macedonian law, this also changed the status of Olympias below that of Phillip's other wives and this caused a great deal of conflict between his parents. He was born around July 20th 356 bce.

Childhood: Alexander was educated by Aristotle and memorised the Iliad. One of his most famous achievements as a child, was Bucephalus. When Alexander was 12 he saw this horse, that no one could ride. He made a deal with his father, that if he was able to ride the horse, his father must get it for him, if he failed he would pay for it himself. Alexander realised that the horse was afraid of his own shadow. So he turned the horse, to face the sun and got on the horse. When his father, saw this he said to Alexander: "You must find a kingdom worthy of you my son. Macedon is too small for you". He named the horse Bucephalus, and was his companion through many of his battles, Alexander also named and built a city, the city of Bucephala.

King Alexander:

In 336 bce King Phillip II was killed by his guard Pausanias, thus at the age of 20 Alexander was declared king. He started off his reign, by killing many of his potential rivals, nice way to start a reign as king I must say.

Basic/Fun Facts:

• Alexander named many or most of his cities Alexandria, there were more than 17 cities, today the main one is in Egypt.
• His best friend and rumoured "lover" Hephaestion was with him, at all times through all his expeditions. He was also the one who alongside Alexander first landed at Troy. Their relationship is often familiarised with that of Achilles and Patroclus.
• It is said that Alexander felt that he was the son of Zeus, and an oracle in Egypt also confirmed this for him. His mother also said to him that he was.
• Alexander had two different coloured eyes, one blue one brown a condition that is today known as Heterochromia, which some used to think was a 'feminine quality'.
• He also suffered from an inherited condition where his neck was twisted in some way, so it seemed like he was gazing upwards.
• Alexander and Julius Caesar were both born in July and were both coincedentally both had epilepsy.
• Alexander had never lost a single battle.
• His tactical procedures and skills are still used widely today.
• Alexander loved the Iliad.........awesome! And he had taken a copy on all his campaigns.
• He had three wives, and had two sons: Alexander IV of Macedon and Heracles of Macedon, both were killed at a young age.
• Bucephalus was one year younger than Alexander, that's really interesting!
• According to one of Alexander's general, an amazonian queen brought 300 women to Alexander hoping to create a race of children to be just like him intelligent and strong, haha!
• One of the legends that often come up in reference to Alexander the Great, is the Gordian knot. The story goes, that when Alexander was in Gordium Turkey, there was a knot which was rumoured to have been done by King Midas. The prophecy was that whoever untied the knot would be the ruler of Asia. Alexander undid the knot by slashing his sword through it...........haha nice ;)
• Alexander died at the age of 33 in Babylon. The cause of death is not rightly known. Some say poison, some say Malaria. Guess we will
• never know.
• 
  
• 

Yags

xxxxxx

Hippolytus.

Hey guys,

Firstly I had a look at the new exhibition called Millenia showing at the Hellenic Museum it is very exciting. I get so excited over the littlest things!! But this is pretty epic, mainly because no one knew it existed up until now, and all I did to find it was to google "Ancient Greek Museums Melbourne" and it came up...I am now very glad that I did! Also excited because the girls and I are going go to Laser Skirmish at Crown, now that's exciting!!!!!!

This post I would like to dedicate to Euripides' play Hippolytus. It won first prize and is based on Theseus' son Hippolytus and his wife Phaedra, Hippolytus' step mother. The play is situated in Troezen at Theseus's palace. The play is one of my favourites, because of the multi-layered and complex themes and relationships that take place. For example the hubris of Hippolytus in angering Aphrodite and not worshipping her, but also the fact that Phaedra is not essentially ashamed of her actions but her thoughts. The ability of self control is also a dominant factor.

Here are some extremely funny cartoons, these make my day!!

That's all.

Yags

xxxx