STORY 0:00 – 1:03:45
This episode includes all of the adventures – the horror, the comedy, and the strategy – inside the cyclops Polyphemus’ cave. The episode concludes with Odysseus being cursed, followed by a short primer on how to curse one’s enemies, Bronze Age style.
POST-STORY COMMENTARY: UNDERSTANDING XENIA 1:03:45 – 1:25:37
The Odyssey’s most central and recurring theme involves the protocols of xenia. I review all of the English language concepts tied together into this one Greek concept. And then I take my listeners on two “business trips” – one Bronze Age, and the other 21st Century – in order to illustrate the protocols of, and the cultural assumptions that inform, Homeric xenia.
RELATED IMAGES
I struggle to find details – title of work, name of artist, date – for some images. If you can help, please forward information to me. Thanks. Jeff
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- Polyphemus
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- Blinding Polyphemus sculpture
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- Blinding Polyphemus vase
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- Escaping the Cave Disguised as Sheep
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- Polyphemus Attempts to Destroy The Ship
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- Cyclops Lobbing Rocks at the Ship
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- POSEIDON, by listener Sariel Snowings, http://www.patreon.com/sarielsnowings
Hi Jeff,
I am not a classics teacher but being half Greek myself I know that it’s ‘Laertes’ not ‘Laretes’ for the name of Odysseus’s father.
Or perhaps it’s my hearing???
Also it’s ‘Polyphemus’ for the name of the cyclops and not ‘Polythemus’ as you have under the images ( which I enjoyed looking at) on this website.
Also do check out John William Waterhouse ( English Artist) for some amazing paintings: ‘Ulysses and the Sirens’ and ‘Circe’.
Thanks again for your work.
You should consider the Scandinavian Sagas in the future.
Best wishes,
Diana
Thanks Diana. I have made the spelling corrections on the website, and the Cyclops is now “Polyphemus”. Thank you. Sadly, editing pronunciation of names in the audio of an episode is a vastly more daunting challenge for a podcaster of my humble abilities. Thanks for the direction to John William Waterhouse. Jeff