Unit Five- Exploring Epics
 

The Iliad- An on-line classic prose translation of the work

The Odyssey- An on-line classic prose translation of the work

The Aeneid- An online searchable poetic translation of the work

Odysseus  An entertaining synopsis of the Odyssey

Homer for your Health

A fascinating article about a medical research study that suggests that reading Homer aloud can improve your health! Hmmm....maybe these ancient guys were on to something!

Literary and Folk epics- a more thorough, but simple explanation of the difference between the two main types of epics.

The Iliad Game (study tool)

 The link discusses some background for the theme of the Iliad and includes some interesting quotations and illustrations. At the end of the page, you will find a link to and interesting game that takes students through a review of the epic. Of course, first they must have read the work either in a poetic or prose translation.

    Every question is written from a different character’s point of view.  For each question, the student is provided with a brief summary of the character and a basic description of the scene in question. If the student answers the question correctly, he/she is taken immediately to the next question.  If the answer is incorrect, the student is provided with a hint and returns to the answer to try again. There are drop down menus where the student can look for ideas about the various Greeks, Trojans, or Immortals by name if they get stuck on any of the questions; the information provided with these links sometimes includes pictures of the characters as depicted in art or on ancient vases. 

The Odyssey Game (study tool)

This game allows the student to become one of three characters: Odysseus, Telemachus, or Penelope. As this character, the student works through questions about adventures in the epic involving the character.  If the student misses a question, the incorrect answer is explained, and the student is offered the chance to try again. This game is good; though it is not as intricate or as informative as the Iliad game.

 Greek and Roman Epics  (study and/or research tool)

This site is part of the Tyler Junior College — English Studies Department. Though called “Greek and Roman Epics,” the site is primarily focused on Homer’s epics and only briefly mentions Virgil and the Aeneid.

It is quite informative, though, with several significant links, including “principal places in Homer,” “background to the story,” and “the classical temper” to name a few.  It is very straightforward, using standard literary terms where expected but not overwhelming the reader with unnecessary jargon. 

Greek Mythology:  From the Iliad to the fall of the last tyrant

This is a very good site.   The site discusses the origins of Greek Mythology, Greek names versus Roman names, and the gods and goddesses mentioned in the epics — even citing the book and line # for each mention of them.  Other links on this site include a Fun Fact Quiz, related art, maps, and even pictures of Greek and Roman coins.

Useful Greek Mythology Links

This web site has several useful links including a link to an Odyssey Crossword Puzzle based on the characters in the epic as well as links to pictures of the various gods and goddesses and other creatures of myth, a third of which are actual twentieth century Greek postage stamps. 

The Aftermath: Post Iliad through the Odyssey (study and/or research tool)
From the Classics Technology Center, this website provides basic exercises that walk the student “through the events that happened following the death of Patroklos in the Iliad through Odysseus' return to Ithaca in the Odyssey.”

Each of these 20 events includes an explanation and the link to a vase image related to the scene.  Many of the 20 events include a link to actual text where the event is found in the Iliad, Sophocles, and the Odyssey, text which the student can read for him or her self.  There is also a link to the Perseus Vase Catalog where students can view other vase pictures related to the Trojan War and GrecoRoman mythology. 

Suetonius: The Life of Vergil

A modern translation of excerpts from the biography of Vergil written by a contemporary historian.

The Homeric Songs

A detailed and scholarly background to Homer and his works

Greek and Roman Crossroads

Loads of more links to follow!

Bulfinch's Mythology

Bulfinch's Mythology- One of the most respected sources of children's versions of the tales of the ancient gods and heroes.