Ah glad you liked them 😊 I spent hours yesterday evening researching where to go next and didn't manage to make a final decision - I am so indecisive 😂
I loved this list! I created myself a classics curriculum last year which culminated in me reading the last days of Socrates up in the summer heat up on Philopappos hill (by “the prison of Socrates”) and it all felt a little life changing. Mythos and the Homers are obviously great picks - I’d also consider included the Oresteia, given that leads to the mythological founding of Athenian Democracy and how big a role Athena herself plays in Libation Bearers? My one other suggestion would be a modern one - Outline by Rachel Cusk is very very grounded in modern Athens, and feels very wedded to the streets of the city. Overall such a fun idea for an article, thank you so much for sharing 😎 I might need to take a look at some of your more modern picks, and especially Mary Beard on the Parthenon interests me!
Thanks so much for these recommendations - they look great 😊 I absolutely love that you read the last days of Socrates on Philopappos Hill - it doesn't get any better than that! I walked up there on my last day in Athens and the view at the top was just incredible - the perfect end to an unforgettable trip. It makes me so happy to know that there are other people who get as excited about this stuff as me 😊
Yes - that's a great one, I loved it. I have put Thucydides in my broader bookshop list which I have linked at the bottom of the page. I haven't got any Greek tragedies in there though - any that you would recommend?
Oh I did not see that. I mean, many of the Greek tragedies are fascinating, it is just a shame that so few survive and with the exception of a brief fragment, none of the music remains. I would say I prefer Aeschylus and Sophocles over Euripides, but that is mostly personal preference. At least the Oresteia by Aeschylus and the Theban plays by Sophocles - three plays surrounding the return of Agamemnon from Troy and the three that pertain to Oedipus and his offspring respectively - would be good choices. Some of the comedies by Aristophanes such as Lysistrata if you do not have them could be a good choice as well.
Although he only briefly visited Greece, Cavafy could be a good choice as well. It is on a different part of Greece he lived and wrote but Alexandros Papadiamantis was a great writer as well.
Love this list! Greece is one of my favorite places to visit and I'm definitely adding a few of these to my to-read list!
Oh great 😊 I hope you enjoy them!
Thanks for the list! Lots of interesting reads on here for sure. Where are you off to next?
Ah glad you liked them 😊 I spent hours yesterday evening researching where to go next and didn't manage to make a final decision - I am so indecisive 😂
Great list - thanks!
I loved this list! I created myself a classics curriculum last year which culminated in me reading the last days of Socrates up in the summer heat up on Philopappos hill (by “the prison of Socrates”) and it all felt a little life changing. Mythos and the Homers are obviously great picks - I’d also consider included the Oresteia, given that leads to the mythological founding of Athenian Democracy and how big a role Athena herself plays in Libation Bearers? My one other suggestion would be a modern one - Outline by Rachel Cusk is very very grounded in modern Athens, and feels very wedded to the streets of the city. Overall such a fun idea for an article, thank you so much for sharing 😎 I might need to take a look at some of your more modern picks, and especially Mary Beard on the Parthenon interests me!
Thanks so much for these recommendations - they look great 😊 I absolutely love that you read the last days of Socrates on Philopappos Hill - it doesn't get any better than that! I walked up there on my last day in Athens and the view at the top was just incredible - the perfect end to an unforgettable trip. It makes me so happy to know that there are other people who get as excited about this stuff as me 😊
Thucydides' history of the Peloponnesian War would have been a good choice to include as well, along with some of the Greek tragedies.
Yes - that's a great one, I loved it. I have put Thucydides in my broader bookshop list which I have linked at the bottom of the page. I haven't got any Greek tragedies in there though - any that you would recommend?
Oh I did not see that. I mean, many of the Greek tragedies are fascinating, it is just a shame that so few survive and with the exception of a brief fragment, none of the music remains. I would say I prefer Aeschylus and Sophocles over Euripides, but that is mostly personal preference. At least the Oresteia by Aeschylus and the Theban plays by Sophocles - three plays surrounding the return of Agamemnon from Troy and the three that pertain to Oedipus and his offspring respectively - would be good choices. Some of the comedies by Aristophanes such as Lysistrata if you do not have them could be a good choice as well.
Thank you so much for these recommendations - this is really helpful 😊
Although he only briefly visited Greece, Cavafy could be a good choice as well. It is on a different part of Greece he lived and wrote but Alexandros Papadiamantis was a great writer as well.
Thanks - I will take a look at those too :)