Homer and the Greek Plays: A Roundtable with Friends

Today on Ascend the Greek Books Podcast, we wrap up our exploration of the Greek plays with a lively roundtable discussion. Our panel of friends delves into the key themes of the tragic plays, including divinity, eros, fate, justice, the cosmos, virtue, and suffering.

We explore plays such as the Oresteia, Prometheus Bound, the Theban plays, and the Bacchae, with insights from Homer, Hesiod, and Aristophanes. Don’t miss this engaging conversation as we prepare to embark on our next journey with Plato.

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Summary

In this episode of the Great Books Podcast, the hosts and guests engage in a round table discussion about key themes in Greek plays, including divinity, Eros, fate, and free will. They share their favorite plays and insights gained from their readings, exploring how these themes evolve from Homer to later playwrights. The conversation highlights the complexity of Eros as both a binding force and a source of mania, as well as the characters’ limited agency in the face of divine intervention.

The discussion culminates in a reflection on the implications of these themes for understanding Greek literature and philosophy. The conversation explores the themes of fatalism versus determinism, agency in Greek tragedy, the role of the gods, the evolution of justice, the nature of the cosmos, virtue, and the purpose of suffering. The speakers discuss how these themes are interwoven in the works of Homer and Aeschylus, highlighting the complexity of human actions, moral order, and the divine influence in Greek thought.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

06:38 Favorite Plays and Surprising Discoveries

12:25 The Maturation of Thought on Divinity

19:40 The Splintering and Obsessive Qualities of the Gods

23:57 The Tension Between the Divine and Natural Phenomena

25:47 Exploring the Concept of Divinity

43:00 The Dual Nature of Eros

55:54 Debating Fate and Free Will

59:39 Plato’s Symposium: Eros as Ascent

01:01:30 The Interplay of Fate and Human Agency

01:14:53 Justice and Retribution in Homer’s Epics

01:32:13 The Maturation of Justice in Aeschylus’ Plays

01:39:14 The Challenge of Justice in the Story of Oedipus

01:44:40 The Redemptive Power of Suffering

01:50:55 The Influence of the Cosmos on Virtue and Piety

01:59:58 The Crucifixion: Suffering and Redemption

02:09:28 Sharing the Wisdom: Importance of Discussion

02:17:07 Insights into Justice, the Cosmos, Virtue, and Suffering

Keywords: Greek plays, divinity, Eros, fate, free will, themes, literature, philosophy, podcast, discussion, fatalism, determinism, agency, Greek tragedy, justice, cosmos, virtue, suffering, Homer, Aeschylus

Hashtags: #GreekPlays #Tragedy #Philosophy #GreatBooks