The story of Agamemnon's tragic homecoming after the Trojan War is legendary. After ten years spent far from home, waging war against the Trojans, he finally returns home--to his wife, Clytemnestra, who has begun a relationship with another man in Agamemnon's absence, and who, unbeknownst to her husband, has never forgiven him for the sacrifice of their daughter, Iphigenia. Agamemnon's death at the hands of his wife puts into motion events that bring murder, miasma, and madness to the members of his family, and it is this story--the murder of Agamemnon and the subsequent misfortune that plagues his house--that is the basis for one of ancient Greece's most famous and influential tragedies. 

Greek tragedy is one of the most influential forms of drama, with plays of the Greek tragedians still being performed around the world today. This class is designed to give younger learners an overview of the mythological stories behind the three plays of Aeschylus's Oresteia:  The Agamemnon, the Libation Bearers, and the Eumenides. These stories are filled with adventure, suspense, and--of course!--tragedy, and these plays form one of the most famous trilogies in all of literature. The stories themselves have had a profound influence on art and literature throughout history. Aeschylus himself, one of the most acclaimed of the Greek tragedians, is sometimes referred to as the father of tragedy, as it was he who established the foundational rules of the genre and who altered the structure of tragedy to enable conflict between characters. In our first class meeting, we will focus on the Agamemnon; in the second, we will focus on the Libation Bearers; in the third, we will focus on the Eumenides.

This course is NOT an in-depth study of Greek tragedy or of the Oresteia of Aeschylus. It is an age-appropriate class intended for lovers of Greek mythology who want a fun and engaging environment in which they can explore the stories behind some of the most famous plays in all of history. As such, the focus of the class will be on the plot of each individual play--adjusted, of course, to the age, level, and interest of the learners--rather than on the structure of tragedy. Learners can expect, however, to come away from the class with a general understanding of the importance of Greek tragedy as a genre, as well as its influence on art, literature, and drama across history.  This course is appropriate both for learners who have some knowledge of and interest in Greek mythology and also for learners for whom the study of Greek mythology may be new. Though it is not strictly required, learners who wish to take this class are strongly encouraged to take Mythology Symposium:  The Curse of the House of Atreus prior to enrolling in this class, as it gives excellent and important context for Agamemnon's family and the curse that plagues generation after generation (if you wish to take this course, but no open sections are currently available, please do not hesitate to send me a schedule request). 

As with my other symposium-style courses, this course is designed to feature some of the hallmarks of a true classical symposium. In keeping with the tradition of recitation, I may read short excerpts from Aeschylus's plays in ancient Greek (please note:  any such readings are so that students can hear the language; this is not a language course, so language learning is not part of the class). Together as a class, we'll also read some short passages, excerpted from the most accessible translations of Aeschylus, in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the larger stories around our topic of the day. This course will make use of slides to introduce new material and to provide visual representations of art and literature. Ongoing dialogue and conversation, questions directed to students from the teacher (and from students to the teacher!), and reading aloud are all part of this course (please note that students are free to listen OR to join in the reading; it is their choice, and there is no pressure to participate in this way); discussion and questions are not just welcomed, but encouraged! 

As food and drink were an important part of a symposium, we'll seek to recreate that with traditional symposium snacks (please see the supply list for more details!), and while the traditional wine isn't age appropriate, a more appropriate drink like water or juice is a suitable replacement. (Please note that students should not feel obligated to eat or drink if they do not wish to; the food is meant to enhance the experience, but it's far from necessary.)

A symposium was an occasion for people to gather together for entertainment and learning. This course is one of many symposium-style courses, with each course designed to feature a different topic. Again, this course has no prerequisites, and it is ideal for learners who love mythology, who have a curiosity about the classical world, or who enjoy good stories. Let's sit down to a symposium together!