The curse of the House of Atreus gives us some of Greek mythology's darkest and most famous--and infamous--stories, which are well represented in art, myth, and literature. From the infamous crime and punishment of Tantalus, to the death of Agamemnon, the misfortune that plagued this family line served to inspire some of the most famous Greek tragedies and some of history's most renowned artists and writers. Even in our modern day, the dynasty of Atreus provides fodder for plays, operas, and even television shows; while these mythological stories may be thousands of years old, their influence has been felt across history, and is still reflected in our modern world. 

This course is designed to be an introduction to some of the many stories of the members of the House of Atreus. This family line includes some of mythology's most famous names: Tantalus, Niobe, Pelops, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Thyestes, and, of course, Atreus himself. The stories about these mythological figures are rife with murder, madness, and hubris. Together, we'll explore the stories of some of ancient Greece's most famous mythological figures.  Please note that this course is designed both to serve as a standalone course and also to provide an introduction to an upcoming course series on Aeschylus's Oresteia (a famous trilogy of Greek tragedies centered on the House of Atreus). There is no prerequisite for this course, and it 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. Please note that this class will focus primarily on the earlier members of the House of Atreus and will not feature much discussion of the stories of Agamemnon, Iphigenia, Elektra, and Orestes, as those stories will be explored in detail in the Oresteia class (for which this course may serve as an introduction). 

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 poetry recitation, I may read excerpts from ancient Greek or Latin poetry (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 in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the larger stories around our topic of the day:  the curse of the House of Atreus. 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!