Books Of Titans Podcast

It’s been an incredible year of reading so far. I’ve been utterly shocked at the beauty and relevancy of Greek Literature. In this episode, I share what I’ve read so far for 2024, what I have coming up during my Summer Break, and the most important thing I’ve learned in Greek Literature. Get full access to Books of Titans at www.booksoftitans.com/subscribe

In the introduction to Ajax by Peter Meineck & Paul Woodruff, they highlight the main idea of the tragedy play:Ajax shows the aftermath of an altercation over the honors that warriors feel are due to them after battle.I love that this is a theme that shows up strongly in the Iliad as well. In fact, Ajax has so many connection point to the Iliad that it’s almost required reading before this play.Sophocles highlights so many themes that were perhaps birthed in Homer and have started percolating deeper with the tragedy writers. Some of these include:* Force vs Persuasion (Ares vs the Areopagus)* The will of the gods* Fate* Honor* GloryIn this episode, I talk about some of these themes, how they relate to other Greek literature, and what we learn about them in Sophocles’ Ajax. Get full access to Books of Titans at www.booksoftitans.com/subscribe

In his introduction to The Theban Plays, Charles Segal highlights the question Sophocles asks in his plays:“Why should a man or woman of noble character and good intentions have to bear a life of suffering?”If Antigone is the woman of nobel character and Creon the man of, arguably, good intentions, why must they suffer? Why must bad things happen to good people?Sophocles uses character, circumstances, and divine agency to address this question.In this episode of the podcast, I highlight the themes, important ideas, and the one image I still have in my head after having read Antigone by Sophocles.Books of Titans is a listener-supported podcast. To support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

Sophocles was a friend of Herodotus and a contemporary of the other Greek tragedy playwrights Aeschylus and Euripides. He wrote over 120 plays and seven of those survive. The Theban Plays (Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone) cover major events in the life of the mythical king Oedipus of Thebes and of his children.In this podcast episode, I talk about the two Sophoclean plays about Oedipus and share what I learned about Sophocles’ discussion of prophecy, the Greek concept of a curse, and the little tiny light at the end of this disastrous tunnel of tragedy.I read translations by David Grene, Paul Woodruff, and Robert Fagles. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

Seven plays survive out of more than 70 written by Aeschylus during his lifetime. Last week, I covered The Oresteia, his famous trilogy, and this week I cover his four other surviving tragedy plays.I highlight the following three contrasts I’ve found throughout Greek Literature and share what we learn within these Aeschylean plays:* Fate vs The Will of Zeus* Ares (force) vs the Areopagus (debate/civilization)* Family Curse vs Human Agency Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 13 from his 2024 Reading List - The Oresteia by Aeschylus.Show Notes* Aeschylus* Purchase The Oresteia* Support the Podcast - Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting* The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers* The Great Books Reading List* 2024 Reading List* Reading Resources* Books of Titans Website Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 11 from his 2024 Reading List – Fables by Aesop. Show Notes Aesop Purchase Aesop’s Fables Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans...The post Aesop’s Fables appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 9 from his 2024 Reading List – The Odes by Pindar. Show Notes Pindar Purchase The Odes by Pindar / Translation by C.M. Bowra Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading...The post The Odes by Pindar appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad talks about the cataclysmic will of Zeus. The Cypria, a lost work with stories predating the Iliad, provides a clear-cut purpose for the will of Zeus. Is it true? Why did Homer ignore it in the Iliad? How does it change the reading of the “will of Zeus being fulfilled” in...The post The Cataclysmic Will of Zeus appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 5 from his list of 200 Great Books  – The Atrahasis: The Babylonian Flood Myth. Show Notes Purchase Enuma Elish / Translation by Timothy Stephany Purchase Myths from Mesopotamia / Translation by Stephanie Dalley Enuma Elish Podcast Episode Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting...The post The Atrahasis appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

It’s Homer vs Hollywood. How does the 2004 film Troy stand up to its inspiration, The Iliad? What did Hollywood get right, what did they butcher, and should you watch the film?The post Homer’s Iliad vs Hollywood’s Troy appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Iliad by Homer, book 5 for his 2024 reading list. This is his second reading of the epic. Show Notes First Podcast – Nov 2023 Author: Homer Robert Fitzgerald Ransom by David Malouf My Thoughts about The Iliad The Great Books Reading List 2023 Reading List Reading Resources...The post The Iliad by Homer (2nd Reading) appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses book 5 from his list of 200 Great Books  – Enuma Elish: The Babylonian Creation Epic. Show Notes Purchase Enuma Elish / Translation by Timothy Stephany Purchase Myths from Mesopotamia / Translation by Stephanie Dalley Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans...The post Enuma Elish appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Jason A. Staples, Ph.D., a historian of early Judaism and Christianity, answers 4 questions Erik poses about the Bible. Additionally, Dr. Staples answers some questions about his latest book Paul and the Resurrection of Israel. Here are a few of the questions addressed in this episode: The land of Israel is promised...The post Q&A #3: The Bible with Dr. Jason Staples appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The New Testament (translated by David Bentley Hart), book 4 for his 2024 reading list. Show Notes David Bentley Hart Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Books of Titans Book Subscription with Landmark Booksellers The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading List Reading Resources...The post The New Testament (David Bentley Hart Translation) appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Writings of the Hebrew Bible, book 3 for his 2024 reading list. Show Notes Robert Alter The Writings – Psalms, Proverbs, Job, The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Qohelet (Ecclesiastes), Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles The Hebrew Bible: A Translation & Commentary by Robert Alter Support the Podcast –...The post The Writings (Hebrew Bible Book 3) appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Prophets of the Hebrew Bible, book 2 for his 2024 reading list. Quick note: I made a major flub in the original recording of this episode. It has since been updated, but in segment 2, I made the statement that Rehoboam was a good king. That is not...The post The Prophets (Hebrew Bible Book 2) appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad shares how he takes notes in books and how it has helped him to remember what he reads. Show Notes Muji 0.38 Pens Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting The Great Books Reading List 2024 Reading List Reading Resources Books of Titans WebsiteThe post On Taking Notes in Books appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses The Five Books of Moses of the Hebrew Bible, book 1 for his 2024 reading list. Show Notes Robert Alter The Hebrew Bible: A Translation & Commentary by Robert Alter Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting My Thoughts about The Five Books of Moses The...The post The Five Books of Moses appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Erik Rostad discusses each of the books on his 2024 reading list, one that largely focuses on the Ancient Greek writers. This is year two of The Great Books+ Project. Show Notes Erik’s 2024 Reading List The Great Books Support the Podcast – Hire EPR Creations for Online Consulting Reading Resources Books...The post 2024: My Big Fat Greek Reading List appeared first on Books of Titans. Get full access to Books of Titans at booksoftitans.substack.com/subscribe