I forgot the add the caption to the Amazon sculpture in our local botanical garden. It is a reproduction of a 500 BC work done by the ancient Greek sculptor Fidias. Copied by the Italian artist Pirilli.
Ops! I just realised I wrote the ancient Greek sculptor's name in Spanish! Phidias - famed for the statues of the goddess Athena on the Athenian Acropolis and his Zeus at Olympia!
Thanks Anya for making such a wonderfully solid (and engaging) case for studying the Classics! We have used the Well-Trained Mind as our guide since we started homeschooling (our oldest is now in university) and found it to provide an excellent framework. Another recommendation I would add is Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts series (Royal Fireworks Press). His Ceasar's English texts integrate classical history with Latin/Greek stem study and classic vocabulary and are an absolute favourite in our home. Thanks again for all your splendid work :)
Oh! Thank you so much for both the kind words and the recommendations. I will certainly check them out! Also, I love hearing from parents who are already at the university stage!
I can hardly believe that we indeed have reached the university stage, but I can confidently say that it has been an incredibly fruitful journey and has provided me with a whole re-education as well!
Oh yes please! I definitely want to take you up on that! We spent the pandemic learning Latin and the last two years doing ancient Greek, so it would be fun to find more resources to cement that knowledge (and learn more!!)
I’d love to hear more about how you did Latin, why you stopped, and how you decided you’d got to a good moment to stop (or pause). Sometimes with the Ancient Greek I wonder what my ultimate aim is. Mostly though I just think every word we add to the vocabulary has to be good!
Thanks much to Jayshree for pointing me here! I was overjoyed to find this piece, as I'm currently working on the second book in a row dealing with one of our oldest myths and the successive chain of events it inspired. Coincidentally, this myth was also inspired by events occurring not for from Tbilisi, so naturally I was intrigued by the picture. I have since discovered Geomythology, which seeks to uncover the hidden truths inside our oldest narratives, and these contain, there is no doubt in my mind, pearls of wisdom we would ALL be far better off possessing. Thanks so much for this, Anya and Catherine and Classical Wisdom who I'm assuming is a person and not a discipline (?). #HomeSchooling #MytholoGEE #Wisdom
I love the interplay between history and myth - I thought it was really fascinating understanding more of the Medea and Jason story while in Georgia, for instance, and to see the vast wealth there are representative of the golden fleece (Strabo has some interesting points on that). I hope you enjoy Classical Wisdom and Classical KIDS!
OMG! You really learned about that while you were in Georgia? My co-author wrote a piece about Medea and the Argonauts for the book we should be bringing out any time now and I was convinced no one else was aware of the Caucasian connection. He's from Azerbaijan and has studied the region for over 25 years now, down into Northern Mesopotamia–with good reason. Now I think he and I both have to check out what Strabo has to say about the matter–we've already reaped a great harvest from him in the book already. If you piece was any indication, then you'll be hearing a lot more from me.
One last point: to return to my mention of Geomythology, although I find this new-ish discipline extremely exciting and precious, I always wondered why scholars involved in it never turned their lens towards the Bibel and Greek mythology–considering the import of both. We've done exactly this with our book–with shocking results...
I would definitely recommend checking out the treasury in Tbilisi! You can see the magnificent treasures from Medea's time period - and they did a great job in the exhibition with quotes from Strabo and others. I wrote about it more in this post, which you may enjoy: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/should-we-own-stuff
Thanks much! Will do–at least, I'll read the post. e're traveling the world right now and it's tough to find time to visit everywhere...Plus we have an 18-yr-old with less-than-total interest in the Classics and Georgia...
TOTALLY understand - we are usually away for about half the year (You can see my husband's post about this: https://howwehomeschool.substack.com/p/special-guest-edition-how-we-homeschooled-3fe) and I fully appreciate the difficulties of making time. Georgia I think would be super cool for 18 yr-old even without the classics. It was a really cool mix of so many cultures - amazing food, ancient wine tactics, super interesting architecture. We really enjoyed our time there (as well as in Armenia).
I have zero doubt in my mind that my wife and I would enjoy the region, which I would even extend down to Lake Van past the Hurrian homeland to the Syrian border. I've researched the area so much now I feel like I've been there anyway. But our daughter is on the autism scale and has her own mind–about everything. She cares about as much for the Caucasus as you might about my New England Patriots...8^) I saw that you travel! That's wonderful! I'll check out the article–maybe it'll help figuring out my pesky residency issue!
Great piece, Anya! I read Dickens' "Bleak House" last year and was absolutely amazed at the number of references made to 1) the Bible, and 2) Shakespeare's plays. Classic literature (and art and poetry) really does draw on so many prior sources. The more (classic books/fairy tales/mythology) you read, the more of those references you'll get.
Exactly - I'm currently reading Swann's Way (my husband and I decided to embark on a Proust challenge... may or may not have been wise!) and I'm so glad I am able to understand a lot of the Classical references, it means I can go with the flow of the writing and not have to stop and look up everything. Much more enjoyable experience!
I forgot the add the caption to the Amazon sculpture in our local botanical garden. It is a reproduction of a 500 BC work done by the ancient Greek sculptor Fidias. Copied by the Italian artist Pirilli.
Here's more information (in Spanish):
https://palermonline.com.ar/wordpress/la-amazona-realizada-por-fidias-del-siglo-de-pericles-en-el-jardin-botanico-de-buenos-aires/
Here are a few of the sculptures in our ecoparque as well:
https://buenosaires.gob.ar/ecoparque/esculturas-y-fuentes
Ops! I just realised I wrote the ancient Greek sculptor's name in Spanish! Phidias - famed for the statues of the goddess Athena on the Athenian Acropolis and his Zeus at Olympia!
Thanks Anya for making such a wonderfully solid (and engaging) case for studying the Classics! We have used the Well-Trained Mind as our guide since we started homeschooling (our oldest is now in university) and found it to provide an excellent framework. Another recommendation I would add is Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts series (Royal Fireworks Press). His Ceasar's English texts integrate classical history with Latin/Greek stem study and classic vocabulary and are an absolute favourite in our home. Thanks again for all your splendid work :)
Oh! Thank you so much for both the kind words and the recommendations. I will certainly check them out! Also, I love hearing from parents who are already at the university stage!
I created a Latin/Greek stems study guide which includes copy work, flashcards, and fun quizzes for 100 stems. You can find the first set here https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/labor-day-special-educational-resources (I'd be happy to offer you complementary access to the rest if you are interested:)
I can hardly believe that we indeed have reached the university stage, but I can confidently say that it has been an incredibly fruitful journey and has provided me with a whole re-education as well!
Oh yes please! I definitely want to take you up on that! We spent the pandemic learning Latin and the last two years doing ancient Greek, so it would be fun to find more resources to cement that knowledge (and learn more!!)
I’d love to hear more about how you did Latin, why you stopped, and how you decided you’d got to a good moment to stop (or pause). Sometimes with the Ancient Greek I wonder what my ultimate aim is. Mostly though I just think every word we add to the vocabulary has to be good!
Reading the classics brings out so many great conversations with my students. I have loved teaching them.
SO many great conversations! Wonderful to know there are lots of classics lovers out there!
Thanks much to Jayshree for pointing me here! I was overjoyed to find this piece, as I'm currently working on the second book in a row dealing with one of our oldest myths and the successive chain of events it inspired. Coincidentally, this myth was also inspired by events occurring not for from Tbilisi, so naturally I was intrigued by the picture. I have since discovered Geomythology, which seeks to uncover the hidden truths inside our oldest narratives, and these contain, there is no doubt in my mind, pearls of wisdom we would ALL be far better off possessing. Thanks so much for this, Anya and Catherine and Classical Wisdom who I'm assuming is a person and not a discipline (?). #HomeSchooling #MytholoGEE #Wisdom
I love the interplay between history and myth - I thought it was really fascinating understanding more of the Medea and Jason story while in Georgia, for instance, and to see the vast wealth there are representative of the golden fleece (Strabo has some interesting points on that). I hope you enjoy Classical Wisdom and Classical KIDS!
OMG! You really learned about that while you were in Georgia? My co-author wrote a piece about Medea and the Argonauts for the book we should be bringing out any time now and I was convinced no one else was aware of the Caucasian connection. He's from Azerbaijan and has studied the region for over 25 years now, down into Northern Mesopotamia–with good reason. Now I think he and I both have to check out what Strabo has to say about the matter–we've already reaped a great harvest from him in the book already. If you piece was any indication, then you'll be hearing a lot more from me.
One last point: to return to my mention of Geomythology, although I find this new-ish discipline extremely exciting and precious, I always wondered why scholars involved in it never turned their lens towards the Bibel and Greek mythology–considering the import of both. We've done exactly this with our book–with shocking results...
I would definitely recommend checking out the treasury in Tbilisi! You can see the magnificent treasures from Medea's time period - and they did a great job in the exhibition with quotes from Strabo and others. I wrote about it more in this post, which you may enjoy: https://classicalwisdom.substack.com/p/should-we-own-stuff
Thanks much! Will do–at least, I'll read the post. e're traveling the world right now and it's tough to find time to visit everywhere...Plus we have an 18-yr-old with less-than-total interest in the Classics and Georgia...
TOTALLY understand - we are usually away for about half the year (You can see my husband's post about this: https://howwehomeschool.substack.com/p/special-guest-edition-how-we-homeschooled-3fe) and I fully appreciate the difficulties of making time. Georgia I think would be super cool for 18 yr-old even without the classics. It was a really cool mix of so many cultures - amazing food, ancient wine tactics, super interesting architecture. We really enjoyed our time there (as well as in Armenia).
I have zero doubt in my mind that my wife and I would enjoy the region, which I would even extend down to Lake Van past the Hurrian homeland to the Syrian border. I've researched the area so much now I feel like I've been there anyway. But our daughter is on the autism scale and has her own mind–about everything. She cares about as much for the Caucasus as you might about my New England Patriots...8^) I saw that you travel! That's wonderful! I'll check out the article–maybe it'll help figuring out my pesky residency issue!
So pleased you liked the post Jack!
Great piece, Anya! I read Dickens' "Bleak House" last year and was absolutely amazed at the number of references made to 1) the Bible, and 2) Shakespeare's plays. Classic literature (and art and poetry) really does draw on so many prior sources. The more (classic books/fairy tales/mythology) you read, the more of those references you'll get.
I love your inclusion of fairy stories in that list Shannon, if it was good enough to Einstein it’s good enough for me!
Absolutely. Fairy tales have depth and richness that honestly can be hard to find elsewhere!
Exactly - I'm currently reading Swann's Way (my husband and I decided to embark on a Proust challenge... may or may not have been wise!) and I'm so glad I am able to understand a lot of the Classical references, it means I can go with the flow of the writing and not have to stop and look up everything. Much more enjoyable experience!
Wow - marriage goals!
Ha ha! Let's see what happens when we fall behind!
I came across Classic Kids through your Substack a while back. I love both of your content, such a great collaboration! xx
What I think is so cool is that we all have a similar 'telos' in this space - fantastic education for fantastic kids...
Ah thank you Danica, that’s so nice to hear!