Representations of Memnon in Archaic Greek Pottery

Representations of Memnon in Archaic Greek Pottery
By Maggie Yuan

Ancient Greek literary sources paint a complex picture of race and ethnicity, in which no consensus surrounding the parameters of identity exists. In particular, these sources differ in the way they portray Aethiopians; while some describe them as a “savage” people, others like Herodotus create an aura of mysticism around them (3.20-3.22). Material artifacts, such as pottery, only complicate this narrative further…

The Very Best Men in Greek Mythology

The Very Best Men in Greek Mythology
By Maggie Yuan

Nearly every classics student that I’ve met was obsessed with Greco-Roman mythology as a child. It didn’t matter whether we read D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths or Percy Jackson, we were all fascinated by this ancient world filled with trickster gods and dashing heroes. But looking back, the stories themselves were pretty intense for a readership of children…

Book Review: Harper’s The Wolf Den

Book Review: Harper’s The Wolf Den
By Maggie Yuan

From 2018’s Circe to the Illiad retelling The Silence of the Girls, the women of antiquity have taken the literary world by storm in a recent wave of feminist mythological retellings. Though the subjects differ, the common thread is the authors’ complex reimagining of the often one-dimensional women. Surprisingly, the lives of Rome’s most mysterious, enigmatic, and real women were…

A Guide to Mythological Retellings

A Guide to Mythological Retellings
By Maggie Yuan

From Circe to Lore Olympus, today’s literary landscape features more than just a few retellings of classical mythology. Whether you’re eager to learn more about Greco-Roman mythology or are simply in search of a new and interesting read, keep reading to find out which contemporary title should be the next addition to your list.

Orpheus as a Muse

Orpheus as a Muse
By Maggie Yuan

What do a tragic love story, the Can-Can, and a critique on industrialization have in common? All are rooted in the ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. Everybody loves a good love story, and as far as the Greeks were concerned, the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice represents a version of true and pure love devoid of any ill intentions. At the core of the story, however, is the importance of divine faith, even over such passion…