Showing results for "Digital Media" in Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature

Plato's Allegory of the Cave is what many believe to be the foundation of Western Philosophy. It addresses what is visible and invisible, seen and observed versus intuited and imagined, and what is public versus private and just versus unjust. It also concerns the meaning and importance of education, the state of the soul, the conflict between truth and beauty, animal urges versus higher aspirations, knowledge versus ignorance, and on and on.

The Odyssey is an epic poem, written by the ancient Greek philosopher Homer, and considered to be the second oldest piece of western literature still in existence. Scholars believe it was written at the end of the eighth century BC. Still heavily used in schools because of its unique literary makeup and historical value, the poems follow Greek hero Odysseus, as he journeys home after the 10-year long Trojan War. His journey home takes another 10 years, and Odysseus encounters many obstacles.

The Divine Comedy is a narrative poem by Dante Alighieri that describes the the pilgrim Dante’s travels through Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio), and Paradise (Paradiso). This trio of books, or cantiche, is one example of the number three as a theme throughout the work. Each book consists of 33 cantos, which—added to an introductory canto—totals 100. Each cantica follows a pattern of nine phases plus one for a total of ten: nine circles of hell plus Lucifer, nine rings of Mount Purgatory plus the garden of Eden, nine celestial bodies of Paradise followed by the Empyrean essence of God.

The ancient story and legend of Odysseus's return home.

The Iliad is an epic Greek poem written by philosopher Homer, and is considered one of the oldest pieces of western literature still in existence. The story takes place during the last weeks of the 10-year Trojan War, with a focus on the quarrels between King Agamemnon and the legendary warrior Achilles. However, this tale's most famous scene is when the Greek's give a gift to the Trojans of a large wooden horse, but one that is filled with soldiers, that allows the Greeks to infiltrate the high walls of the city of Troy.

Marcus Aurelius was the Roman emperor from 161 to AD 180, and during that time, he kept several collections of journals that contained personal notes, militaristic strategy, and ideas on Stoic philosophy. While unlikely that he ever intended to publicly publish these journals, there is no real official title, so most often "Meditations" is used because of his in depth writings on philosophy. These journals give an introspective look at how and why Marcus Aurelius' operated as an emperor.

Meditations is former US President Bill Clinton's favorite book. This audio consists of a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor AD 161-180, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy.

We are all classicists - we come into touch with the classics on a daily basis: in our culture, politics, medicine, architecture, language, and literature. What are the true roots of these influences, however, and how do our interpretations of these aspects of the classics differ from their original reality?

David Weir explores the conflicting attitudes towards modernity present in decadent culture by examining the difference between aesthetic decadence - the excess of artifice - and social decadence, which involves excess in a variety of forms, whether perversely pleasurable or gratuitously cruel. Such contrariness between aesthetic and social decadence led some of its practitioners to substitute art for life and to stress the importance of taste over morality, a maneuver with far-reaching consequences.

Pegasus, du alter Renner,

Trag mich mal nach Afrika,

Alldieweil so schwarze Männer

Und so bunte Vögel da.

Kleider sind da wenig Sitte;

Höchstens trägt man einen Hut,

Auch wohl einen Schurz der Mitte;

Man ist schwarz und damit gut.

Hier sieht man Fritz, den muntren Knaben,

Nebst Huckebein, dem jungen Raben.

Und dieser Fritz, wie alle Knaben,

Will einen Raben gerne haben.

Schon rutscht er auf dem Ast daher,

Der Vogel, der misstraut ihm sehr.

Vater werden ist nicht schwer,

Vater sein dagegen sehr.

Ersteres wird gern geübt,

Weil es allgemein beliebt.

Selbst der Lasterhafte zeigt,

Dass er gar nicht abgeneigt;

Nur will er mit seinen Sünden

Keinen guten Zweck verbinden,

Sondern, wenn die Kosten kommen,

Fühlet er sich angstbeklommen.

Die Knopp-Trilogie ist nach "Max und Moritz“ eines der bekanntesten Werke von Wilhelm Busch. Der Zweizeiler "Vater werden ist nicht schwer - Vater sein dagegen sehr“ stammt aus dieser Trilogie.

Erstmals ist hier der Bürger nicht Opfer handlungsstarker Plagegeister, wie es in "Max und Moritz“ oder "Hans Huckebein, der Unglücksrabe“ der Fall war, sondern durchgängig die handelnde Hauptperson.

Abou Ben Adhem awakens to find an angel within his room writing the names of those who love The Lord inside a book of gold. To his shock, he discovers his is name will not be added and learns of the fate awaiting him.

Tutta la vivacità e la bonaria ironia di Carlo Goldoni si ritrova in questo “scherzo” teatrale che ci presenta un innamorato, Cardone, in rovina per amore di Livietta, donna che vuole per marito un ricco e nessun altro. Ma quando lo zio di Cardone, sordido e avaro, viene a morire, lascia a suo nipote una consistente eredità e tra i due giovani riprende la commedia dell’amore nei medesimi ruoli di un tempo: lui innamorato pazzo... ma lei?