Classical Mythology with Elizabeth Vandiver

Video Lectures

Displaying all 24 video lectures.
Lecture 1
Introduction to Classical Mythology
Play Video		 Introduction to Classical Mythology
In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Vandiver, a Professor of Classics from University of Maryland, College Park, introduces the topic of Classical Mythology and tries to define its the words "classical", "mythology", and "myth", a background of some myths, as well as briefly touching on the broader cultural implications of these myths.

Obtained from archive.org.
Lecture 2
What is Myth?
Play Video		 What is Myth?
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver looks at particular ways to define myth, starting by dispelling the popularly held beliefs of what myth is then moving on to some of the popular theories of myth developed during the 19th and 20th century to explain the place ans use of myths.

Obtained from archive.org.
Lecture 3
Why is Myth? by Elizabeth Vandiver
Play Video		 Why is Myth? by Elizabeth Vandiver
In this lecture, Elizabeth Vandiver continues her discussion of myth by looking at why myth is used, looking at the theories of Freud, Jung, Propp, Levi-Strauss, Burkert, and Campbell.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested reading:
"The Interpretation of Dreams" by Freud trans. Strachey: http://a.co/hgSj6e7
"Totem and Taboo" by Freud trans. Strachey: http://a.co/3sOVt5L
"Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious" by Jung trans. Hull: http://a.co/jaiuq0G
"Morphology of the Folktale" by Propp trans. Scott: http://a.co/0tue71X
"Structural Anthropology" by Levi-Strauss trans. Jacobson and Schoepf: http://a.co/4clvhGd
"Greek Religion" by Burkert trans. Raffan: http://a.co/euyRhSP
"The Power of Myth" by Campbell: http://a.co/5YWbWNO

Burkert's book would most interest a student of Greek Mythology.
Lecture 4

Play Video		 "First Was Chaos" by Elizabeth Vandiver
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses classical myth itself with looking at the Ancient Greek creation story as recounted by Hesiod's Theogony.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested books:
"Theogony" translated by esteemed classicist Richmond Lattimore: http://a.co/frugE9D
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/aLrNJba
Lecture 5
The Reign Of The Olympians
Play Video		 The Reign Of The Olympians
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver continues the discussion of Theogony by discussing the Olympian Gods with a focus around Zeus.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested books:
"Theogony" translated by esteemed classicist Richmond Lattimore: http://a.co/frugE9D
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/aLrNJba
Lecture 6
Immortals and Mortals by Elizabeth Vandiver
Play Video		 Immortals and Mortals by Elizabeth Vandiver
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver examines the myths of Prometheus and Pandora as it appears on Hesiod's Theogony and Works and Days.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested books:
"Theogony" and "Works and Days" translated by esteemed classicist Richmond Lattimore: http://a.co/frugE9D
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/aLrNJba
Lecture 7
Demeter, Persephone, and The Conquest Of Death
Play Video		 Demeter, Persephone, and The Conquest Of Death
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver examines the Olympian goddess Demeter through the Homeric Hymn of Demeter.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested reading:
"Homeric Hymns" translated by Apostolos Athanassakis: http://a.co/68aH3ns
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/9OswhBb
Lecture 8
The Eleusinian Mysteries and The Afterlife
Play Video		 The Eleusinian Mysteries and The Afterlife
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver looks into the ritual connection of the Homeric Hymn of Demeter with the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested reading:
"Homeric Hymns" translated by Apostolos Athanassakis: http://a.co/68aH3ns
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/9OswhBb
Thomas Taylor's book on the mysteries: http://a.co/hFqlGIR
Lecture 9
Apollo and Artemis
Play Video		 Apollo and Artemis
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver examines the Olympian god and goddess of Apollo and Artemis.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested reading:
"Homeric Hymns" translated by Apostolos Athanassakis: http://a.co/68aH3ns
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/9OswhBb
Lecture 10
Hermes and Dionysus
Play Video		 Hermes and Dionysus
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the two gods of Hermes and Dionysus.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested reading:
"Homeric Hymns" translated by Apostolos Athanassakis: http://a.co/68aH3ns
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/9OswhBb
Lecture 11
Laughter-Loving Aphrodite
Play Video		 Laughter-Loving Aphrodite
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver concludes her discussion of individual gods by examining the Goddess Aphrodite.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested reading:
"Homeric Hymns" translated by Apostolos Athanassakis: http://a.co/68aH3ns
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/9OswhBb
Lecture 12
ulture, Prehistory, and the
Play Video		 ulture, Prehistory, and the "Great Goddesses"
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver deals with the cultural and historical background of Greek Myth and examines possible influences from non-Greek cultures. This lesson begins the second-half of the course on Greek Myth.

Obtained from archive.org.
Lecture 13
Humans, Heroes, and Half-Gods
Play Video		 Humans, Heroes, and Half-Gods
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver begins the examination of the famous heroes of Greek myth in context of the creation story and Heroic Age provided in Hesiod's "Works and Days".

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Works and Days" translated by esteemed classicist Richmond Lattimore: http://a.co/frugE9D
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/aLrNJba
Lecture 14
Theseus and the
Play Video		 Theseus and the "Test-and-Quest" Myth
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the myth of Theseus and an interpretation of the myth.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested reading:
"Life of Theseus" in "Parallel Lives" by Plutarch trans. Dryden: http://a.co/713W8mB
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/4brfUAR
"The Library, or Bibliotheca" by Apollodorus trans. Hard: http://a.co/2kP0V1A
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/bgTEGGA
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/gqv1N1h
Lecture 15
From Myth to History and Back Again
Play Video		 From Myth to History and Back Again
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver continues her discussion of Theseus with a focus on his relation to Crete and Minos.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Life of Theseus" in "Parallel Lives" by Plutarch trans. Dryden: http://a.co/713W8mB
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/4brfUAR
"The Library, or Bibliotheca" by Apollodorus trans. Hard: http://a.co/2kP0V1A
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/bgTEGGA
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/gqv1N1h
Lecture 16
The Greatest Hero Of All
Play Video		 The Greatest Hero Of All
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the Greek hero Heracles and his life.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"The Library, or Bibliotheca" by Apollodorus trans. Hard: http://a.co/2kP0V1A
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/bgTEGGA
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/gqv1N1h
"The Shield of Heracles" by Hesiod trans. Lattimore: http://a.co/8C2Ruy6
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/f6dUrGr
"Heracles, or The Madness of Heracles" by Euripides trans. Arrowsmith: http://a.co/ipTDM4a
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/a2Zq83h
"The Children of Heracles" by Euripides trans. Griffith: http://a.co/7ynclCX
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/dJXKo5R
Lecture 17
The Trojan War
Play Video		 The Trojan War
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the famous Trojan War.

Obtained archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"The Iliad" by Homer trans. Lattimore: http://a.co/3SY2dHI
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/fq7BqSb
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/0bRw8VW
"The Odyssey" by Homer trans. Lattimore: http://a.co/78clke2
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/f1ZFl3e
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/f1I5g2p
"The Library, or Bibliotheca" by Apollodorus trans. Hard: http://a.co/2kP0V1A
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/bgTEGGA
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/gqv1N1h
Lecture 18
The Terrible House Of Atreus
Play Video		 The Terrible House Of Atreus
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the House of Atreus in Greek myth and the tragedies they experience.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"The Library, or Bibliotheca" by Apollodorus trans. Hard: http://a.co/2kP0V1A
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/bgTEGGA
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/gqv1N1h
Lecture 19
Blood, Vengeance, Justice, and The Furies
Play Video		 Blood, Vengeance, Justice, and The Furies
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the trilogy of Aeschylus under the name of "Oresteia".

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Oresteia" trilogy by Aeschylus trans. Lattimore: http://a.co/d8BJPwp
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/4HjYgBy
Lecture 20
The Tragedies Of King Oedipus
Play Video		 The Tragedies Of King Oedipus
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the story of Oedpius as told by Sophocles.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Oedipus the King" by Sophocles trans. Grene: http://a.co/2RFd0Mj
Bilingual Loeb edition: http://a.co/5yyaUTC
Lecture 21
Monstrous Females and Female Monsters
Play Video		 Monstrous Females and Female Monsters
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses the Amazons.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Histories" by Herodotus trans. Grene: http://a.co/0ZY5QaG
I do not know of any single-volume Bilingual edition for this work.

The above work does not deal extensively with Amazon women but merely contains scatted discussions of it.
Lecture 22
Roman Founders, Roman Fables
Play Video		 Roman Founders, Roman Fables
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver introduces Roman mythology with a constant reference to Greek mythology. The primary work dealt here is Virgil's Aeneid.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Aeneid" by Virgil trans. Dryden: http://a.co/j0tBJ7E

There is also an upcoming translation by David Ferry this fall.
Lecture 23
Gods Are Useful
Play Video		 Gods Are Useful
In this lecture, Prof. Vandiver discusses Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Metamorphoses" by Ovid trans. Mandelbaum: http://a.co/dMlKGnj
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/2w6EUTh
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/759v8sp
Lecture 24
From Ovid To The Stars
Play Video		 From Ovid To The Stars
In the final lecture, Prof. Vandiver concludes her course with Ovid's Metamorphoses and its influence on Christian Europe.

Obtained from archive.org.

Suggested readings:
"Metamorphoses" by Ovid trans. Mandelbaum: http://a.co/dMlKGnj
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. I: http://a.co/2w6EUTh
Bilingual Loeb edition, Vol. II: http://a.co/759v8sp