Seneca's Thyestes: A Mythic Exploration

Join us in the third and final installment of Seneca's Thyestes.

In the first act, we set the stage and explored the philosophical back drop in which the play transpires. In the second act, we explored the mythic foundation upon which the play is built. In the third and final act, we dig into the play itself.

Walk with us as we discuss Thyestes and the house of Atreus. A depiction of the ruin which results from a disordered soul devoured by appetite, devoid of Wisdom.

Handouts will be provided for discussion. Participants are encouraged to read or listen to one of the links provided below. Many other translations abound, all are welcome. Optional lunch will follow discussion, cheers!

Theoi Classical Texts Library (easiest to read online): theoi.com/Text/SenecaThyestes.html. This is Miller's 1917 Loeb Classical Library translation, presented as plain web text.

Wikisource (the earlier verse version): Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller. This is Miller's first translation, published in 1907 and later revised for the Loeb edition in 1917. He rendered the spoken parts in English blank verse and sometimes kept the original meters in the choral odes. Thyestes is on page 287.

Audio: LibriVox has a free full-cast recording of the Miller translation.