TED-Ed
TED-ED: Why should you read Virgil's "Aeneid"? - Mark Robinson
In 19 BC, the Roman poet Virgil suffered heatstroke and died on his journey back to Italy. On his deathbed, he thought about the manuscript he had been working on for over ten years, an epic poem called the "Aeneid." Unsatisfied with the...
Professor Dave Explains
The Eastern Mediterranean Part 4: The Phoenicians (1500 – 100 BCE)
We've talked about the Israelites at great length, but just next door in the northern part of Canaan was an incredible group of people known as the Phoenicians. What is their origin? What are they famous for? Let's find out!
IT'S HISTORY
The Trojan War - A tale of Passion and Bloodshed! l HISTORY OF SEX
The Trojan War is one of the most epic and passionate legends set in Greek Mythology. Legend has it, that Prince Paris fell in love with the beautiful Helena, wife of King Menelaos of Sparta. He took her to Troy, which sent all of the...
Professor Dave Explains
The History of Pizza and Types of Pizza in Italy
Everybody loves pizza! It's the world's favorite food. But where does it come from? Italy, of course. But when? And how? And from whom? It's an interesting story! And also, what kinds of pizza do Italians like to eat? Let's talk about...
Curated Video
The First Roman Hero was a Trojan
So Romulus is the traditional founder of Rome, but the Romans traced their history back even further. In the Iliad, Aeneas is a minor character, one of the dozens of princes of Troy, but in Roman mythology he went on to lead his family...
Gresham College
Shakespeare's Heroes - Professor Sir Jonathan Bate CBE FBA
What do we mean by a hero and where does our understanding of the heroic idiom come from? In this lecture, Jonathan Bate will show how Shakespeares idea of the hero was shaped by the classical tradition, going back to the ancient tale of...
PBS
Don’t Know Much About BEOWULF? Nobody Does!
Let’s face it. Between English classes, Lit classes, World Culture classes, and History classes, there’s no escaping The Epic Poem. THE ODYSSEY, THE ILIAD, THE AENEID, THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH, BEOWULF. At some point, we’re going to have to...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 1.1.174 Word Nerd: Venus
In affirming her love for Lysander, Hermia swears by two symbols from ancient mythology. The doves represent lifelong marriage and fidelity due to their portrayal alongside Venus, the goddess of love. The fire that burned Dido, the...
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read Virgil's "Aeneid"?
Is Virgil's Aeneid, as Augustus believed, written in praise of the first Roman emperor, or a criticism of his rule? Introduce the famous epic poem with a short video that provides background information about the poet, the historic...