On February 26, 2024, Tobias Myers, Associate Professor of Classics at Deree – The American College of Greece, presented the inaugural lecture of the Hellenic Studies Seminar Series entitled “Odysseus through the Looking Glass: On Knowing One’s Self in Homer.” The seminar series, organized by the Institute for Hellenic Culture and the Liberal Arts, invites ACG faculty, visiting fellows and guest speakers to present their work on a variety of topics in Hellenic Studies ranging from antiquity to the present. All seminars take place at our Aghia Paraskevi campus, are free and open to the public and accessible through Zoom. . The seminar series, organized by the Institute for Hellenic Culture and the Liberal Arts, invites ACG faculty, visiting fellows and guest speakers to present their work on a variety of topics in Hellenic Studies ranging from antiquity to the present. All seminars take place at our Aghia Paraskevi campus, are free and open to the public and accessible through Zoom.
Professor Myers, author of Homer’s Divine Audience: The Iliad’s Reception on Mount Olympus (Oxford University Press, 2019), spoke about ideas of the self and self-knowledge in Homer’s Odyssey as seen through Odysseus’ own retelling of his harrowing journey home to the Phaeacians. Peeling away the layers of self-discovery woven throughout the epic, Professor Myers shed light on the complexities of identity and introspection in ancient Greek literature and highlighted the enduring relevance and profound insights offered by ancient texts. The hybrid event was attended by Hellenic Studies faculty, fellows and students at the American College of Greece as well as by guests from outside the college. Following the lecture, participants engaged in a lively discussion and had the opportunity to unwind and socialize over refreshments and snacks in the inviting ambiance of the Deree Faculty Lounge.
