Dabbling into Classics? - Here's 3 Must-Reads!

Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus, 1760, Gavin Hamilton

One of the main challenges when beginning to explore the world of Classics is navigating the mountain of literature on offer - truly a Herculean endeavour if there ever was one! The daunting amount of material out there can be discouraging, especially when there's no clear-cut entry-point.

With that in mind, I am here to provide a selection of my 'top picks', not only excellent in their own right, but perfect as stepping-stones for accessing further texts.

I hope this gives you a good glimpse into some literary gems and motivates you to go read them!

1. Iliad

   
   

I'm sure that this comes as no surprise to anyone!

Priam at the Feet of Achilles, 1809, Jérôme-Martin Langlois

The c. 8th-Century BC legendary epic poem centring on Achilles and the Trojan War, attributed to Homer, known as the Iliad, stands as a monumental work that has left an indelible mark on the world of literature and storytelling, from Aeschylus to Euripides, from Virgil to Ovid, from Chaucer to Shakespeare, from Byron to Joyce, from Robert Graves to Stephen Fry (among an innumerable array of others).

The Iliad, within its 24 books, is not merely a tale of heroism and conflict; it is a profound exploration of human nature, honour, destiny, and the trials and tribulations of war. Homer's masterpiece serves as cornerstone and crucible of Western Literature, setting the standard for epic poetry and narrative storytelling. Its enduring legacy can be seen in the countless adaptations, interpretations, and references it has inspired across various art forms and disciplines (notably, but not exclusively, Renaissance sculpture and Baroque painting).

One need not look far to see that most Greek plays are lent from some part of the Iliadic canon, Virgil's universally celebrated Aeneid is (in many ways) its Latinised rewrite, and that the Iliad's emotional depth and existential ideas have permeated across literature for nearly three millennia (so far!). The Iliad's almighty impact is testament to the intricate craft and expertise of Homer, if not the marvellous imagination of Grecian oral tradition at large.

The Iliad's portrayal of the renowned hero Achilles, his internal struggles, and his tragic fate have resonated with audiences for centuries, offering profound insights into what it means to be mortal (wrestling with a hard and fast, nigh unsympathetic universe).

The Iliad is undeniably a pinnacle of literary achievement. It is not only fitting but essential to recommend it, both for its unparalleled impact on literature as a whole and continuing relevance within contemporary society.

2. Odyssey

You can't really suggest one without the other!

Ulysses and the Sirens, 1909, Herbert James Draper

The Odyssey, just like its Homeric sibling, gains all the points for recommendation. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't heard of the Sirens or the cyclops - just some of the most famous creature-tales from Greek mythology.

The Iliad is the beginning of epic's 'war narrative', heroes in conflict, whereas the Odyssey is the start of epic's 'journey', indeed odyssey: an eventful and extended adventure as it has come to mean in English.

The Odyssey is just as classic as the Iliad. It is the heroic, epic formula at its purest, mostly because of all of the literature it has spawned. An uncountable number of adventure novels, anecdotal journeys, and even sci-fi works can be traced back to the ideas presented within the Odyssey. Encounters with the unknown, discoveries of the monstrous, and overcoming the impossible have become staples of the adventure genre all thanks to the influence of the Odyssey.

There is good reason why the Odyssey has become legendary, even in isolation from the Iliad: because of its particularly human element. Odysseus' journey after the Fall of Troy is ultimately a 'nostos' (a return home). It is the most relatable thing; Odysseus, despite all, is a man attempting to get home to his family, but he is held back by obstacle after obstacle. The weird and terrifying adventures across the poem are tempered with the central motivation, an innately personal objective, to see one's father, spouse, and son again.

Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus, 1829, J. M. W. Turner

These two features have a distinct effect on the reader. We are in awe at (and entertained by) the dazzling variety of epic tales of monsters, but also hope that they might end, so that Odysseus can finally complete his 'nostos'. The journey and the destination are equally fulfilling.

This authorial ethos sets the stage for many a work to come, where the destination (not necessarily geographic) is desirable, but the content (often disadvantageous, or outright adverse, to the destination) buys its place through the entertainment enjoyed by the audience and the development it ingrains in the story's principal characters. After all, Odysseus is defined by the very struggle to complete his journey. Failure and success, for true heroes, go hand in hand.

Overall, the Odyssey, as with the Iliad, is compelling. It is worth reading not simply for its own worth, but the fundamental impact is has inspired upon narrative storytelling.

3. Symposium

Sometimes epic is just that... epic: wide in scope and dense as anything! So, while it is entirely worthwhile to devour the Homeric works, they're certainly not 'light reading'. Considering that, I have refrained from listing Nonnus' Dionysiaca among the five, in light of its whopping 48 book length, making it the size of the Iliad and Odyssey combined and, consequently, the largest piece of Greco-Roman literature. A shame... but a blow I'm prepared to take!

In any case, if you're looking for something a bit snappier, might I recommend Plato's Symposium? Although philosophy might initially seem an ill-fit for a first recommendation, Plato's dialogues (especially the Symposium) are actually very digestible and accessible. In contrast to the general perception of Platonic philosophy, the Symposium is neither convoluted nor 'elite' - the dialogue takes the form of a bunch of figures discussing the concept of love over the course of a drunken evening, the so-called eponymous 'symposium'.

Plato's Symposium, 1869, Anselm Feuerbach

In many ways, the dialogue is relatable; it is simply a group of friends tipsily arguing over their experiences and positions. Rather than the (sometimes droning) back-and-forth of other Platonic dialogues, the Symposium features a plethora of speeches made by historical characters (among them: Agathon, Aristophanes, Alcibiades, and of course Socrates). At times, the dialogue is absolutely absurd, such as Aristophanes' comic proposition that love's 'wholeness' comes from a pseudo-return to human's original sphere-like bodies. At others, the dinner party talk is surprisingly insightful, such as Socrates' narration of the sage words of a famed woman philosopher, Diotima (perhaps a literised version of the real Aspasia).

In all, the Symposium is a wonderful start to the world of ancient literature, whether you venture afterwards towards other dialogues, the comedies of Aristophanes, or something else entirely.