March + April 2012

Monday 26 March, 2012
Gino Canlas,  UBC Department of Classics, Near East & Religious Studies
Witches, Horses, and Diarrhea: the Place of the Goddess Enodia in Thessalian Mythology

This talk will be an introduction to the cult of the obscure goddess Enodia who comes from the region of Thessaly. Thessaly was stereotyped in Classical antiquity as a semi-barbarian land of witches and horsemen, a perception which greatly influenced modern scholarship. The Thessalians also had a mysterious goddess named Enodia, originally not found anywhere else in Greece, but very important in Thessaly. The presentation will give some background on Thessaly, focusing especially on religion and mythology, and will explore the role of the goddess Enodia in the region

Monday 20 April 2012
Maria Callas: Her Life, Loves and Music
Sofia Antonakos, Soprano, &
Ric Spratley, President, Pharos, Text and Piano

Arguably the most renowned Greek of the 20^th Century, Maria Callas had a dazzling career which set a standard for dramatic and bel-canto soprano roles that may never be surpassed.  Continuing the Pharos tradition of a Musical April, Greek-Canadian soprano Sofia Antonakos will sing some of the arias that made Callas famous, while Ric will explore Callas’ musical and personal life, the  tragic arc of which rivals the plots of many of the operas she sang. 

January + February 2012

30 January 2012 at 7:30 pm

Helen: from Homer to Hollywood
Florence Yoon, UBC Department of Classical, Near East & Religious Studies

Helen is one of the most compelling figures of classical mythology, inspiring storytellers from Homer and Euripides to Hollywood and Margaret Atwood. As the "face that launched a thousand ships," she reflects changing views of causality and blame, gender and power, beauty and divinity. This talk will consider her transformation through almost 3000 years of representation, demonstrating how traditional mythological material can be adapted into a unique interpretation according to the artistic aims and the specific context of each portrayal.

Tuesday 28 February 2012 at 7:30pm

Life, the Universe and Everything (According to Plato)
Michael Griffin, UBC Department of Classical, Near East & Religious Studies

Last November was the 2,437^th birthday of Aristocles, the dashing, barrel-chested young Athenian aristocrat (and champion wrestler) who sailed the far reaches of the Mediterranean world in search of knowledge, justice, and love. Along the way, he ruled with kings, narrowly escaped slavery (twice), and happened to invent Western philosophy and science. We know him best by his wrestling nickname: ho Platon, “the Broadman”; but Plato wouldn’t mind if we knew nothing about him, so long as we learned to know ourselves. Come along for a high-level tour through Plato’s life and the big Platonic ideas that touch our lives today