Note: This is a free-and-easy lecture open to anyone interested. While we recommend that you enjoy exploring the featured text, you do not have to finish the reading before attending.
About the Event
From family feuds to international conflicts, the pattern seems to remain: violence begets violence, and revenge sparks counter-revenge. Warfare sets in motion a cycle of violence – death and retribution – that extends beyond its official ‘end date’. What does it take to move away from endless retribution, towards a less destructive mode of justice?
Aeschylus’ Oresteia is a gripping trilogy of tragedies that explores the cyclical nature of revenge within the Trojan war. In this session, Prof. Green introduces us to one of the earliest discussions of democratic justice and unpacks what Oresteia tells us about the different means of administering justice for murder.
About the Speaker
Steven J. Green is Full Professor in the Department of English, Linguistics, and Theatre Studies at the National University of Singapore. His research and teaching centre on ancient Greek and Roman literature and society, with a particular focus around Roman poetry and culture. He has written books and articles on a range of topics in Latin poetry, from: the Roman religious calendar, to Roman astrology, to hunting with dogs. His most recent monograph is a detailed analysis and translation of a 1st century AD Latin abbreviated version of Homer’s Iliad ( Ilias Latina: Introduction, Text, Translation, and Commentary, Oxford University Press 2025).
About A Bridge to the Classics
Ever wanted to read a classic but felt too intimidated to take the plunge?
A Bridge to the Classics is a lecture series that aims to introduce and demystify beloved works of literature. This series will equip attendees with the title’s literary and historical contexts and connect these classics to our lives today.
Registration and Attendance
• Registration is required for this programme. Please register…
