5-Week SASA Reading Group: Defying the Gods, and Forgotten Female Rage

Starting with the Epic of Gilgamesh, and going over the themes of heroes against supernatural forces of nature, the portrayal of women, and themes that parallel today’s Bible. Noted as the oldest recorded written history, pre-dating the Bible, the topic will end on a note to discuss what that means for the Bible. Having uncovered themes of heroes versus supernatural deities, and the rise and fall of a kingdom, only to birth a new one, and the representation of women, the last 2/3 will be spent going over both the Iliad and the Aeneid. We will quickly discuss Homer and Vergil’s oral history, and what that means for the story, was it originally from Homer and Vergil? Or were these the people who finally put the story to pen and paper (so to speak). Note similar trends in these epics, women mostly have no name, are background characters, or seem to have only the ability to love, anger, and die, all in the name of heroes. We will discuss fate vs destiny as each hero’s journey seems to be written for them by gods and curses alike. The rise and fall of cities and rulers as corruption and wicked hearts seem to destroy these very magnates of kingdoms, and lastly, discussing the unspoken tragedy that befalls the women in the Iliad and Aeneid.

5-Week Text-In-Translation Reading Group

Sundays @ 11:30 am EDT

Week 1 - June 18

Week 2 - June 25

Week 3 - July 9

Week 4 - July 16

Week 5 - July 30

MUST RSVP TO GET THE ZOOM LINK. The same link will be used for all sessions.