Thucydides Book 7 Questions
Greetings fellow Thucydideans,
Please feast your eyes on a great quote that Mark Casey found for us vis-a-vis Book 7. Then look over the questions as you continue reading Book 7 in anticipation of our next call on Monday January 7. I look forward to discussing this incredible piece of writing with you then.
Regards,
Andre
In a letter, after talking about Cicero, Caesar, and other Romans and how great they were, Lord Macauley wrote:
But what are they all to the great Athenian? I do assure you that there is no prose composition in the world, not even the De Corona, which I place so high as the seventh book of Thucydides. It is the ne plus ultra of human art. I was delighted to find in Gray’s letters the other day this query to Wharton: “The retreat from Syracuse–Is it or is it not the finest thing you ever read in your life?”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Babbington_Macaulay
Thucydides Book 7 Questions
1. As you read Book 7, it becomes clearer and clearer that the Athenian expedition is turning into tragedy. What was your experience of reading this book? It does contain some of Thucydides’ best writing – and I hope you enjoyed his majestic command of the narrative. Even as you enjoyed the pace and command of the story did you also find it simply hard to read as the tragedy unfolded?
2. Let’s review some of the important details of the book:
2.1 In the first three chapters of Book 7, what are the main differences:
in leadership of the Athenian and Syracusan force?
How are the actions of Gylippus and Nicias contrasted?
How does this foreshadow the turning point of the war?
2.2 What role does “time” play? Was “time” strategically against the Athenians? Why?
2.3 Focus on chapters 11-15, Nicias’ speech – what does the tone say of the mood of the army?
2.4 The incident at Mycalessus is terrible and tragic. How does it relate to the telling of the Sicilian campaign?
2.5 The arrival of Demosthenes from Athens complicates the Athenian command structure. How does the shared leadership between Nicias and Demosthenes fail? How could it have worked better?
2.6 How did the Athenians’ failed assault on the Syracusan wall (chs. 43-44) seem to hurt the Athenians and help the Syracusans?
2.7 Why was the first major naval defeat so devastating to the Athenians? How could the Syracusans take advantage of it?
2.8 In chs. 63-68, how do Nicias’ words fail in his attempt to rally the Athenians? How is his own physical problems symbolic of the Athenian situation as a whole? Why, in chs. 66-68, are Gylippus’ words more effective? What does his speech have that Nicias’ doesn’t?
2.9 How does Thucydides describe defeat in ch. 71 in this crucial sea & land battle? How does it evoke the pathos of great historical turning points like Stalingrad? the Tet Offensive? Hemingway’s description of the retreat from Caporetto in A Farewell to Arms? How does Thucydides evoke pity for the Athenians out of their former pride in the final surrender?
3. How are Nicias’ last encouragements to his troops, an appeal to mercy from the gods, ironically related to the Athenian demands at Melos three years earlier in the war? Is this Thucydides’ way of implying that Athens got what it deserved?
Tripp Evans (H2008)
Tripp is a partner of Psynergy Group (PsynergyGroup.com). Psynergy Group helps executives understand and leverage the science of human interaction. Since 1996, Tripp has been conducting seminars, providing consultation and working with corporations, schools, health organizations and the educational software industry introducing the concepts and methods of social-emotional learning.
Tripp is the author of a number of books in the area of humor and reference. Prior to entering the field of mental health, Tripp was the president of a marketing consulting business.
Tripp is a psychotherapist in private practice in New York City.
Tripp holds a Doctorate in Psychoanalytic Studies from The Union Institute, a post-masters, 2-year certificate in Couples Therapy from The Training Institute for Mental Health, and a Masters in Social Work from NYU.
John Hall (H2008)
John Hall is the director of event content at private business-to-business media company Edgell Communications in New Jersey where he develops event content for higher-end executive events catering to senior IT and line-of-business executives in the Retail, Hospitality, CPG and Apparel industries, as well as Defense, Financial Services and other industries that utilize mobile enterprise technology. John’s primary responsibility is to engage senior executives as speakers, acting as their liaison from the moment of engagement to the moment they leave the stage. John previously served as managing editor and cover-story contributor for the company’s RIS News and Consumer Goods Technology publications.
Prior John was the founder and president of an events management company resulting from his being spun off with his events department from the United Media Licensing division of United Feature Syndicate in New York City where he directed the national event operations showcasing the PEANUTS and GARFIELD licensed properties in both business and consumer settings. His own company continued to handle the United Media properties and was also an official licensee of the 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games.
Prior John was a New York City-based performer whose career included a featured role Off-Broadway and on the related original cast album. In his twenties and early thirties John took any performance job that would pay him to travel somewhere he had never been before and in the process visited 48 of the United States extensively, as well as several international locations. He counts Istanbul and New Guinea as his most intriguing destinations thus far.
Aaron Cooper (SW)
Aaron Z. Cooper is the Vice President of Online Marketing for OrbitzWorldwide, Americas. In this capacity, he leads all online marketingactivities including search engine marketing, strategic partnerships,email and site merchandising programs for Orbitz and CheapTickets.Under his direction, the marketing organization has benefited fromhigher returns through its online marketing investments.
Previously, Cooper was Director of eMarketing for Orbitz andCheapTickets. In this role, he created results-oriented marketingstrategies by revamping group structure, key performance indicators andoperations. He also helped lead financial planning and analysis forOrbitz following its 2003 IPO through the acquisition by CendantCorporation.
Prior to Orbitz, Cooper worked for AEG Partners, a turnaroundmanagement firm, where he focused on business turnarounds, financialrestructurings and strategic asset sales. Earlier in his career, heheld positions with America Online’s market analysis group and PriceWaterhouse’s finance and economics consulting group.
Cooper received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and holdsa BA with Honors in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Christa Avampato (H2008)
Christa currently works in Trend and Innovation at Toys R Us where she is involved in all things new and exciting in toyland. She is a recent graduate of the Darden School at UVA and a not-so-recent grad from UPenn. She is a certified yoga instructor, avid runner, and foodie. Located in New York City, she can most often be found updating her blog: www.christainnewyork.blogspot.com
Patti Freeman Evans (H2008)
Patti Freeman Evans is a senior analyst with Jupiter Research, focusingon multi-channel retail strategy, with nineteen years of diversifiedexperience, expertise in creating customer-centric ecommerce sites,integrating channels effectively, developing innovative marketinginitiatives and ensuring high-standard customer service and orderfulfillment operations.
Freeman Evans has been quoted in major media outlets such as The WallStreet Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune and Business2.0, as well as in industry publications such as Internet Retailer,Executive Technology. Freeman Evans has also appeared on NBC NightlyNews.
Before joining Jupiter Research, Freeman Evans held leadershippositions with leading internationally know companies likeBloomingdale’s and Godiva Chocolatier. Most recently, Freeman Evans wasDirector of Shopping Services with Bloomingdales.com where she touchedon all aspects of the multi-channel retail business. Brought on boardto create and launch Bloomingdale’s Bridal Registry website withWeddingChannel.com, Freeman Evans directed all aspects of the business,from concept to implementation, including backend, customer service andstore integration issues. In her previous capacities at Bloomingdale’sFreeman Evans led the International Marketing Department andimplemented award-winning multiple-media marketing and retentionprograms. Further, Freeman Evans has done project work to developinteractive educational products for adults and children.
Freeman Evans holds a B.A. in Business Administration andStudio Art from Franklin and Marshall. In addition to her duties withJupiter Research, she has taught E-commerce at the Fashion Institute ofTechnology in New York City. Freeman Evans is also a Member of theBoard of Directors for shop.org, a membership organization that servesthe online and multichannel retail community and a division of theNational Retail Federation.
Kevin Greene (H2008)
Kevin R. Greene is Chairman & CEO of KR Group, LLC, an international consulting and investment banking firm as well as Managing Partner of Cru Capital Management, LLC and James Alpha Management, LLC.
Greene has conducted business in Asia and lived and worked extensively in Europe. He is fluent in Spanish and French, with a working knowledge of Italian.
Greene lives in Manhattan with his wife, Hilary, and four children, Henry (11) and Eleanor (9), who attend St. David’s and Nightingale-Bamford, respectively, and Alice (2) and Lilly (1). Greene’s leisure time activities include basketball, cycling, swimming and tennis, as well as studying history and politics.
November 2007 Old Testament – Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther- audio recording
Here’s the audio recording for the Old Testament November call. Listenonline or download the mp3 file and listen to it as a podcast on youripod.
Cathryn Cranston (H2008)
Cathryn Cranston is EVP of strategy at Mansueto Ventures, publisher of the media brands Inc. and Fast Company. Before joining MV, she was publisher of the Harvard Business Review. She is chairman of the board of the Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and a trustee of the Peter C. Alderman foundation. She has a B.A. from Harvard College, and lives in Chappaqua, NY.
Out of copies
That’s great news! Woo hoo! 😉 And yes I can believe that.
– I hear from sources in Boston that no one can get the Landmark Herodotus right now although its on order because the publisher has run out of copies!
– Can you believe that?
I’ll note that you can send folks online to Amazon.com – they have copies available for sale.
And more good news – you are ranked #1 in sales on Amazon in the following categories:
– #1 in Books > History > Europe > Greece
– #1 in Books > History > Ancient > Greece
And #20 in overall history!
– #20 in Books > History
I’m hoping to see it climb to #1 in history 😉
Thanks again for allowing me to give that party to you. I am grateful to have the opportunity to get to know you better – your background, your many projects now and, of course, your family and lifelong friends. You do truly deserve the first Populi Professor Praemium!
Thank you,
Phil
06. December 2007 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Herodotus | Tags: Herodotus | Comments Off on Out of copies