Questions for Genesis
Our group combines Jewish, Christian, Hindu and agnostic readers. I look forward to the conversations.
Genesis
Tuesday, March 27
8pm NYC time
1-800-615-2900
11215#
(I’ll be sending out another number for international callers)
Here are a few questions to guide your reading of the first part of Genesis (we’ll discuss the whole book; this should just help you get started).
1. Creation, Adam, Eve and the serpent
The initial stories of Genesis are powerful. “In the beginning…” Herodotus (for those who joined us for Herodotus) attempted to explain how the Greeks and Persians came to fight each other – and in so doing told the stories of the peoples of the Mediterranean. Yet, he did not attempt to start “in the beginning” and while the morality of his history may be debated, the Bible is an entirely different piece of literature.
What did you think about the two stories of creation in Genesis? About Adam and Eve? For first-time readers of the actual text – did some of the language offend, delight, surprise you?
2. Cain and Abel 4.1 – 4.26
This famous story – earliest instance in Genesis of violence – only takes about three paragraphs in Genesis. Were you surprised it was so short? What is the story about? Why does God snub Cain when the two brothers make their offering? Why does Cain lie to God? Does he think God does not know? Remember that “denial of family solidarity” would have been “anathema to Israelite readers.” Note also famous phrases like “…am I my brother’s keeper?” and “…land of Nod, east of Eden.”
3. Noah and the great flood 6.1-10
Again, for first-time readers, were you surprised at how early the flood story appears in Genesis? Surprised by how quickly evil takes root and thus must be wiped out? What was God’s promise to Noah?
4. Babel 11.1
The Bible describes the making of the bricks for the building of a city and tower. [note: recall that Herodotus talked about the brick-making skills of the Babylonians; and the many brick-based walls of their beautiful city]. Herodotus introduced his history by stating that prosperity never stays long in one place. Is there a similar sentiment here in God’s decision to confuse the builders of Babel?
5. Abraham 12 –
What is the Lord’s promise to Abraham? What marks the covenant? Sarah and the Lord argue in 18.11 – .15. What’s their argument about? What do you think about the negotiation between God and Abraham regarding the destruction of Sodom? 18.22 -32.
More coming soon…look forward to speaking to you in about a week.
Phil
Herodotus Discussion Questions for Books IV & V
Hi Everyone,
I hope your reading has been going well. Book IV is one of my favorites because it reminds me of a Scythian exhibit I saw at the Met many years ago which floored me. The gold jewelry, statues, cups found in burial sites were fantastic.
In these two weeks leading up to our next conference call, please consider the following discussion questions below to help guide the rest of your reading. I look forward to connecting with you all on Sunday April 1, 8-9:30pm NYC time! – Andre
Herodotus Discussion Questions – Books IV & V
1. As invaders, the Persians are considered a formidable foe. In Book IV, how does Darius carry out the declaration of war against the Scythians? What is Darius really after? How do the Scythians and their neighbors prepare for the Persian invasion? What might Herodotus be foreshadowing with respect to the eventual Persian invasion of Greece?
2. Given that Ionians were willingly helping Darius in his invasion of Scythia in Book IV, what are the conditions that lead to their revolt in Book V?
3. What does Herodotus reveal about the state of Greek city-state politics in Book V, especially between Sparta and Athens? How might this foreshadow political relations in the larger Persian-Greek clashes of Books VII, VIII & IX?
4. What are your favorite stories or passages from Books IV & V?
Andre
300
I did go see “300” on Saturday! Wow! What a film!
I was hestitant going into it because of all the pre-release hype.In my experience, this often leads to let downs. However, this film farsurpassed my expectations. It told the story in an amazingly stylizedbeauty. I would highly recommend seeing it if you can! (Sidenote…this is not a movie for kids. I was surprised that in our soldout showing that there were families with young children. I’m sure thatthey are going to have many nightmares after seeing “300”.)
Anyways, I’m excited now to read Book 7 and to see how accurate thefilm was to the story. Did any of you get a chance to see it? What didyou think?
-Laurel
Herodotus
Greetings Fellow Herodoteans,
I just found out about a very interesting two-day Colloquium on Herodotus being held on Thu Mar 29-Fri Mar 30 @NYU. I am excited to tell you that Robert Strassler will be on the Friday morning panel discussion (9am) entitled “Representing Herodotus”. For more details please or go to: http://ancientstudies.fas.nyu.edu/page/home
Sincerely,
Andre
“ars longa, vita brevis”
Discussion about H’s worldview
Folks,
meant to include you in this dialogue Thomas and I are having about “300”, H and his worldview.
thoughts?
Phil
Begin forwarded message:
From: Phil Terry <pterry@creativegood.com>
Date: March 7, 2007 5:45:31 PM EST
To: Thomas Epting <epting@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: see 300 this Sunday at 8pm in Brooklyn?
Thomas,
I think you’ll find that as you read H that his worldview will unfold along with the great stories.
i still find myself amazed at how H figured out to ask one of the most important questions we should ask – “how did it come to be that…”?
Phil
On Mar 7, 2007, at 4:46 PM, Thomas Epting wrote:
Phil:
Sincere thanks for the invitation. Would definitely take you up, but I need to get in a few more ski days before the weather forces the switch to surfing. Flying West on Friday; back in the city on Tuesday.
Seeing the news previews of “300” today, I was rocked back a bit by the violence, and consequently realized that I’ve been guilty of looking for meaning in H, without living enough in the details. I find myself flipping back-and-forth to my margin notes, and the edition notes, rather than just taking it all in. I’m guessing “300” would cure that quickly. Some writers create such rich word imagery — think Faulkner, for example — that meaning is secondary. Enjoying the words alone would be more than reason enough to read. And while H does occasionally offer an amazing turn of phrase (snippets about war and leisure both come to mind) I believe his real value is going to come when we finally crack his world-view. Anyway…
Enjoy it without me. And thanks again for allowing me to join. This is fun.
Regards, TE.
Reminder – 300 starts *this* Friday, 3/9
Just a reminder that the movie 300 comes out this Friday, March 9! I’m planning on seeing it this weekend. I hope that a few of you are going to check it out so we can chat about it online before our next call.Laurel
Date change for April’s call
Our next conference call, originally scheduled for Monday April 2, will be moved back one day to Sunday April 1 out of respect for the celebration of Passover that week. Same time and phone #: 8-9:30pm NYC time, 1 800 615 2900, 11215#
Books 2 and 3 Herodotus – audio recording
Here’s the audio recording for Herodotus Books 2 and 3. Listen online ordownload the mp3 file and listen to it as a podcast on your ipod.
Herodotus Books 2 & 3 call-in information
Speak to you this coming Monday –
Monday March 5
8pm (NYC time)
1-800-615-2900
11215#
Books 2 & 3 Discussion Questions
1. Book 2 – How & Wells, in their Oxford commentary, remark: “As Herodotus introduces his long digression on Egypt with a reference to the conquest of the Greeks (c. I. 2), so he skilfully concludes with a similar reference.” (p. 256) Even with such an erudite observation, one may still be wondering ‘what does any of Book 2 have to do with the Persian invasion of Greece?’ Let’s look at it from Herodotus’ Hellenocentric point of view. What do Herodotus’ observations tell about Herodotus as a Greek? Are his observations an attempt to re-define Egypt according to Greek culture? or is Herodotus too much influenced by Egyptian culture to make accurate statements in his History?
2. Book 3 – The rise and fall of Cambyses – How does Herodotus measure the sanity of Cambyses? How does Cambyses take advice and counsel in comparison with his precedessor Cyrus?
3. Book 3 – The rise of Darius – How should we view the transfer of power from Cambyses to Darius? Is this a monarchy? despotism? tyranny? oligarchy?
Andre
RO2 – Power and Madness, some thoughts
Dear Team
I didn’t bring up this point at our last call because it felt like a digression and that as it is I talk a lot during our conference calls and tend to steer the discussion in some odd directions, so I was self censoring but…. the following keeps bugging me.
We seemed to agree with Herodotus that Cambyses was mad….. but I wonder. He was a Persian king and Herodotus tells us that the Persian king has power to do anything – even to marry his sister for no laws apply to the Persian king. What is power- absolute power- worth and how does it get established -in the absence of a system based upon the consent of the governed-except through tyranny?
The more overt, random and capricious ways power is expressed seems to me to amplify its power, especially in a system in which conquest is the name of the game. If even your servants, who know you well enough not to follow your orders because you will in all probability change
your mind, suffer death because you will not be predictable, even when you take the action they have predicted; are you not supremely powerful and answerable only to yourself? Does this not cause men to fear you more? The much less powerful usurping illegitimate Magus still had the power of office that made the seven conspirators hesitant until Darius, man of action, forced their hand.
Otanes’ speech pg. 207. outlines the absolute power of monarchy and how it destroys both ruler and subject. The intensity, randomness, and outside the norms actions of Cambyses make his power all the more oft putting and reinforce his absolute power. I say crazy like a fox.
Herodotus has told us several stories that imply that the greatest man is he who sacrifices himself for the family or the state, Perhaps Herodotus dwells so long on Cambyses deeds to underscore the evils of monarchy and capricious selfish action and contrast him with the ideal man who serves the state.
Hedy
08. March 2007 by Arrian
Categories: Commentary, Herodotus | 1 comment