#thebais

Since I already had Iliad and Odyssey in the legendary modern Greek translation and purchased around a year ago the Butler translation (because the book was gorgeous 😍) realized I had to keep going so here goes

"Homerics" or "Epic Cycle" with the fragments of epic cycle and other works originally attributed to Homer including Vatrachomyomachia, Titanomacy, Oedipus Cycle, Thebais, Epigonoi, Cypria, Aethiopis, Little Iliad, Iliou Persis, Nostoi and many more (gosh so many in that small book!)

Quintus Smyrnaeus "Posthomerica" in 3 parts

Euripides "Trojan Women" and "Hecuba" because we want some critical take on the war too from the realm of "ancient adaptations"

And last but not least I thought why not

Apollonius Rhodius "Argonautica" because the epic cycle is one thing but let's see the trip that was partially playing its role to the whole thing hahaha 😆

Because nothing starts the year better than re-reading awesome books especially when they include both the original text and some really nice translations! 👌🏻

Valiant Sthenelus

Hey guys! Remember my Diomedes sketch that I made so many months (almost a year!) ago?

Well I thought it was about time I drew Sthenelus, his closest companion in battle and one of the Epigonoi that lifted on their shoulders the revenge of their fathers for the loss of Thebes!

I based his sketch on the famous archaic sculpture "Kouros of Anabyssos" or "Kroisos"

I was in love with this statue ever since I was a child and I had a book of a made-up fairytale based on the statues of the National Archaeological museum and dunno why some weeks ago I remembered it and I immediately thought "Sthenelus!" hence the ringlet braids of his hair (because yay for "long-haired Argives"!) because yeah we had that fashion too hahahaha or at least statue-wise! Hahahaha but I just didn't add the headband and I added the archaic-style beard that doesn't have moustache to show that Sthenelus is of age of maturity

Also yay for the glorious big Greek nose! Hahahaha what can I say? We're nosy people! Hahahahahaha! XD

Her snakes, untied, sulphureous waters drink;

But at the summons roll'd her eyes around,

And snatch'd the starting serpents from the ground.

Not half so swiftly shoots along in air,

The gliding lightning, or descending star.

Thro' crowds of airy shades she wing'd her flight,

And dark dominions of the silent night;

Swift as she pass'd, the flitting ghosts withdrew,

And the pale spectres trembled at her view:

To th' iron gates of Taenarus she flies,

There spreads her dusky pinions to the skies,

The day beheld, and sick'ning at the sight,

Veil'd her fair glories in the shades of night.

Affrighted Atlas, on the distant shore,

Trembled, and shook the heav'ns and gods he bore.

Now from beneath Malea's airy height

Aloft she sprung, and steer'd to Thebes her flight;

With eager speed the well-known journey took,

Nor here regrets the hell she late forsook.

A hundred snakes her gloomy visage shade,

A hundred serpents guard her horrid head,

In her sunk eye-balls dreadful meteors glow:

Such rays from Phoebe's bloody circle flow,

When lab'ring with strong charms, she shoots from high

A fiery gleam, and reddens all the sky.

Blood stain'd her cheeks, and from her mouth there came

Blue steaming poisons, and a length of flame.

From ev'ry blast of her contagious breath,

Famine and drought proceed, and plagues, and death.

A robe obscene was o'er her shoulders thrown,

A dress by Fates and Furies worn alone.

She toss'd her meagre arms; her better hand

In waving circles whirl'd a fun'ral brand:

A serpent from her left was seen to rear

His flaming crest, and lash the yielding air.

But when the Fury took her stand on high,

Where vast Cithseron's top salutes the sky,

A hiss from all the snaky tire went round:

The dreadful signal all the rocks rebound,

And thro' the Achaian cities send the sound.

Oete, with high Parnassus, heard the voice;

Eurota's banks remurmur'd to the noise;

Again Leucothoe shook at these alarms,

And press'd Palaemon closer in her arms.

Headlong from thence the glowing Fury springs,

And o'er the Theban palace spreads her wings,

Once more invades the guilty dome, and shrouds

Its bright pavilions in a veil of clouds.

Straight with the rage of all their race possess'd,

Stung to the soul, the brothers start from rest,

And all their Furies wake within their breast.