LINKS
End of year bonus - Many thanks to John Burke for this brilliant list of video links. ***Please Please Please*** If you have links to add, email them into the website
Below are a series of links containing online media resources for students and teachers, which relate to the teaching and studying of classical subjects in Ireland. Alternatively, you can click here for a pdf version of all the links.
MACEDONIA: A civilization uncovered (BBC Chronicle, 1990)
Documentary about the excavation of a royal tomb at Vergina (Ancient Aegae), Macedonia in which a one eyed male kingly mummy was discovered dating to the 4th century BC – possibly Philip II. Provides useful introduction to ancient Macedonian culture.
Full Video
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
PERSIA: Engineering an Empire (History Channel, 2006)
General introduction to Persia from Cyrus the Great to the burning of Persepolis.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
PERSEPOLIS RECREATED (Iran Heritage Foundation)
Educational documentary featuring a computer generated reconstruction of Persepolis based on the archaeological evidence.
Full Video
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ALEXANDER with Michael Woods (BBC, 1998)
Michael Woods follows in the footsteps of Alexander from Macedonia to the banks of the Indus River reading Arrian and Plutarch as he goes.
Part 1 - Intro
Part 2 - Aegae
Part 3 - Troy
Part 4 - Gordion
Part 5 - Issus & Tyre
Part 6 - Gaza
Part 7 - Alexandria
Part 8 - Siwah
Part 9 - Lord of Asia
Part 10 - Susa
Part 11 - The Trap
Part 12 - The Persian Gates
Part 13 - Darius Dies
Part 14 - No Going Back
Part 15 - Land of Wolves
Part 16 - Kabul
Part 17 - Afghanistan
Part 18 - Samarkand
Part 19 - Bactria
Part 20 - The Mountain
Part 21 - Into India
Part 22 - Ends of the Earth
Part 23 - The Kalesh
Part 24 - Climbing Pir Sar
Part 25 - Porus
Part 26 - Army Revolts
Part 27 - The Fleet
Part 28 - Multan City
Part 29 - Indus Delta
Part 30 - The Camel Trek
Part 31 - End
ALEXANDER: THE GOD KING (BBC)
Excavations at Siwah may reveal the lost tomb of Alexander the Great. The documentary also looks at Alexander’s god complex and examines controversial theories surrounding the early Christian, Muslim and Buddhist religion.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
ALEXANDER: THE MAN BEHIND THE LEGEND (National Geographic Channel)
Documentary summarizing Alexander’s life, campaigns and legacy.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
ANCIENT WARRIORS: THE MACEDONIANS (Discovery Channel, 1994)
Documentary series that analyses the military prowess of different peoples (in this case Philip II & Alexander’s Macedonians) and highlights the reasons for their success on the battlefield.
GREAT COMMANDERS: ALEXANDER THE GREAT - THE BATTLE OF ISSUS (1993)
Details the battle of Issus and demonstrates Alexander the Great's might in military thinking, planning, ordering, commanding and fighting against an ardent and intelligent foe. Pays especial attention to Macedonian weaponry.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
ULTIMATE BATTLES: ALEXANDER THE GREAT – BATTLE OF GAUGAMELA (Discovery Channel)
Informative documentary analyzing Alexander’s victory over Darius at Gaugamela, which includes a computer animated reconstruction of the battle based on the historical accounts.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
ARMOURED ELEPHANTS (Unknown documentary)
Educational documantary on the Indian War Elephant through the ages. Part 2 focuses on The Battle on the Hydaspes and Porus’ war elephants.
Part 1
Part 2 (Battle of Hydaspes 325BC: Alexander v Porus)
Part 3
THE TRUE STORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT (History Channel, 2005)
Quite a comprehensive overview of his life – a good watch.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
HISTORY OF THEATRE (Greek Educational Documentary)
A bit boring but informative.
OPENING SCENE OF WOODY ALLEN’S “MIGHTY APHRODITE”
Shows a chorus wearing masks chanting in unison about Oedipus and Medea at the beginning of the clip.
OEDIPUS WRECKS by Woody Allen
Funny take on Freud’s Oedipus Complex.
OEDIPUS VEGETABLE CARTOON
Hilarious animation.
THE THEBAN PLAYS PART ONE: OEDIPUS THE KING (BBC, 1982)
Don Taylor’s mini-series presents the three Sophoclean masterpieces back to back in a loosely connected tragic trilogy. Though the analogue hiss is bearable in Oedipus the King, it is almost deafening in Oedipus At Colonus and Antigone is plagued by drop out.
1. OEDIPUS THE KING
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Parts 2 & 3 are not relevant to Leaving Cert. but here they are for general interest’s sake
2. OEDIPUS AT COLONUS
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
3. ANTIGONE
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Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
MEDEA Scene comparison
Judith Anderson (Medea, 1959) reacts to Creon’s edict.
Compare with Zoe Caldwell (Medea, 1983) in the same scene.
BASH: 3 LATTER DAY PLAYS by Neil LaButte – MEDEA REDUX
A modern take on Medea’s story – Thought provoking but be advised it has sexual language. There used to be a clip up of Calista Flockhart’s performance on Youtube but it has since been taken down. If anyone finds it please let me know.
THE ODYSSEY (1997)
Andre Konchalovskiy’s made-for-TV film starring a Greek sounding Armande Assante as Odysseus.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Part 17
ULYSSES 31: Season 1, episode 24: Strange Meeting (1982)
An odd but reasonably faithful representation of Odysseus’ nostos if you can accept the mad premise of this cartoon series. Useful for teaching Homer’s suspense.
CLASH OF THE GODS: ODYSSEUS I & II (History Channel, 2009)
Documentary examining Homer’s hero, suggesting theories for some of his encounters and possible geographic locations for his wanderings. Quite good.
Episode 6: Odysseus Part One
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Episode 7: Odysseus Part Two
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
“ITHACA” by Constantinus Kavafy narrated by Sean Connery
I love this poem.
“ITHACA” by Constantinus Kavafy narrated in Greek
An excerpt from the Greek film “Cavafy”. If you give a class the poem in translation of the poem (available here: http://www.cavafy.com/poems/content.asp?id=74&cat=1 ) it gives students a sense of the mystical sound of the Greek language.
SEARCHING FOR ODYSSEUS’ ITHACA (Channel 4 News 07/09/2008)
News report about Robert Bittlestone’s controversial theory that the peninsula of Palaki on Kephalonia is in fact Homer’s Ithaca – based on the discrepancy in the Odyssey concerning the geographic location of Odysseus’ island, a suggestion of Strabo’s and petrographic analysis from core drilling Bittlestone claims he has evidence to prove a literal prehistoric seismic cover-up.
THE ODYSSEY IN 8 SECONDS
Youtube animation - pretty funny.
OPEN YALE LECTURES by Prof. Diana Kleiner's
This is not much use as a class resource but as for teachers' own preparatory work and re-familiarisation it is invaluable.
Official Website: http://oyc.yale.edu/history-of-art/roman-architecture/
Lecture 1. Introduction to Roman Architecture
Lecture 2. It Takes a City: The Founding of Rome and the Beginnings of Urbanism in Italy
Lecture 3. Technology and Revolution in Roman Architecture
Lecture 4. Civic Life Interrupted: Nightmare and Destiny on August 24, A.D. 79
Lecture 5. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous: Houses and Villas at Pompeii
Lecture 6. Habitats at Herculaneum and Early Roman Interior Decoration
Lecture 7. Gilding the Lily: Painting Palaces and Villas in the First Century A.D.
Lecture 8. Exploring Special Subjects on Pompeian Walls
Lecture 9. From Brick to Marble: Augustus Assembles Rome
Lecture 10. Accessing Afterlife: Tombs of Roman Aristocrats, Freedmen, and Slaves
Lecture 11. Notorious Nero and His Amazing Architectural Legacy
Lecture 12. The Creation of an Icon: The Colosseum and Contemporary Architecture in Rome
Lecture 13. The Creation of an Icon: The Colosseum and Contemporary Architecture in Rome
Lecture 14: The Mother of All Forums: Civic Architecture in Rome under Trajan
Lecture 15: Rome and a Villa: Hadrian's Pantheon and Tivoli Retreat
Lecture 16: The Roman Way of Life and Death at Ostia, the Port of Rome
Lecture 17: Bigger Is Better: The Baths of Caracalla and Other Second- and Third-Century Buildings
Lecture 18: Hometown Boy: Honoring an Emperor's Roots in Roman North Africa
Lecture 19: Baroque Extravaganzas: Rock Tombs, Fountains, and Sanctuaries in Jordan, Lebanon, and Libya
Lecture 20: Roman Wine in Greek Bottles: The Rebirth of Athens
Lecture 21: Making Mini Romes on the Western Frontier
Lecture 22: Rome Redux: The Tetrarchic RenaissanceRome
Lecture 23: of Constantine and a New Rome
The Roman Way of War (BBC 2, 1998)
Brilliant documentary examining Trajan's Column.
ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE 2: ROME (History Channel, 2006)
Quite a comprehensive look at Public Building in the Roman Empire.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8