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It�s sort of Sophocles on steroids – and other Greek plays.

There's a good production of Oedipus in Santa Cruz, apparently.

There are some who think the ancient Greek tragedies are the ultimate in perfect drama, and to those I say, here’s your chance to wallow in that experience. For those of you still unexposed or unconvinced, this is the time to find out what you’re missing.

The Cabrillo College Department of Theater Arts is presenting “Oedipus Rex” at the College Theater, and what a production it is. Even Sophocles would be impressed.

Adapted and directed by Joseph Ribeiro, this is an “Oedipus Rex” that explodes onto the stage with visual splendor and revisits the centuries-old myths with new energy. It’s sort of Sophocles on steroids.

More.

Here's an Electra production:

All Greek to gay director
Michael Russotto takes a break from acting to helm a contemporary version of the ancient classic ‘Electra’ at MetroStage.
Friday, April 22, 2005

“AS A DIRECTOR, I’m looking for passion and big feelings,” says gay director Michael Russotto. “Sophocles’ ‘Electra’ has all that. Electra herself is a diva of pain and grief.”

Based on the ancient Greek legend of the House of Atreus, Sophocles’ “Electra” (written around 410 B.C.) is the story of a tenacious woman hellbent on avenging the murder of her father, King Agamemnon. Unfortunately for Electra, the killers are her mother and stepfather, the present heads of state. There is good news, however: Her lost brother Orestes shows up, equally eager to exact revenge. More.

And there's Lysistrata yet again:

“Lysistrata.'' A new translation of ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes' comedy, set in Athens in the year 2016, with eight new songs by Bay Area composer Joe Ortiz. This production contains graphic sexual language and very graphic misbehavior and is not intended for children. 8 p.m. today, Friday, Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. $12, $10 seniors and students with ID. West Valley College Campus Theatre, 14000 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. Call (408) 741-2058 for more information. (That's all on Lysistrata. It came from here.)

"God of War" – another computer game based on the Classical world

God Of War pulls no punches. You'll find yourself ripping people in half, killing innocents and slaying all manner of mythical beasts in a variety of violent ways. It also happens to be one of the freshest and most fun action games to come this way in many years.

You play as Kratos, a Spartan in ancient Greece. He is tormented by awful nightmares and takes his own life. You pick up the game three weeks before his suicide to see why he killed himself, and to learn about his nightmares. Honestly though, the story isn't the driving force in this game. You keep playing because it is amazingly fun, and killing enemies as Kratos is wonderfully satisfying.

The combat is deeper than most action titles, and manages to just remain out and out entertaining. When you grapple an enemy you only have three options, but they never really get old. You can pummel them with Kratos' short swords, impale them and throw them, or jam your hand into their stomach and literally tear them asunder.

God Of War's graphics team deserves special acclaim. The levels are absolutely gorgeous, pushing the aging PS2 without any signs of slowdown, jagged edges, or any of the other hallmarks associated with system pushing games. The transition from cinema to real time is seamless. The characters models all look vivid and real, and the monsters are no exception. Special care went into reinventing Greek mythological monsters so they remain familiar, but look more sinister and evil than usual.
Read more.

(This may be a subscription only article, but I was able to access it freely today)

The game's inventor says:

I have loved the Greek mythology since my dad took me to see Ray Harryhausen's JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS as a kid. After that, I read all I could on the legends of ancient Greece and just fell in love with the amazing fantasy of those stories. I love how they blend the little kid fantasies of monsters and heroes with the adult fantasies of sex, power, and violence. To me, that is a perfect blend for an action/adventure game aimed at adults. As for why others have not mined this amazing subject matter, I don't really know.

Read the interview.

Genealogical chart of Greek mythology

Genealogy is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. The process of searching out the furthest branches of one’s family tree has been greatly facilitated in recent years by the digitization of national censuses and a wealth of Internet sites, yet perhaps the most impressive monument to our age’s particular obsessive compulsion has been Harold and Jon Newman’s A Genealogical Chart of Greek Mythology (2003).

In a task of almost Sisyphean proportions the Newmans spent nearly 40 years linking 3,673 figures from Classical myth into one family tree spanning 20 generations. Drawing on a host of ancient sources – from the familiar, such as Homer, to the obscure, such as Stephanus of Byzantium …

Read the rest here.

Could the Laoco� really be a fake?

It is one of the masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture. But could the Laocoön really be a fake by Michelangelo? Jonathan Jones reports. Read the Guardian article here.

Just think of the publicity for Latin

As results of the American National Latin Exam come out, schools are trumpeting their successes. Who will get something similar going here in the UK?

Blazers place in National Latin Exam

Fifty-one students recognized for their achievement

Shannon Egan, Online Managing Editor 4/29/2005

Fifty-one Blazers placed in the National Latin Exam, a comprehensive 40 multiple-choice question test, which was administered worldwide on March 11. The National Latin Exam, which is co-sponsored by the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League, released the 2005 scores on April 20.

Five students' achievements won them gold summa cum laude awards, one step below a perfect paper. Ten students won silver maxima cum laude awards. Eighteen students were awarded magna cum laude awards and 18 students were awarded cum laude awards. More

Knight excels in Latin

– Friday, April 29, 2005

Dana Hall School students excelled on this year's National Latin Exam. 92 Dana Hall students took the exam the first week in March. 72 Dana Hall students received awards for their achievements on the test. The exam is offered under the joint sponsorship of the American Classical League and the National Junior Classical League. This year, more than 135,000 students nationwide and in 15 countries took the 2005 National Latin Exam in their own schools.

Catherine Knight '07, a Hopkinton resident, received a Silver Medal Maxima Cum Lade for her performance on the exam. More.

East student gets perfect score on Latin exam

Thursday, April 28, 2005
By Juanita Westaby
The Grand Rapids Press

EAST GRAND RAPIDS — If Leyton Nelson had a bumper sticker that read, “How's My Latin?” the answer would have to be 1-800-PERFECT.

Nelson's perfect score on a national exam was a first for East Grand Rapids High School as well as for Sue Miller, who has been teaching Latin for 18 years.

Only 897 of the 135,000 students who took the National Latin Exam scored a perfect paper. More.