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Hellenic Studies Folio #3 from the Center for Hellenic Studies

November 10, 2020
Painting of Croesus wearing a magnificent robe, seated on his throne.
Painting of Croesus wearing a magnificent robe, seated on his throne. Standing opposite of him is the sage Solon in more modest attire, pointing at the viewer with his right hand. Precious vessels made of silver and bowls brimming with silver and gold are heaped in the foreground. The subject is taken from the Greek author Herodotus.
"Solon before Croesus" (1624), by Gerard van Honthorst (1592–1656); oil on canvas, 168.5x214 cm; Kunsthalle Hamburg Collection, acquired with funds from the Campe'sche Historiche Kunststiftung, 1958. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Citizenship, Leadership, and Democracy

  • What is an ideal leader? What role do the emotions play in leadership?
  • Why is it important for the citizens of Athens to think of the hero Theseus as a 'savior'?
  • Does charisma have meaning, or is it completely irrational? Is charisma less important today than it was in the past?

Discussion with Prof. Norman Sandridge of Howard University on leadership in the ancient world

Video of 20 minutes.

A discussion of Socrates's heroic quest, of the absence of Plato at the death of Socrates, of Theseus as the founder of democracy, and of a sacred voyage, celebrating salvation of the word

Video of 25 minutes.

Discussion of the implications of the Athenian Oath of the Ephebes for democracy and for environmentalism

Essay of approximately 2,000 words.

Replica of a 4th-century marble stele.
Replica of a 4th-century marble stele bearing the Athenian Oath of the Ephebes and the Oath at Plataea. As Danielle Kellogg, cited below in my argumentation, informs me, this replica in fact stands in front of the library at Brooklyn College, where she is Associate Professor and Department Chair of Classics. Image via Flickr, under a CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license.

The Oath of the Ephebes as a symbol of democracy—and of environmentalism

"Extra credit" video viewing:

Presentation and conversation with Dr. Nicolas Prevelakis of Harvard University on the topic "Heroism, Charisma, and Legitimate Rule: a Dialogue with Max Weber"; video of 59 minutes.