I remember when I first realised that the English word "alphabet" came from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet - alpha and beta - and somehow I felt like I'd cracked a kind of etymological code. But the list of brilliant names for alphabet terms just goes on. The word "alphabet" is of... Continue Reading →
Cambridge Greek Play 2013 released on YouTube
I had a very fun morning yesterday (in between marking up final page proofs), because I was able to announce the release of the Cambridge Greek Play 2013 on YouTube. Thanks to a donor, both PROMETHEUS and FROGS were filmed over several performances, and John Watts and Helen Eastman have since worked very hard to... Continue Reading →
Why Do Greek Plays have Latin Titles?
One of the most famous Greek tragedies is called Oedipus Rex. Well, sort of. Its original Greek title is Oidípous Týrannos, but usually everyone calls it by its Latin name. Even the English title Oedipus the King is heard much more rarely. And it's not just this play that's the problem. Ancient Greek plays are... Continue Reading →
