Exploring the Plight of Ancient Greek and Modern Day Warriors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Beginning on May 16, the Fayetteville Public library will host a discussion series called “The Ancient Greek and the Modern Warrior” that explores the shared experiences of early and contemporary soldiers. Facilitated by Daniel Levine, professor of classical studies in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas, the bi-weekly series will focus on Homer’s Odyssey and several Greek tragedies that feature tales of men in combat — and their families.

“The overall goal of this discussion series is to get the public to read and think seriously about how the experiences of the ancient Greeks mirror our own,” Levine said. “The program is meant to be part of a national conversation with our veterans and their families.”

While warfare technology has clearly evolved since the days of the Trojan and Peloponnesian Wars, the mental and emotional hardships faced by soldiers over the years have not changed nearly as much.

 “Ancient Greek literature is a useful tool to help understand the struggles of modern war veterans because ancient war veterans, who knew from firsthand personal experiences what it was like to fight and be away from home for long periods of time, composed most of it,” Levine said. “Their anxieties and struggles, expressed in ancient epics and tragedies, resonated with their audiences, which were mostly made up of combat veterans, too.”

The discussion series is part of a national project spearheaded by Peter Meineck, a professor at New York University who is also artistic director of the Aquila Theater Company in Manhattan. Meineck and the Aquila Theater Company received an $800,000 grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities — the largest NEH grant ever awarded to a theater company — to fund a program called “Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives.” The money has been distributed to 100 libraries across the United States to fund similar ancient Greece-related discussions.

“The Ancient Greek and the Modern Warrior” will begin May 16 and will occur every other Wednesday until July 25. The discussions are open to the public, and those interested in attending should call 479-856-7250 for more information.