003– Keeping it in the Family

Listen:

If there was ever a case for subsidies for the arts…  Theatre was invented by the Greeks.  The Athenians were actually paid to attend theatrical competitions, as a civic and even religious duty.  Athenian POWs would quote their great playwrites to get their captors to treat them kindly.  But who was the best, are they still relevant today, and is it ever a good idea to have sex with your mum..?

Battle of the Books - Round 3

• Aeschylus – The Oresteia (Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, The Furies).

• Sophocles – The Theban Plays (Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone).

• Euripides – Medea (often packaged up with other great Euripides play).

• Wildcard:  Aristophanes – The Frogs (ditto, usually packaged with other classic Aristophanes plays – look out in particular for Lysistrata). 

Shortcuts

Pasolini – Oedipus Rex; Medea: surreal, mesmeric arthouse adaptations of the two classics. Audible have a full-cast adaptation of the three Theban Plays available for free to subscribers.

Battle of the Booze

• Ariousios Natural Chiotiko from Chios – old school, almost Homeric red from the home of ancient Greek wine.  The perfect match for these ancient stories – and your own severed leg.  Best served at 150 degrees Celsius?  

Poll of Champions

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