Status Updates From Euripides II: The Cyclops a...

I enjoyed Helen. I have to come back to the others at a later date.

Iphigenia in Tauris might be my favorite I’ve read of Euripides so far

Heracles at the end of “Heracles” reminds me of Camus’ Absurd Hero. I enjoyed the debate between Heracles and Theseus on the nature of the gods and whether or not the poets lie about them. Arrowsmith’s introduction is excellent, really an essay on the play, largely motivated by the fact that this place doesn’t meet Aristotelian standards of tragedy (who cares what Aristotle thought, it’s a great play!).

Ohhhhh i don’t think I like these Arrowsmith translations… the Bynner and Lattimore ones make this collection worth it, though

Helen wasn’t as good as Iphigenia but I like the angle both of these take where a woman who was presumed captured or killed actually escaped and lived a thrilling life in secret. Very Madeline Miller-core except these came first ofc

Iphigenia in Tauris is a banger