Now and then people on this list have asked about non-NT books that one might read, either in Greek or in English. Recently this question was asked on the classics list: >On Mon, 19 Oct 1998, David Lupher wrote: >> Another little, highly self-interested question: does anyone on >> the list teach or know of a class on ancient novels *for undergraduates*? >> Is this a completely daft idea? Please say it isn't! Carol Bateson send in this response. I agree with Ronald Hock that youi can learn a great deal about the social world of the NT from ancient novels--and you can also read some Koine Greek, real every day stuff with vocabulary about eveyk day life. Two works are also interesting. The recent Sather lectures by Glen Bowersock, Fiction as History, contain illuminating comments, whilethe British historian Fergus Millar has a fascinating article on Apuleius as a source for history some years ago in the Journal of Roman Studies. The Xenophon meant down below is the author of the Ephesiaca, not the disciple of Socrates who wrote the Anabasis and the Hellenica. Chariton and Longus wrote ancient novels, while Dio Chrysostom is of quite another ilk. I realize that this is a bit outside the scope of B-Greek, but thought it might be of interest nonetheless. [Rap my knuckles lightly, pleae, Carl and Edward! ;-)] Peace and joy, Ed Krentz -------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Oct 1998 10:39:35 -0700 Reply-To: classics@u.washington.edu Sender: CLASSICS-owner@u.washington.edu Precedence: bulk From: Carol Bateson < To: classics@u.washington.edu Cc: hock@MIZAR.USC.EDU Subject: Re: Rohde + Gk. novels query (was: Trans. woes)Recently X-Sender: bateson@rcf.usc.edu David, I will pass your question on to Dr. Ron Hock, a religion professor at USC. I'm taking my fifth class with him and in three of his classes the required readings have included Chariton, Xenophon, Dio Chrysostom and Longus. He believes that one should read Daphnis and Chloe, The Hunters of Euobea, Chaereas and Callhiroe, and The Ephesian Tale if one is to understand many of the social, legal, literary and philosophical conventions in the NT. I don't think that the Greek Romances are read in any of the "classics" classes, but I could be wrong. Personally, I like them alot. Carol Bateson USC ------------------------- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Edgar Krentz Acting Dean, Fall Quarter 1998 Professor of New Testament Emeritus Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago 1100 E. 55th Street Chicago, IL 60615 USA 773-256-0752 e-mail:FFFF,0000,0000 ekrentz@lstc.edu (Office) FFFF,0000,0000emkrentz@mcs.net (Home) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ --- B-Greek home page: http://sunsite.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-329W@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu