Liv Reads Ancient Spooky: Selections from Pliny, Ovid, Aeschylus, and Lucan
Oct 6, 2023
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Guests Pliny the Younger, Aeschylus, and Lucan share spooky stories from ancient authors, including haunted houses, curses, and dark powers. Trigger warning for graphic content. Hosts express excitement for sharing selected texts with listeners and discuss upcoming topics in the spooky season.
Arisicthon's curse of insatiable hunger drives him to devour everything, including himself.
The powerful witch's ability to control supernatural forces, command the gods, and communicate with the dead instilled fear and reverence.
The haunting and eerie atmosphere in the play 'Oresteia' is created by characters like Clytemnestra's ghost and the Furies that haunt her and Orestes.
Deep dives
The Curse of Arisicthon: A Tale of Hunger and Punishment
Arisicthon, a man who violated the sacred grove of the goddess Carries, was cursed with insatiable hunger. Despite consuming vast amounts of food, he remained starving. The Goddess Carries commanded Famine to enter Arisicthon's body, causing him unbearable hunger. No matter how much he ate, he could not satisfy his appetite. This curse led Arisicthon to devour everything in sight, including his own flesh, as he ate himself to death.
The Dreadful Powers of the Witch
A powerful witch, skilled in dark arts and magic, was feared and revered for her ability to wield terrifying and supernatural forces. She could control the elements, compel the gods to listen to her, and command spirits from the underworld. The witch's spells and rituals involved sacrificing and desecrating corpses, performing heinous acts, and calling upon maleficent creatures. Her powers were unparalleled, prompting even the deities to fear and obey her.
The Prophecies and Readings of the Witch
The witch's knowledge and foresight were sought after by many, as she could unveil the hidden future and communicate with the dead. She could reveal secrets about destiny, interpret signs and omens, and accurately predict events to come. Through her supernatural abilities, she communed with the gods, read the stars, and deciphered the messages of the universe. People consulted her for insights into their destinies and sought her aid to overcome adversity or influence the course of their lives.
Summary 1
This podcast episode discusses the various characters and themes in the play "Oresteia" by Aeschylus. The episode highlights the story of Arisicthon, a gluttonous man whose insatiable hunger drives him to sell his own daughter. It also delves into the story of Clytemnestra, focusing on her ghost and the Furies that haunt her and her son Orestes. The episode explores the haunting and eerie atmosphere created by these characters and the fates that await them.
Summary 2
The podcast episode also touches on the Roman witch Erichtho and her appearance in Lucan's epic poem, "Pharsalia." The episode describes Erichtho's power to reanimate the dead and her ability to foresee the future. It emphasizes the horror and fear associated with Roman witches, portraying them as hags who represent the Roman society's fear of powerful women. The reading of excerpts from the poem showcases the dark and macabre elements of Erichtho's character and her role in shaping the fate of the Roman Republic.
CW/TW: far too many Greek myths involve assault. Given it's fiction, and typically involves gods and/or monsters, I'm not as deferential as I would be were I referencing the real thing.
