Ted Pedas “Science at Sea ”
ENRICHMENT LECTURE STAFF
Dr. Howard Clarke
Grand Aegean & Adriatic Cruises
Dr. Howard Clarke is a classicist with a special interest in two of the ancient Mediterranean's most famous travelers, Odysseus and Aeneas. He was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, and educated at Holy Cross College and Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1960. For forty years he taught Classics and Comparative Literature at Harvard, Boston University, Oakland University, Michigan State, Wayne State University, Goettingen in Germany, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. His specialties were seminars in epic poetry and large lecture courses on classical civilization, mythology, and Greek and Latin literature in translation. At Harvard he also studied Russian and Polish literature, and from 1953 to 1956 served in Army Intelligence in Berlin as a German-Russian translator. In 1966-67 he spent a sabbatical year doing archaeology at Ostia, Rome's ancient seaport at the mouth of the Tiber River.
Dr. Clarke has authored and edited five books on classical antiquity, four dealing with Greek poetry and a fifth on Latin poetry:
- The Return of Odysseus (Indiana, 1966);
- The Art of the Odyssey (Prentice-Hall, 1968);
- Homer's Readers: A Historical Introduction to the Iliad and the Odyssey (Delaware, 1981);
- Twentieth Century Interpretations of the Odyssey (Prentice-Hall, 1983).
- Vergil's Aeneid in the Dryden Translation (Penn State, 1989).
In 1991 he took early retirement from the University of California in order to devote himself full time to research and writing. Since his main interest is in the ways that classical antiquity has influenced western civilization, he has completed a book, Myths and Meanings, on the uses of Greek mythology in western art. He is currently researching a book on the reception of St. Matthew's Gospel, tentatively titled Matthew's Readers: The First Gospel in History.
Since 1993 he has been lecturing in both English and German on cruise ships large and small, visiting sites in and around the Mediterranean world, from Odessa on the Black Sea in the north to the pyramids of Egypt in the south, and from the island of Madeira in the west to Israel and Jordan in the east. This is his third trip on ships of Royal Olympic Cruises, and he will be accompanied by his wife Ursula, whom he met and married while serving in the army in Germany. They have two children, Christine, a rare books librarian at Penn State, and Anne, a law student in Santa Barbara. Dr. Clarke looks forward to meeting as many passengers as possible and sharing with them his insights in the classical world.
Voyage of Discovery — Grand Aegean & Adriatic Cruise Lecture Topics by Dr.Howard Clarke
- Venice in History, Art, and Architecture
In this presentation, Dr. Clarke will discuss the rich history of Venice and its art as well as its magnificent and unique architecture. He will examine the art and architecture of Venice's glorious past, and look at the city's art and architecture today. He will pay special attention to St. Mark's Basilica, the Cathedral of Venice, one of the most important religious buildings in the world.
- Mycenae and Epidaurus: Epic and Drama
Dr. Clarke will discuss the fascinating world of the ancient Mycenaeans, including King Agamemnon and the Trojan Wars. We will also look at Epidaurus, both as a hospital and a theater.
- Istanbul: A City in Two Worlds
The city that is now Istanbul straddles two continents — Europe and Asia. In this lecture, Dr. Clarke views the city from its beginnings as Classic and Christian Constantinople to the city's present character. Special attention will be paid to Hagia Sophia as a church, mosque, and museum.
- Athens: Understanding the Acropolis
The Parthenon was the center of ancient and is the pride of modern Athens. From the Parthenon to the Propylaea and the Erechtheum, Dr. Clarke will discuss these structures and what they mean to us.
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