A great necklace strung with Golden threads. Homeric Hymn 3.103–104 A few days after Leon had visited the gem cutter, he met him in the marketplace. They exchanged greetings and…Read More >
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Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 9: One of the “Ten Thousand”
The tall cliffs high above the sea, Their bases deep in foam. Sophokles, Ajax Antikles had promised Leon to take him to a friend who was an engraver of gems….Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 8: On the Acropolis
I saw, one day, a-gathering flowers, A dainty little maid. Sappho Later that day Thalia asked a favour of Leon. Everyone said she should go to the temple of Niké…Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 7: Mother Ge Stirs in her Sleep
… suddenly The solid earth beneath our feet Trembled and quaked Euripides, Iphigenia in Tauris 46 Leon was dreaming. He was on board ship and the weather was rough. He…Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 6: The “Owls” of Athens
Those Athenian coins, Finely engraved, well struck, Acknowledged the world over By Greek and by Barbarian, We make no more. Instead Base copper and poor dies Are now our counters….Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 5: The Dionysiac Revels
The maddened Bacchanal, Holding aloft her pine-tipped wand, Whirls round and round in dizzy step. Euripides, The Bacchanals Leon was tired from his day’s outing. His guide had taken him…Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 4: The Theatre of Dionysos
Dionysos! What deity is he? Euripides, The Cyclops 520 Leon awoke from a deep sleep to find the sun shining into the courtyard. The inn was strangely quiet after the…Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 3: A stranger in a strange city
The gods, a stranger made me, Remote from my dear land. Euripides, Helen 690–95 It was late afternoon when the ship reached the Piraeus, Athens’ harbour. Small boats quickly surrounded…Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 2: The Voyage
You will not need to hear The tenth of all our woes, Our constant watch by day, Poor anchorage by night, With trunks of plank and little sleep/ Aeschylus, Agamemnon…Read More >
Allen Seaby, Leon of Massalia, Chapter 1: Departure
The oars are manned: the Sailors shout: A last farewell is ours Euripides, The Trojan Women Massalia, the greatest port of the western Mediterranean, was busy as usual, her quays…Read More >