Ancient Greek Hero: Literature and Culture

Gregory Nagy, born in Budapest in 1942, serves as the Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard University, where he has taught since 1966 after completing his Ph.D. in classical philology from the same institution. His groundbreaking contributions to Classical studies include pioneering an integrated approach to Greek literature that combines diachronic and synchronic perspectives, particularly in his analysis of Homeric poetry. His academic journey began with an A.B. from Indiana University in classics and linguistics (1962), leading to a distinguished career marked by significant publications including "The Best of the Achaeans" (1982 Goodwin Award winner), "Pindar's Homer" (1990), and "The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours" (2013). As Director of Harvard's Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C. since 2000, he has expanded the reach of Classical studies through innovative teaching methods, including developing one of Harvard's first massive open online courses. His research spans archaic and classical Greek poetry, comparative literature, linguistics, and oral traditions, with particular emphasis on Homer and archaic Greek poetry. Nagy's influence extends beyond traditional academia through his advocacy for incorporating information technology in teaching and research, having taught at Harvard for over four decades while serving in various leadership roles, including Chair of the Classics Department (1994-2000) and President of the American Philological Association (1990-1991).