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This week I will be working on the Kephalos Challenge video for polýMATHY, where I try to recite the entire first 100 lines of the Iliad from memory (will I succeed?? you'll find out in a matter of days!), and in the video I would like to respond to your questions about my taking on this challenge, whether or not it was worth the effort, what I learned, etc. So if you have any comments or questions you'd like me to address in the video, post them here!

Comments

Breno

Tell us your plans in doing others Kephalos Challenge

Breno

Before this Kephalos Challenge, have you ever read iliad completely?

Breno

Why did you take this Challenge in memorizaring the First 100 iliad verses?

Jeff Rensch

What steps will you take not to lose them once you have them?

Mark

What mnemonic devices/techniques did you use to aid you in your challenge if any? and why did you select those mnemonic devices/techniques?

Mark

Are you able to construe the first 100 lines of the Illiad into English (or any other language) extemporaneously?

Mark

Are you able to parse the first 100 lines of the Illiad at this time?

Mark

Did the experience improve your pronunciation of Ancient Greek?

Mark

There is some evidence that suggests that education in Plato’s day largely consisted of memorizing Homer. After this experience, if a person chose to emulate this education of memorizing Homer, then what benefits do you think that person would gain, if any?

Andrew Ellis

Will your next mission be to try to memorise the first 100 lines of Vergil book one of the Aeneid?

Jason Baker

The same method you use to memorize all those lines of Homer do you apply to memorizing other random things in life as well? Grocery lists, etc etc ?

Kokupsi

Do relevant lines of the Iliad pop into your mind in your in daily life. Does this happen more than with poetry you don't have memorized?

Luke Amadeus Ranieri

Absolutely! It’s the quiet background music of daily life now. I’m already editing the video, so I didn’t get the chance to incorporate your question. Thanks for asking it!

Kokupsi

thanks for replying!

Kokupsi

I had such an experience with jacksons cowboy havamal despite not memorizing it. It makes me want to one day attempt the kephalos challenge in the original! (well albeit with more or less modern Icelandic pronunciation). On that subject how I would love to hear a reconstructed old Norse pronunciation by a modern Icelander. Einhvern dag. As it stands it seems there is no audiobook for the sagas and eddas of any non-abridged kind in icelandic!! what a shame.

Luke Amadeus Ranieri

A shame indeed! Yes, I hope to do Old Norse as well with this type of challenge. One day!

Jaron Peck

What strategies did you employ to memorize the first 100 lines of the Illiad? For example, did you put yourself on a daily schedule of when you had to recite everything you knew?

Jaron Peck

How did you retain what you had memorized previously? And what do you plan to memorize in the future?

Jaron Peck

Nevermind! I just watched the video. That is super impressive! Nice work!

Luke Amadeus Ranieri

Thanks also for this question! I believe I answered this too in the video. But I’ll happily answer any follow-up questions!

Jason Baker

Great video and tremendous accomplishment. Certainly looking forward to the other videos of this type! Eventually it would be great to hear your feelings when comparing Homer to Vergil. Do you prefer the writing style or story of one? Does one give you greater pleasure reading aloud? Etc