Students should have a solid understanding of how to use Perseus and should be familiar with the vocabulary of Perseus before attempting this assignment. For a glossary of Perseus terms, see the Quick Start System Perseus Glossary & Canonical Abbreviations.

Use this task oriented assignment while using Perseus. Follow the instructions below and answer the questions. When you are done, look at the answers.

Part I. The Atlas

For step-by-step directions on how to use the Perseus Atlas, see Quick Start System Assignment #8.

A. Plot the following sites. Remember to click once in the radio button next to "Plot Sites" on the Atlas Tools Palette.

Atalanta
Ithaca
Oreos (don't eat them)
Philippi
Pylos
Tenedos
Troy

B. Zoom in on the area in which these sites appear.

1. Compute the distance between Troy and Tenedos (Trojans to the Greek camp). What is the distance?
2. Compute the distance between Ithaca between Pylos (Telemachus' journey). What is the distance?
3. Which locale is at a higher latitude, Ithaca or Atalanta?
4. In what direction would you sail from Tenedos to Philippi?
5. Which are closer, Oreos and Atalanta or Tenedos and Troy? (Hint: if you enlarge the areas, you will get a more accurate computation of distance)

Part II. English-Greek Word Search and Greek Word Frequencies

For step-by-step directions on how to use the Perseus English-Greek Word Search and Greek Word Frequencies, see Quick Start Assignments #5 and #10.

C. A "sceptre" is a staff made of wood or metal used symbolically to denote special power or authority of the one holding it. Using the English-Greek Word Search, find out which Greek words have can mean "sceptre."

• How many words can mean "sceptre"?

D. Using the Greek-English Lexicon, find the Greek word from those listed that comes closest to the definition given in #1? Remember, highlight a Greek word then choose "Greek-English Lexicon" from the Related Tools pop-up menu.

E. Is this an important word in Homer? Elsewhere in Greek literature? Let's find out. Highlight the second word in the list of "sceptre" word, skeptron. Choose "Greek Word Frequencies-Overview" from the Related Tools pop-up menu.

F. Once at Greek Word Frequencies, choose "Calculate for All Entries in List" from the "Do Calculation" pop-up menu. List the three authors who use this word most:

G. Now, let's consider the same question from a slightly different angle. From the "View Data" pop-up menu, select "Sort Authors by Type of Literature."

1. In which type of literature does this word crop up most?
2. Least?
3. Can you guess why this might be so?

H. One more task along these lines: how does Homer, in particular, use this word? Do a "Greek Word Search" for skeptron in Homer.

Now, answer these questions:

1. Does the word occur more frequently in the Iliad or Odyssey?
2. Of the instances of the word in the Iliad, does it occur more in the first or second half of the poem (math skills required: the Iliad is traditionally divided into 24 books).
3. Are you sick of sceptres yet?

I. There's a bit more to do. Let's go to a couple of the texts and see the sceptre in action.

Go to the citation Il. 1. 234 (the third one revealed in the search for skeptron in Homer), and begin reading this selection at line 230 to gain some context. The speaker here is Achilles.

1. Of what material is the staff he mentions here made?
2. In what connection does he speak of it here?

J. Now go to another citation: Il. 2.265. Again, you need a little context, so use the "previous card" arrow on the Navigator (gad zooks, you remember the Navigator, don't you?!) and read the preceding card too.

The speaker here is Thersites. When you have read this card and the next (lines 225-277), answer these questions:

1. Who grabs the staff?
2. What does he use it for?
3. How do the on-lookers feel about this action?

Part III. Sculpture

K. Locate and examine the following two examples of sculpture: Berlin 7 and New York 32.11.4.

1. What common theme do they represent?
2. What differences can you note about these 2 sculptures? (One is obvious and physical; think, think and try to discover a second.)
3. Why do you think they are so similar?
4. Contrast these two works with the sculpture Athens NM 3614. Briefly describe which work you like best and why?