WINNOW: A Couple’s Close Reading of the Iliad and Odyssey

Join us as we discuss the final book of the Iliad. Fun fact: Achilles doesn't die in this one! Why does the story end like this? And how are Achilles and Priam able to come to a sort of understanding? We reflect back on the Iliad as a whole, and Bella makes the case that anyone can read the Iliad.

If you're wondering what we read when we're not reading the Iliad or the Odyssey, check out our new bonus podcast on Patreon.

Stay tuned for the Odyssey Book 1 audiobook coming soon!

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Edited by Isabella Gemmer

Welcome to the Funeral Games! In honor of Patroclus, Achilles holds many contests for various prizes. The boys are so back. Join us as we discuss these contests and the significance of the prizes. Because in this book, everyone gets a participation trophy from Achilles himself.

Listen to Book 24 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode on YouTube.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Edited by Isabella Gemmer

Drum roll please! The duel that you've all been waiting for is finally happening. It's Achilles vs Hector. Does the final duel live up to the hype? Or does it fall short in some way?

Listen to Book 23 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode YouTube.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Edited by Isabella Gemmer

In this episode of WINNOW we discuss Achilles vs the River. His rage knows no bounds; he literally fights nature itself. How far will Achilles go to get revenge for the death of Patroclus?

Listen to Book 22 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode on YouTube.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Edited by Isabella Gemmer

In this episode of WINNOW we discuss the Theory of the Bicameral Mind and how it potentially applies to the characters of the Iliad. It may explain why these greek warriors act without thinking and blame everything on the gods. And Owen surprises Bella with some really insightful Greek that adds a lot of color to the text.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Listen to Book 21 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode on YouTube.

Conversation between Alex O'Connor and Vsauce

Julian Jaynes's Book on the Bicameral Mind Theory

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Welcome to a special bonus episode of WINNOW. We reread the second book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, The Sea of Monsters, in anticipation of the new season dropping today. The Sea of Monsters is particularly special to us because it is one giant nod to the greek mythology in Homer's Odyssey. And we also just wanted to take a stroll down nostalgia lane. Join us as we map out the similarities and differences between the Odyssey and The Sea of Monsters.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

In this episode of WINNOW we discuss Book 19 of the Iliad. There's one more thing to do before Achilles charges into battle. Odysseus suggests the men eat, so they have enough energy to continue to fight. Achilles claims that he isn't hungry, but goes along with it. There are some half-hearted apologies and *jump scare* the horses talk.

Listen to Book 20 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode on YouTube.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Book 18 of the Iliad is where we see Achilles's reaction to Patroclus's death. Achilles's reaction is intense and full of grief, but we think that there's more going on here. In this episode we do some investigating into the original Greek text to see what specific words Achilles is using to describe his relationship with Patroclus. Were they friends? Were they comrades? Were they roommates?

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Listen to Book 19 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Welcome back to WINNOW. This week we are covering Book 17 of Homer's Iliad. We're not quite to the rage of Achilles yet. First the Greeks and Trojans must fight over Patroclus's dead body. Even once Hector has stripped off Achilles's armor, his body still carries great significance. But why is his body so important?

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Listen to Book 18 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.

Back our regularly scheduled programming! Today's episode covers Book 16 of Homer's Iliad. This is the book where Patroclus meets his tragic end. Why does Achilles let Patroclus wear his armor into battle? What inspires Patroclus to go beast mode? And what twist of fate is his undoing? We dive into all of it here on the WINNOW podcast.

Listen to Book 17 of the Iliad to be prepared for next week's episode on YouTube.

You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Thank you to Nat Copeland for our theme song.