Hay Festival: the Greek idea (From Hereford Times)

Hay Festival: the Greek idea

11:12am Friday 8th June 2012 in Leisure By Lydia Johnson

Classics enthusiasts have had plenty to talk about at this year’s Hay Festival.

Throughout the festival in Hay-on-Wye, there have been talks by leading classicists such as Bettany Hughes and Paul Cartledge, on topics ranging from sex and drama to politics and Plato.

Yesterday (Thursday June 7), Paul Cartledge, Bettany Hughes, Angela Hobbs and Tom Holland, discussed ‘the Greek idea’, including the concepts of civilisation, democracy, drama, liberty, and what the study of classics means to us today.

Their combination of knowledge, wit and fluent speech meant there was plenty to think about after the show, which was enjoyable and understandable by those with the most basic classical knowledge.

Each gave a fascinating talk to a packed auditorium, fuelled by lively debate, and invited questions afterwards from the audience.