Finally, A Pyramid

I've had the story about the Great Pyramid under construction for most of this calendar year -- when I finally posted it just now I noticed that it had originally been dated Jan. 30th. Admittedly, must of this time investment involved procrastination -- and there's also the fact that I went and read a couple very long books on Egypt during the process. But also, Egypt is one of those civilizations that I find it very difficult to wrap my mind around. Reading Egyptian texts, there certainly much that is familiar at a human level. And yet there's a great deal about Ancient Egyptian culture (most especially in this period of the Old Kingdom) which is quite opaque to me.

Anyway. That's done, and I'm going to do my best to wrap the story on mummies and the Egyptian afterlife this week as well so that I can move back into more familiar cultural and historic territory (and hopefully build up some momentum) once I head back to work from paternity leave.

Illustrations for Development of Writing

As I get active on posting again: We've not got some great illustrations up on the Development of Writing story for the Elementary Program. Two great pictures for Hieroglyphics and Cuneiform, and one forthcoming in a bit for Phoenician.

Not Dead Yet...

Contrary to appearances, we have not died. Just been rather unlively and pre-occupied lately...

High School Iliad Profile Up

Well, I'm not doing as well as I should be on getting the High School Year One items posted, but I did finally wrap up the piece on the Iliad.

High School Deadline

I've been finding myself putting much more time into the elementary program lately, probably because our oldest is already old enough to enjoy hearing the stories a bit. Thus, progress in getting content up for the high school program has been slower than it should be.

I rather doubt there's anyone out these considering using the program this coming year, but I'm thinking I better crack down and see if I can get Year One of the High School Humanities Program done before the end of the summer (which to give myself time I'll define as the end of August.)

I don't foresee any further changes in the Year One reading list itself. However, I need to finish writing up the notes on each work (including recommendations on which editions to pick) and also complete the scheduling suggestions. Most of which just requires looking over my stacks of books from high school and college, and checking to see if any interesting new translations have come out recently. Not the most romantic work in the world, but very much in need of doing.

First Illustration Up

It's take our illustrator some time to get started on his research and get the first illustration inked, scanned and ready to post, but I'm proud to announce that the first one is now up.

Check out the story of Helen for our first original illustration, with many more to come in the weeks ahead.

Trojan War Stories

For the last month and change (shocking how long these things can take) I've been struggling over turning the Iliad and Odyssey adaptations. In some ways, this has been made more difficult by the fact I've been re-reading the Iliad as I go along, which results in lots of "I can't leave that out!" thinking.

Anyway, I finally got this to something like a finished state, and I've been going through reading the stories aloud to our eldest daughter as bedtime material. However, she's five (at the bottom of the intended age range) and is willing to sit back and listen to anything from Goodnight Moon to selections from Njal's Saga, so I'm not sure that the fact she keeps listening is actually a sign of success, or just general receptivity to reading. Plus she doesn't really have any feedback on whether everything makes sense, is exciting, etc.

So, a request for anyone out there with kids somewhere around 5-9 who's willing to do some experimental reading: I'd very much appreciate it if you'd read over some or all of the following and let me know if these seem like something that your child would enjoy. Better yet, if you can read them aloud to kids and let me know what their feedback is, I'd appreciate it even more.

The Trojan War: A Blind Poet Named Homer

• The Face that Launched a Thousand Ships


• The Wrath of Achilles


• The Trojan Horse

The Wanderings of Odyssues:

• The Lost Hero


• Odysseus Tells His Story


• The Hero Returns

The one thing I haven't finished yet is adding a list of good outside reading (picture books, story books and chapter books dealing with the Trojan War and Odysseus which are recommended if one wants to read further). I have a few old favorites from my childhood, and a bunch of stuff I picked up at the library that I need to look through, but if you have suggestions, do let me know and I'll include them. (Do please note the length and age level.)