From The Editor

Abstract

From The Editor Roger D. Woodard Earlier versions of the papers that constitute this special thematic issue of Arethusa were presented at a symposium on Greek tragedy—one meeting of a series of three symposia informally known as the "Peradotto Sessions." The series was made possible through the generous financial support of Milton Ezrati, distinguished economist, who, as an undergraduate at the University at Buffalo, had undertaken coursework with John J. Peradotto. It was in the fall term of 1968 that Mr. Ezrati began studying with Professor Peradotto, enrolling in Classics 103: Greek Literature in Translation (readings in Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics). The beginning of Milton Ezrati's studies with Jack Peradotto thus coincided with the beginning of Arethusa, the first issue of which is dated Fall 1968 and edited by Charles Garton. As I mentioned in my editorial preface to the preceding issue of Arethusa (55.2), the lead article of that inaugural issue of the journal is Charles Segal's "Ancient Texts and Modern Criticism: Some Recent Trends in Classical Literary Studies" (pp. 1–25). Segal is joined in the issue by Ernst Badian: "Sulla's Augurate" (pp. 26–46), Brooks Otis: "A Reading of the Cleopatra Ode" (pp. 47–61), Molly Miller: "Solon's Timetable" (pp. 62–81), Albert Cook: "The Patterning of Effect in Sophocles' Philoctetes" (pp. 82–93), John P. Anton: "The Ultimate Theme of the Phaedo" (pp. 94–102), and Robert K. Sherk: "The Date of Menander's Dyscolus" (pp. 103–108). To draw once more from Charlie Segal's prescient contribution—early in his article (p. 2), Segal references an essay from the Prologue (that portion entitled "Reading") of Auden's The Dyer's Hand and Other Essays (p. 4, first published 1948, London, Faber and Faber), writing that "one must at least consider the problem raised by W. H. Auden that in criticizing a classic one is dealing with a work that is already a part of one's spiritual biography." Taking a broader pass at Auden's lines we find (pp. 4–5): "To read is to translate, [End Page 209] for no two persons' experiences are the same … our judgment of an established author is never simply an aesthetic judgment … [for the author] is also a character in our biography." Segal then adds: "Be this as it may, a reasoned desanctification is salutary, in some cases even necessary." The very existence of the "Peradotto Sessions" testifies to the continued potentiality of classic works becoming a part of one's biography, something one may carry through decades, especially when acquired from or reinforced by a gifted and dedicated teacher. What follows in this issue of Arethusa is a set of four remarkable, salutary, reasoned desanctifications (and thus resanctifications) of Greek tragic drama, offered in celebration of Jack Peradotto's 90th birthday. RDW [End Page 210] Copyright © 2023 Johns Hopkins University Press