Cave Library
Want to read the best of ancient Greek literature? And other content related to the same?
Two literature-reading heroes absorbed in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. What more can you ask for?
What to do?
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Go to the Book and Contents Categories below or scroll and click on the cover of a book you want to read.
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Readings are organized by book series. In addition to the readings themselves, most books contain introductions, maps, and other content. Enjoy!
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If you prefer to practice what you've read, go to the Cave Gymnasium (here).
Note - The Cave is in the process of adding readings and other content to the Cave Library. It's an ongoing task, so thanks for your patience in advance! For now, enjoy readings from the following nine Cave books. If you prefer to purchase the book, go to Cave Books (here).
Book and Content Categories
the best of ancient Greek literature for today
what the ancient Greeks thought and said about a topic
Essays, First Words, Interviews, Travel, Greek Life, Art & Architecture & More
Best of Series Books
the best of ancient Greek literature for today
poetry (epic and more), philosophy, history, tragedy
Scroll below for the book you want to read. Click on its cover or its title (in the brief summary) to go to its library page.
The following is a very brief summary of what you'll read in each book:
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The Iliad (from The Best of Homer's Iliad ) presents a portion of the final year of the Trojan War. In focus is the wrath of Achilles and what happens because of it.
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The Odyssey (from The Best of Homer's Odyssey ) narrates Odysseus' harrowing journey home (after the Trojan War) and what he faces once there.
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The Theogony (from The Best of Hesiod's Theogony & Works and Days) recounts the birth of the gods, including power struggles and great cosmic battles.
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The Works and Days (from The Best of Hesiod's Theogony & Works and Days) is a book of advice covering many aspects of life (how to work and achieve success; justice; the character of each day of the month and what each is good for; when and how to feast; and more).
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The Best of Basil the Great on Reading and Education presents Basil's views on how best to approach education and benefit from reading.
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In addition to ancient accounts narrating the lives of the philosophers, The Best of the Cynics, The Best of Epicurus, and The Best of the Early Stoics offer the philosophy of each school (Cynicism, Epicureanism, and Stoicism), including why we should do philosophy and the three parts of ancient Greek philosophy (logic, natural philosophy [physics], and ethics), as well as other topics depending on the book.
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Other works are on the way!
Other Best of Series
Content to Come . . .
Homeric Hymns
Lyric and other poetry
Herodotus
Thucydides
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
Presocratics
Plato
Aristotle
Epictetus
Plotinus
Bonfire Series Books
what the ancient Greeks thought and said about a topic
Scroll for the book you want to read. Click on its cover or its title (in the brief summary) to go to its library page.
The following is a very brief summary of what you'll read in each book:
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Aretē: Excellence or Virtue presents what the ancient Greeks thought and said about aretē. Why it is the goal of life. What it is. How one achieves it. Examples of excellence or virtue (who). As well as what various philosophers (including Plato-Socrates, Xenophon, Aristotle, the Cynics, Epicurus, the early Stoics, Epictetus, Plotinus) and orators (including Isocrates, Demosthenes, and Dio Chrysostom) thought, said, and did about aretē. And more.
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Happiness covers what the ancient Greeks thought and said about happiness. Why it is the goal of life. Happiness formulas. How one becomes happy. The problem with happiness. Who is happy, when and where. As well as what various philosophers (including Plato-Socrates, Xenophon, Aristotle, Aristippus, the Cynics, Epicurus, the early Stoics, Epictetus and other later Stoics, the Skeptics, Plotinus) thought, said, and did about happiness. And more.
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Other works are on the way!
Other Non-Book Cave Content
Essays, First Words, Interviews, Travel, Greek life, Art & Architecture & More
We are in the process of adding other content that will present:
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An essay on the value of Greek literature (the invitation to participate and more)
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First Words (Greek Words) related to the human condition and other topics
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An interview with Diogenes of Sinope, a founder of the Cynic philosophy, and other interviews
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Traveling to Cape Sounion, the cove below, and other destinations
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Greek life segments having to do with home, sports, food, and other areas of life
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And much more!
Thanks for your patience and support!
If you'd like to read it now, get The Best of Ancient Greek Literature (BAGL) Volume 1 here. Or subscribe here.
Diogenes of Sinope