On June 5 at 15:00, a thematic discussion will be held at the Caucasus University bookstore “Librarea” as part of the Librarea Talks series. The session will focus on the topic: “Lessons of Freedom from Ancient Greece – Rebellious Heroes in Ancient Greek Drama.”

Theater originated in ancient Greece – not only as an art, but also as an eternal ritual in the pursuit of free spirit, an arena of rebellion and struggle. The defiant heroes of ancient Greek drama emerged as timeless symbols of the fight for liberty, the truth, and societal progress; their rebellion became an act of social resistance, a centuries-old manifesto against oppression and injustice, humanity’s constant struggle for a better future.

Antigone - an indomitable and steadfast rebel who confronts the state system in order to uphold her moral convictions. Through her defiance, she establishes a new morality based on universal law in society;

Prometheus, the first civilizational hero, fights for equality and becomes the defender of the oppressed; he illuminates the weak human mind with the fire of civilization;

Philoctetes, becomes a tragic example of the struggle for personal dignity in world literature and art as he turns his back on his comrades, but despite pain and rejection, remains faithful to his principles to the end;

Medea, a victim of injustice in love, rebels in a way that exacts a staggering price from Corinthian society; Her defiance transforms the image of the Colchian princess into a kind of paradigm of a fighting woman;

And Aristophanes, the father of comedy, who fearlessly and relentlessly exposes the abuses of power by rulers and the pitfalls of public dogmatism, reminds us that the theater is not merely a stage for entertainment — it is a battlefield of social and political struggle; the creator is first and foremost a citizen and, as the paradigm of Greek democracy teaches us, to be a πολίτης or citizen - means to fight to eliminate the shortcomings of your city, country, society and to fight everywhere, including in the theater, since art is not only a centuries-old and most powerful means of enjoyment and cognition, but also an expression of protest.

Ancient Greek theater teaches us that freedom is a constant struggle with oneself and the society that often opposes us. The rebellion of ancient Greek heroes once again demonstrates that the search for the truth implies sacrifice, self-sacrifice and unyielding spirituality. Freedom is a constant struggle, which is won by those whose souls can endure the indomitable struggle against injustice and remain faithful to their principles.

And yet:

What does it mean to be free from an ancient perspective? How did the heroes of ancient drama overcome personal and social obstacles? And what can their rebellion teach us - today, when the problem of freedom is still relevant?

To find answers to these questions, we invite you to a public lecture by Tatia Mtvarelidze, a Hellenist and translator, Assistant Professor at Caucasus University.

Those interested in attending, please register at the link.