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leftoverresearchquarterlya compilation of the interesting links I found for what is going to be the most ridiculously well-researched ~500-word ficlet of all time. (OF ALL TIME!)
Where is the Kephissos/Cephisus/Kifissos/etc. river?
Map of Athens, from The Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography, by Samuel Butler (1907/8). -- source
Map of the environs of Athens showing Piraeus, Phalerum, and the Long Walls -- source
In these maps you can see the river on the plain outside the city.
Photo of the Kifissos River today (but far, far upstream from Athens; the river at Athens is notoriously polluted and is the target of a current clean-up effort.)
somewhat blurry pictures of the Kifissos today, plus drawings of a proposal to beautify the area: One, Two -- source: article on Kifissos pollution & cleanup
Cephissus (Athenian plain) (Greek Κήφισσος, Kifissós, Kephissós, Kêphissos) river flowing through the Athenian plain. View from the top from a bridge at the highway (Athens-Lamia). -- a clear view of the Kifissos today. Niko's house by the river is buried somewhere under all that concrete... (well, at least there's a tiny bit of riverbank. Sort of.)
Historical Notes on Kifissos River (Google Translate) -- original Greek
for inspiration purposes only: Plants along the river banks, Prokopi, Greece. A very nice photoset from Prokopi, on the island of Euboea.
online translations of Euripides' Medea:
by George Theodoridis, 2005
Roses in Ancient/Classical Greece (and sometimes Rome):
The 'Blue Bird Fresco' from Knossos; the earliest representation of a rose in the area (yes, those flowers are roses, just not the multi-petaled kind we're used to--most classical Greek and Roman roses were, apparently, gallicas) -- image source
In Search of Lost Roses by Thomas Christopher - link jumps to the part on roses in the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD)
Notes on the Origin of the Moss Rose - scroll down for the section on "History of the old Cabbage Rose," for mentions of Herodotus/Theophrastus/Pliny on roses.
Gardens, gardening & plants in Ancient/Classical Greece (and sometimes Rome):
Theophrastus' Enquiry into plants and minor works on odours and weather signs
translated by Sir Arthur Hort (1916)
Volume 1
Volume 2
(a huge amount of info on plants, gardening, perfumes and perfume-making, and who knows what else. interesting trivia: rose perfume was considered more suitable for males, while myrrh/sandalwood was more suitable for females because it lingered longer.)
The Bedside Book of the Garden by D.G. Hessayon - link jumps to the part assessing the soundness of Theophrastus' advice on gardening from a modern gardeners' perspective.
"Early slices of paradise: Gardens in ancient times" - New York Times
A History of Garden Art by Marie-Luise Gothein - has a whole section on Ancient Greece
"Classical Greek Gardens: Between Farm and Paradise" by Robin Osborne - link should jump to the article; if not, just search, it's in there.
Greek gardens on Wikipedia
Eclectic Links on Greek Religion:
(there is actually a method to the seeming randomness of this section. don't ask.)
Ancient Greek Religion by Jon D. Mikalson - link jumps to a part on piety
Encyclopedia of ancient Greece by Nigel Guy Wilson - link jumps to a part on impiety
A Companion to Greek Religion, ed. Daniel Ogden - for Last of the Wine fans, there's an account on p.233 onwards of the lamentations for Adonis and the defacement of the herms before the fleet set sail.
The Essentials of Religion - section on Ancient Greece - short discussion on piety (esp. as discussed in Plato's "Euthyphro")
Readings on Peitho - some tidbits about Aphrodite in the section on Peitho in association with Aphrodite. (This is the first time it actually clicked in my head that there are two Symposiums, one by Plato and one by Xenophon. *facepalm*)
"The Girl by the Water: Images of Aphrodite as Mediated Desire" by Peter T. Koper - journal article on the recurring imagery of 'the girl by the water' in Western literature.
"Incense offerings for the Greek gods" - an awesome, awesome overview of the subject, including info on which type of incense was a suitable offering for which god(s).
Greek religion: archaic and classical by Burkert & Raffan - link jumps to a part on incense offerings
Random Extras:
Sappho: The Greek Poems by Prof. William Harris - an awesome resource which I really wish I had found when I was assigned to put together a presentation on Sappho several years ago.
Women in the Classical World by Fantham et al.
Where is the Kephissos/Cephisus/Kifissos/etc. river?
Map of Athens, from The Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography, by Samuel Butler (1907/8). -- source
Map of the environs of Athens showing Piraeus, Phalerum, and the Long Walls -- source
In these maps you can see the river on the plain outside the city.
Photo of the Kifissos River today (but far, far upstream from Athens; the river at Athens is notoriously polluted and is the target of a current clean-up effort.)
somewhat blurry pictures of the Kifissos today, plus drawings of a proposal to beautify the area: One, Two -- source: article on Kifissos pollution & cleanup
Cephissus (Athenian plain) (Greek Κήφισσος, Kifissós, Kephissós, Kêphissos) river flowing through the Athenian plain. View from the top from a bridge at the highway (Athens-Lamia). -- a clear view of the Kifissos today. Niko's house by the river is buried somewhere under all that concrete... (well, at least there's a tiny bit of riverbank. Sort of.)
Historical Notes on Kifissos River (Google Translate) -- original Greek
for inspiration purposes only: Plants along the river banks, Prokopi, Greece. A very nice photoset from Prokopi, on the island of Euboea.
online translations of Euripides' Medea:
by George Theodoridis, 2005
Where, it is also told, Cypris Aphrodite, drew water from the cool founts of the bejewelled Kifissos and mingled it with the sweet breath of the soft airs of fields and mountains. There, where she adorns her hair with the sweet rose-scented garlands and, they also say, she sends Eros off to sit by the side of Wisdom, to be her aid for ever and in every virtue. Eros and Wisdom, together!by Theodore Alois Buckley, 1892
And they report also that Venus drawing in her breath from the stream of the fair-flowing Cephisus, breathed over their country gentle sweetly-breathing gales of air; and always entwining in her hair the fragrant wreath of roses, sends the loves as assessors to wisdom; the assistants of every virtue.by E.P. Coleridge
And poets sing how Cypris drawing water from the streams of fair-flowing Cephissus breathes o'er the land a gentle breeze of balmy winds, and ever as she crowns her tresses with a garland of sweet rose-buds sends forth the Loves to sit by wisdom's side, to take part in every excellence.by Gilbert Murray, 1912
And Cephisus, the fair-flowing river / The Cyprian dipping her hand / Hath drawn of his dew, and the shiver / Of her touch is as joy in the land. / For her breathing in fragrance is written, / And in music her path as she goes, / And the cloud of her hair, it is litten / With stars of the wind-woven rose. / So fareth she ever and ever, / And forth of her bosom is blown, / As dews on the winds of the river, / An hunger of passions unknown, / Strong Loves of all godlike endeavour, / Whom Wisdom shall throne on her throne.
Roses in Ancient/Classical Greece (and sometimes Rome):
The 'Blue Bird Fresco' from Knossos; the earliest representation of a rose in the area (yes, those flowers are roses, just not the multi-petaled kind we're used to--most classical Greek and Roman roses were, apparently, gallicas) -- image source
In Search of Lost Roses by Thomas Christopher - link jumps to the part on roses in the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD)
Notes on the Origin of the Moss Rose - scroll down for the section on "History of the old Cabbage Rose," for mentions of Herodotus/Theophrastus/Pliny on roses.
Gardens, gardening & plants in Ancient/Classical Greece (and sometimes Rome):
Theophrastus' Enquiry into plants and minor works on odours and weather signs
translated by Sir Arthur Hort (1916)
Volume 1
Volume 2
(a huge amount of info on plants, gardening, perfumes and perfume-making, and who knows what else. interesting trivia: rose perfume was considered more suitable for males, while myrrh/sandalwood was more suitable for females because it lingered longer.)
The Bedside Book of the Garden by D.G. Hessayon - link jumps to the part assessing the soundness of Theophrastus' advice on gardening from a modern gardeners' perspective.
"Early slices of paradise: Gardens in ancient times" - New York Times
A History of Garden Art by Marie-Luise Gothein - has a whole section on Ancient Greece
"Classical Greek Gardens: Between Farm and Paradise" by Robin Osborne - link should jump to the article; if not, just search, it's in there.
Greek gardens on Wikipedia
Eclectic Links on Greek Religion:
(there is actually a method to the seeming randomness of this section. don't ask.)
Ancient Greek Religion by Jon D. Mikalson - link jumps to a part on piety
Encyclopedia of ancient Greece by Nigel Guy Wilson - link jumps to a part on impiety
A Companion to Greek Religion, ed. Daniel Ogden - for Last of the Wine fans, there's an account on p.233 onwards of the lamentations for Adonis and the defacement of the herms before the fleet set sail.
The Essentials of Religion - section on Ancient Greece - short discussion on piety (esp. as discussed in Plato's "Euthyphro")
Readings on Peitho - some tidbits about Aphrodite in the section on Peitho in association with Aphrodite. (This is the first time it actually clicked in my head that there are two Symposiums, one by Plato and one by Xenophon. *facepalm*)
"The Girl by the Water: Images of Aphrodite as Mediated Desire" by Peter T. Koper - journal article on the recurring imagery of 'the girl by the water' in Western literature.
"Incense offerings for the Greek gods" - an awesome, awesome overview of the subject, including info on which type of incense was a suitable offering for which god(s).
Greek religion: archaic and classical by Burkert & Raffan - link jumps to a part on incense offerings
Random Extras:
Sappho: The Greek Poems by Prof. William Harris - an awesome resource which I really wish I had found when I was assigned to put together a presentation on Sappho several years ago.
Women in the Classical World by Fantham et al.
