Events Calendar

Homerathon 2019 -- a 24-hour continuous public reading of Homer's Iliad in English translation, 5 pm Wednesday March 27 – 5 pm Thursday March 28

Join the University of Iowa Department of Classics and Eta Sigma Phi, the undergraduate honors society for classics students, for a 24-hour continuous public reading of Homer’s Iliad in English translation.

The event is being held outdoors in Kautz Plaza (adjacent to the T. Anne Cleary Walkway) on the University of Iowa campus from 5 pm Wednesday, March 27, to 5 pm Thursday, March 28.

Although the Iliad was composed some four thousand years ago, Homer’s epic tale of anger, love, and loss still resonates in today’s world. Through Homer we learn how we became who we are and what it means to be human. Since ancient epic was meant to be performed, not read silently to oneself, a public reading of the Iliad more closely approximates the original experience.

The Homerathon will kick off at 5 pm on Wednesday, March 27, with opening readers University President Bruce Harreld, CLAS Associate Dean Helena Dettmer, and renowned classicist Peter Green. Throughout the event, members of the University and Iowa City communities also will be reading, including Iowa City mayor Jim Throgmorton and Iowa Public Radio/Iowa Public Television host Charity Nebbe.

Students, faculty, staff, and members of the public are invited to sign up to read here: http://signup.com/go/jhCSOSZ

Food and drink, provided by O’s Grill, will be available for purchase from 4:30 to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, March 27.

Some seating will be available for readers and spectators.

Inclement weather location: River Room 1, Iowa Memorial Union