August 26, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) First Thursday Lecture Series will present a discussion by Birmingham-Southern College Professor Sam Pezillo on "Epic Gods: From Vindictive Spirits to Helpful Companions" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, in the UAB Spencer Honors House, 1190 10th Ave. South. The lecture is free and open to the public. Call 205-934-3228 for more details.

Pezillo's lecture will examine the changing role of deities in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and later Greek literature, especially tragedy. He also will discuss the role of the goddess Athena in representations of heroic mythology in Greek art.

The UAB First Thursday Lecture Series, sponsored by the UAB University Honors Program, offers college students and the Birmingham community an opportunity to meet and learn from active scholars, leaders, researchers and artists.

About the UAB University Honors Program

The UAB University Honors Program provides gifted students the opportunity to learn among a community of committed scholars. Courses are team-taught by faculty in a thematic learning environment in the liberal arts tradition. Lively discussions, challenging readings that require critical thinking and a learning approach that asks students to think about issues from multiple viewpoints are hallmarks of this nationally recognized program.