2008 Woodie Awards
Ancient horror stories still inspire
Jordan Huskins, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Arts & Living
"I do think that ancient ghost stories have a little more humor in them, though."
Exactly where the ancient stories of Greece and Rome came from is unknown. Historians do know that they came as a result of people's beliefs. "Religion played a huge part in it. People tended to speculate about where spirits went after death, and still do today for that matter," Felton said.
She said it is hard to say whether ancient Romans and Greeks actually believed in ghosts.
"No one can really say with certainty whether the majority of ancient Romans and Greeks actually believed in ghosts. Most likely some did and some didn't, just like today."
In another interview with Eternallycool.net, Felton said there are no known haunted sites in Greece and Rome. The ancient stories don't get any more specific then mentioning "a house" or "a bath." Felton also said the tradition of creating and telling ghost stories still continues today in Greece and Rome, as well as many other countries.
"The stories tend to circulate into society over time. Stories from over 2000 years ago are still being told and retold today," she said.
Professor Felton is currently working on a second novel that will be titled "Things That Went Bump in the Night: Strange Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome."
"It's still in its early stages, but my goal is to make it a more interesting read then my first novel," she said.
The book will be more of an anthology than an analysis and will touch on more supernatural stories and expand on different creatures, such as vampires, zombies and werewolves.
Jordan Huskins can be reached at jhuskins@student.umass.edu.
Exactly where the ancient stories of Greece and Rome came from is unknown. Historians do know that they came as a result of people's beliefs. "Religion played a huge part in it. People tended to speculate about where spirits went after death, and still do today for that matter," Felton said.
She said it is hard to say whether ancient Romans and Greeks actually believed in ghosts.
"No one can really say with certainty whether the majority of ancient Romans and Greeks actually believed in ghosts. Most likely some did and some didn't, just like today."
In another interview with Eternallycool.net, Felton said there are no known haunted sites in Greece and Rome. The ancient stories don't get any more specific then mentioning "a house" or "a bath." Felton also said the tradition of creating and telling ghost stories still continues today in Greece and Rome, as well as many other countries.
"The stories tend to circulate into society over time. Stories from over 2000 years ago are still being told and retold today," she said.
Professor Felton is currently working on a second novel that will be titled "Things That Went Bump in the Night: Strange Stories from Ancient Greece and Rome."
"It's still in its early stages, but my goal is to make it a more interesting read then my first novel," she said.
The book will be more of an anthology than an analysis and will touch on more supernatural stories and expand on different creatures, such as vampires, zombies and werewolves.
Jordan Huskins can be reached at jhuskins@student.umass.edu.
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