Reading Classical Texts Online in Translation: Internet Sacret Text Archive (ISTA)
In our digital age, it isn’t too hard to find Classicaltexts online, but the Sacred Texts Archiveprovides a good list of Classicalwork, mostly in the Englishlanguage. Texts from other traditions–most relevant, Mesopotamian–are also readily available. It serves, overall, as a good digital libraryfree for use.
Who it's For:
Everyone, but there is some viewer discretion advised. In part, the Classicsand some of the secondary researchincluded on the Classicspage have topics inappropriate for young audiences. The easily accessible other traditions may also promote or display ideologies that are problematic, so homeschool leaders especially might want to save relevant sections to share instead of having students access the sitethemselves. It depends upon the maturity of the reader.
Cost:
Free and mostly out of copyright!
In Detail:
Classical Texts Online
The sitehosts what it claims to: an onlinelibrary with open accessto a wide variety of texts, both poetryand prose, with a slant towards religious literature(although that connection is tenuous in the Classicscollection, at least).
It reproduces the texts from out of copyright books. Some are translation only, and some have Ancient Greekor Latinas well.
The selection is limited, and I would say there are better resources onlinefor Classicstexts. However, I appreciate the easy access to related cultures of Egyptand the AncientNear East (which, in my view, are often harder to find).
Research About Classical Texts Online
Occassionally, there are also books of interest in researchfrom the public domain. It can be a strange assortment and not necessarily relevant to the topic of religion, but all attempts at hosting an internet archiveof unedited writing is a useful endeavor.
Limited Selection, Easy Access
As mentioned, there are other sites focused more on Classics(Greek and Roman, that is) that have more comprehensive listing. But with the additional other cultures available (read Gilgamesh more!), there’s still a good use for the InternetSacred Text Archive.