Showing papers in "Classical World in 2012"
TL;DR: The famous dramatic fragment (TrGF 43 F 19), often ascribed to Critias, positing the existence of the gods as a fiction, has been widely considered a cynical, dangerous denunciation of religion per se as mentioned in this paper. But the fragment's enumeration of the benefits of religion in eradicating injustice, violence and lawlessness suggests that belief in the gods can be seen pragmatically in more positive terms.
Abstract: The famous dramatic fragment (TrGF 43 F 19), often ascribed to Critias, positing the existence of the gods as a fiction, has been widely considered a cynical, dangerous denunciation of religion per se. But the fragment's enumeration of the benefits of religion in eradicating injustice, violence, and lawlessness suggests that belief in the gods can be seen pragmatically in more positive terms. Seen more fully in its intellectual context, the piece is better understood as a paradox which attributes to religion many of the values and aims of much ethical and sophistic speculation of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C.
39 citations
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TL;DR: The current state of active Latin pedagogy and practice, which includes speaking and writing as well as listening, can be found in this paper, which provides a short historical survey of the activities, methods, and aims of Active Latin practitioners to provide bearings for those working with these methods.
Abstract: This article examines the current state of active Latin pedagogy and practice, which includes speaking and writing as well as listening. It offers a short historical survey of the activities, methods, and aims of active Latin practitioners to provide bearings for those working with these methods, and information for those unfamiliar with them.
10 citations
TL;DR: It is argued that policies such as forced sales and maximum prices made urban consumers hesitant to rely on the market for secure access to grain, and hoarded grain, which formed a volatile fuel ready to be ignited by the arrival of the bubonic plague bacillus.
Abstract: This paper begins with a review of Roman grain market policies. It is argued that policies such as forced sales and maximum prices made urban consumers hesitant to rely on the market for secure access to grain. Consequently, consumers hoarded grain in their homes. The hoarded grain formed a volatile fuel ready to be ignited by the arrival of the bubonic plague bacillus. This scenario fits events in the city of Rome under Commodus. Attested grain market interventions were followed by a severe epidemic, arguably bubonic plague, which decimated the city's population.
9 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the importance of the archaeological materials for getting to know more about the degree to which dormice were eaten, by whom, and where, is emphasised, and the material evidence, consisting of dormouse-jars in which the animals were fattened, is critically reexamined.
Abstract: The edible dormouse was known as a delicious treat to rich Romans. This short article aims to emphasise the importance of the archaeological materials for getting to know more about the degree to which dormice were eaten, by whom, and where. The material evidence, consisting of dormouse-jars in which the animals were fattened, is critically reexamined.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a reference to Aeneas' search for his wife, Creusa, in book 2 of Vergil's Aeneid during the final fall of Troy is made.
Abstract: Rat’s description of Otter’s search for his missing son, Portly, in Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows contains an allusion to Aeneas’ search for his wife, Creusa, in book 2 of Vergil’s Aeneid during the final fall of Troy. This reference economically imports a number of elements more appropriate to epic than pastoral literature. The result is a heightened sense of emotion and concern but, ironically, the reinforcement of the boundaries of the idyllic pastoral world.
4 citations
TL;DR: This paper argued that Apollo's reliance on the established world, partially marked by the knowledge of eἰδέναι, is insufficient in understanding Hermes, who aligns himself with the flexible capacity of νόος.
Abstract: This paper argues that the Homeric Hymn to Hermes explores competing ways of approaching the world through the figures of Hermes and Apollo. Apollo’s reliance on the established world, partially marked by the knowledge of eἰδέναι, is insufficient in understanding Hermes, who aligns himself with the flexible capacity of νόος. Whereas Apollo eliminates his rivals in order to establish himself permanently, Hermes exploits unexplored potentials in order to create space alongside the established gods in the Olympian order. Ultimately, the newly forged friendship of Apollo and Hermes helps us understand the nature of Zeus more fully.
4 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the female banqueters in Attic vase paintings and found that the similarity of this image to the actual symposium forced the symposiast to reflect on his behavior, while its differences worked to identify any female at the symposium as “other.”
Abstract: My examination of the female banqueters on this psykter investigates gender ideologies in Attic vase painting, but also humor, eroticism and the use of stereotypes in late-archaic Athens. I suggest this image of female banqueters helped male symposiasts bond and reinforced the privileged position of the Athenian male citizen. The similarity of this image to the actual symposium forced the symposiast to reflect on his behavior, while its differences worked to identify any female at the symposium as “other.” In the process, I also unravel attitudes towards the female prostitute and problematize the identification “hetaira” given to female banqueters.
TL;DR: In this article, Xenophon deliberately omits to use the word "sea-fight" in regard to the naval battle at Aegospotami in order to indicate that there was no serious naval engagement that would justify the report of this word Moreover, his purpose for doing that was to castigate Philocles as an incompetent general
Abstract: In this paper I argue that Xenophon deliberately omits to use the word “sea-fight” (ναυμαχία) in regard to the naval battle at Aegospotami in order to indicate that there was no serious naval engagement that would justify the report of this word Moreover, his purpose for doing that was to castigate Philocles as an incompetent general In regard to the fact that the Athenian orators talk about a sea battle in the Hellespont, this is just a coincidence and arises from ideological reasons
TL;DR: In their descriptions of the assassination of Caracalla, Cassius Dio and Herodian employed a similar narrative that was hostile to Macrinus and likely developed by his successor, Elagabalus as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In their descriptions of the assassination of Caracalla, Cassius Dio and Herodian employed a similar narrative that was hostile to Macrinus and likely developed by his successor, Elagabalus. The differences in their accounts can be traced to each author’s historical views and attitude toward the individuals involved. Dio’s account is affected for the most part by his view that Macrinus overstepped the bounds of his social status. Herodian, on the other hand, has molded his version of the events to conform to a narrative of tyrant-slaying, as in the stories of Harmodius and Aristogeiton and the assassination of Caligula.
TL;DR: This paper argued that Erythrai maintained its dominance over the Mimas peninsula and that evidence from the quota lists reveals the outcomes of negotiation of the tribute system by an important city on the frontier between two competing empires.
Abstract: It has usually been assumed that the Ionian city of Erythrai lost control over its traditional dependencies on the Mimas peninsula during the period of the Delian League, since they appear on the quota lists as independent tributaries of Athens after a time of joint payment with the city. Contrary to this conclusion, the article argues that Erythrai maintained its dominance over the Mimas peninsula and that that evidence from the quota lists reveals the outcomes of negotiation of the tribute system by an important city on the frontier between two competing empires.
TL;DR: The authors examined the portrayal of Latin teachers in relatively well-known films such as Goodbye, Mr Chips and The Browning Version and more obscure films like A Feast at Midnight and Hets.
Abstract: The Latin teachers who appear in film are not the dedicated, innovative teachers of the modern era who work hard to make Latin relevant, interesting, and fun Instead, they tend to be cruel tormentors, social pariahs, and mirthless taskmasters It may be easy to dismiss these characters as cartoonish stereotypes, but they nevertheless damage the reputation of real Latin teachers and the reputation of Latin itself This article examines the portrayal of Latin teachers in relatively well-known films such as Goodbye, Mr Chips and The Browning Version and more obscure films like A Feast at Midnight and Hets
TL;DR: In this article, the parasuicidal amator is placed within the literary tradition of Greek tragedy, its Roman adaptations, and the praetexta, and the gendered connotations of suicide contribute to the humor of empty threats.
Abstract: Several frustrated lovers in Roman comedy threaten to kill themselves, but of course never act on their threats. In this paper, I first situate the parasuicidal amator within the literary tradition of Greek tragedy, its Roman adaptations, and the praetexta , and then ask how gendered connotations of suicide contribute to the humor of empty threats. Particularly poignant is comedy's relationship to the praetexta and the logic of sacrifice for the sake of collective values. When juxtaposed to heroic and manly acts of self-inflicted death, the comic lover's weakness comes into sharp focus.
TL;DR: The use of allegorical interpretation as a defense of sacred texts, often against the polemic launched from opposing religious groups, has been examined in this article, with a focus on the "the battles of the books" in Late Antiquity.
Abstract: This article discusses ancient debates between Christian and polytheist writers over the allegorical interpretations of sacred texts. These disputes are set in the wider context of the “the battles of the books” in Late Antiquity. Many similarities and continuities are shown in the interpretative approaches to sacred texts, even though the Christian and polytheist writers themselves often tried to downplay these similarities and to construe differences instead. The article examines the use of allegorical interpretation as a defense of sacred texts, often against the polemic launched from opposing religious groups.
TL;DR: Although its opening line raises expectations of a deep engagement with the Odyssey, there are actually many more allusions to the Iliad in the fragments of the Annals of Quintus Ennius as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Although its opening line raises expectations of a deep engagement with the Odyssey , there are actually many more allusions to the Iliad in the fragments of the Annals of Quintus Ennius Specifically, there are four extant topical allusions to the Iliad and none to the Odyssey The fact that the Annals , like the Iliad , is an epic of war is one explanation The existence of a Latin translation of the Odyssey by Ennius’ predecessor, Livius Andronicus, is another Finally, this lack of allusions to the Odyssey may also be an implicit refutation of a claim that Odysseus founded Rome
TL;DR: The authors focus on the rebuke exchange between Hektor and Glaukos at the beginning of Iliad 17 and show the richness and complexity of context and character in scenes that can often be seen as simply typical, and assert that variation in typology appears not only in language, but also in character specific motivations and responses to specific scenarios.
Abstract: This article focuses on the rebuke exchange between Hektor and Glaukos at the beginning of Iliad 17. Responding to previous work on the scene, especially that of Carroll Moulton and Bernard Fenik, this work aims to show the richness and complexity of context and character in scenes that can often be seen as simply typical, and asserts that variation in typology appears not only in language, but also in character-specific motivations and responses to specific scenarios.
TL;DR: The idea that the Roman emperor Aurelian was a potential persecutor of the Christians during his reign has been challenged by as discussed by the authors, who argued that such rumors were essentially true and that the emperor was still motivated to persecute the Christians before his death.
Abstract: This article challenges the allegation by the ancient, pro-Constantinian Church historians Lactantius and Eusebius of Caesarea that the Roman emperor Aurelian (a.d. 270-75) was a persecutor of the Christians. Despite Aurelian's positive relations with the Christian Church during his reign (here his arbitration in the Paul of Samosata affair is highlighted), such an accusation was nevertheless leveled against him by both individuals, and has a ten- dency to be repeated by many modern scholars as more or less true. The idea of Aurelian launching a persecution would not have hap- pened given the practicality (or lack thereof) of such plans. This paper examines the allegation that the Roman emperor Aurelian, who reigned from a.d. 270-75, was a potential persecutor of the Chris- tians during his reign. The two major sources that assert such a view, Eusebius' Historia Ecclesiae (afterwards HE) 1 and Lactantius' De Mor- tibus Persecutorum (afterwards DMP), 2 stated that Aurelian was plan- ning a persecution but was killed before he could carry it out. Some scholars, however, have argued that these rumors were essentially true and that Aurelian was nevertheless motivated to persecute the Chris- tians before his death. This is strange, as Aurelian's previous record with the church, via the affair of Paul of Samosata, was more or less cordial. Indeed, the idea that Aurelian was planning a persecution might have less to do with any truth that might exist in such allegations, and more to do with the fact that both Lactantius and Eusebius, who were patronized by the emperor Constantine I (306-337), may have been trying in fact