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A Companion to Ancient Epic

John Miles Foley (Edited by), JM Foley (Author)

9781405105248, Wiley

Hardback, published 26 July 2005

704 pages
25.3 x 17.9 x 4.2 cm, 1.315 kg

"For those who are interested in Greek and Roman epic, the book is a treasure-house of splendid variety.... The editor and the publisher both deserve praise for a very fine volume." (Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society)

"Blackwell's Companion to Ancient Epic does just what the title suggests: it accompanies readers on journeys of exploration in this huge (in every sense) field. Just as importantly, the Companion will show new readers why they might want to immerse themselves in these poems.... The many highlights in this Companion demonstrate the value of asking scholars to write for non-specialists. That endeavor provides a stimulus for new levels of focus and clarity; even ideas and materials that may be familiar become fresh again when they are presented in such succinct distillations." (Bryn Mawr Classical Review)

A Companion to Ancient Epic presents for the first time a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of ancient Near Eastern, Greek and Roman epic. It offers a multi-disciplinary discussion of both longstanding ideas and newer perspectives.

  • A Companion to the Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman epic traditions
  • Considers the interrelation between these different traditions
  • Provides a balanced overview of longstanding ideas and newer perspectives in the study of epic
  • Shows how scholarship over the last forty years has transformed the ways that we conceive of and understand the genre
  • Covers recently introduced topics, such as the role of women, the history of reception, and comparison with living analogues from oral tradition
  • The editor and contributors are leading scholars in the field
  • Includes a detailed index of poems, poets, technical terms, and important figures and events

List of Illustrations ix

Notes on Contributors xi

Abbreviated Source Editions and Lexica xvii

Maps xx

Introduction: A Prolegomenon to Ancient Greek Government 1
Hans Beck

PART I Greek Government in History 7

1 The Rise of State Action in the Archaic Age 9
Jonathan M. Hall

2 The Classical Greek Polis and Its Government 22
Barry Strauss

3 Dynastic Courts of the Hellenistic Empires 38
Rolf Strootman

4 Hellenistic Cities: The End of Greek Democracy? 54
Hans-Ulrich Wiemer

PART II Ancient Templates and Typologies 71

5 Archaic and Classical Greek Reflections on Politics and Government: From Description to Conceptualization, Analysis, and Theory 73
Kurt A. Raaflaub

6 Plato’s View on Greek Government 93
Luc Brisson

7 Aristotle 105
Peter L.P. Simpson

8 Polybios on Government, Interstate Relations, and Imperial Expansion 119
Craige B. Champion

9 One-Man Government: The Greeks and Monarchy 131
Nino Luraghi

10 Unlike(ly) Twins? Democracy and Oligarchy in Context 146
Hartmut Leppin

PART III To Rule and Be Ruled: Greek Governing Bodies 159

11 Citizenship, the Citizen Body, and its Assemblies 161
Josine Blok

12 Officials and Office-Holding 176
Alex McAuley

13 Councils in Greek Oligarchies and Democracies 191
Robert W. Wallace

14 Law Courts 205
Domingo Avil´es and David C. Mirhady

PART IV Process and Procedure 219

15 Laws and Legislation in Ancient Greece 221
Michael Gagarin

16 Tyche’s Force: Lottery and Chance in Greek Government 235
Elizabeth Kosmetatou

17 Governmental Checks and Balances 252
Pierre Fr¨ohlich

18 Forms and Forums of Public Speech 267
Loren J. Samons II

PART V Responsibilities and Realms of Action 285

19 Public Administration 287
Frances Pownall

20 Greek Government and Education: Re-examining the eph¯ebeia 302
Lynn Kozak

21 Government and Warfare 317
John Serrati

22 Finance and Taxes 332
Vincent Gabrielsen

23 Greek Government and the Organization of Time 349
Robert Hannah

24 The Religious Management of the polis: Oracles and Political Decision-Making 366
Pierre Bonnechere

PART VI Space and Memory 383

25 Spaces of Government: Civic Architecture and Memory 385
Charles W. Hedrick, Jr.

26 Keeping Record, Making Public: The Epigraphy of Government 400
Adele C. Scafuro

27 Monumental Representations of Government 417
Jenifer Neils

28 State Festivals and Celebrations 432
Pauline Schmitt Pantel

PART VII Government Beyond the City-State 449

29 Greek Amphiktyonies: An Experiment in Transregional Governance 451
Peter Funke

30 Polis and koinon: Federal Government in Greece 466
Jeremy McInerney

31 Governing Interstate Alliances 480
Thomas Figueira and Sean R. Jensen

32 Interstate Governance: Arbitration and Peacekeeping 497
Sheila L. Ager

Epilogue: The Legacy of Greek Government – Something That Has ‘‘Never Occurred Again’’? 512
Uwe Walter

Bibliography 525

Index 581

Subject Areas: Literature: history & criticism [DS]
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