5. Theban Palimpsests [1] Strife that gives birth to strife prosmnatai (‘wins over’) reason.Ἔρις ἔριν τίκτουσα προσμνᾶται λόγον. Suda s.v. Eris; Mantissa Proverbiorum 1.60 This proverb on strife, preserved in both the Suda and the Mantissa Proverbiorum, is unusually cryptic for a maxim. The verb προσμνᾶται is not attested anywhere else but clearly relies on a metaphor of wooing; [2]… Read more
Appendix 1B: Historical and Legendary Hostages, continued {246–259} Case Number At Time of Exaction Period of Detention Termination of Hostageship Sex Age Number Affiliation Selection Time Place Treatment 1 F nubile X child of donor X X R Impregnated X 2 X παῖδες X X X X R Threatened Rescued 3 M τέκνα X Aeneas’ grandsons X X R Adopted X 4… Read more
Appendix 1C: Rhetorical References to Hostages {261} Herein are the rhetorical and non-personal references to ὅμηρος and obsides found in the works cited in the bibliography. Sources: “Hostage” Josephus, J.A. 11.303 marriage Diodorus 19.24.2 money Polybius 1.68.3 baggage Plutarch, Moralia 54A sympathy Plutarch, Cato Minor 30.4 marriage Cicero, Pro Caelio 32.78 prosecutions Cicero, Pro Cluentio 66.188 dead sons Cicero, In Catilinam 4.5.9 opinion (sententia) Cicero, In Catilinam 4.2.3 Cicero’s son… Read more
Appendix II.A: The Legend of Cloelia {263–270} The war between the infant Roman Republic and the Etruscan king Lars Porsenna became the setting for three episodes which attracted the fancy of the Roman literary establishment, and surely also that of the undocumented public at large, for generations: Horatius Cocles swimming the Tiber in full arms, Mucius Cordus thrusting his hand into the fire, and the maiden Cloelia escaping from hostageship. Read more
Acknowledgements To my beloved children Aspasia, Dimitris, and Athina Who had to learn how to fall Before learning how to fly They all fly now, with elegance and kindness … In the long years devoted to the research and writing of this book on Oedipus, I came to realize that I cannot really distinguish between the people who supported… Read more
Note on Translations and Editions of Oedipus Tyrannus I quote Lloyd-Jones’ translation of Oedipus Tyrannus used throughout, unless otherwise indicated. The edition of the original text is by Lloyd-Jones & Wilson (1990), for I had nearly completed my book when the edition/commentary by Finglass (2018) appeared. However, I adopt the newer edition in places where I disagree with Lloyd-Jones & Wilson, changing the translation accordingly. … Read more
1. Sophocles’ Hypsipolis – Apolis Antithesis, and Castoriadis’s Imaginary Institution of Classical Athens Εἶναι παιδιά πολλῶν ἀνθρώπων τά λόγια μας.Σπέρνουνται γεννιοῦνται σάν τά βρέφηριζώνουν θρέφουνται μέ τό αἷμα.Ὅπως τά πεῦκακρατοῦνε τή μορφή τοῦ ἀγέραἐνῶ ὁ ἀέρας ἔφυγε, δέν εἶναι ἐκεῖτό ἴδιο τά λόγιαφυλάγουν τή μορφή τοῦ ἀνθρώπουκι ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἔφυγε, δέν εἶναι ἐκεῖ. Our words are… Read more
2. Defining the Polis In defining what a polis is, we can begin with its basic meaning in the archaic and classical periods: a polis is a settlement and a community. As a settlement a polis is “primarily a large nucleated settlement,” that is to say, a city. As a community it is “an institutionalized political community,” that is to say, a state. [1]… Read more
3. The Self in the Polis The prior chapter’s definitions—of what constitutes a polis, of political creation, and of social imaginary significations that add meaning to the perceptions of “Athens” and the “Athenians” at the turn of the fifth century BCE—have already touched upon the notion of identity in the polis. What it is to be an “Athenian” is the collective notion applied to, and experienced by,… Read more
4. Who Am I? A Tragedy of Identity Simon had been right.You saw things differently when you changed your perspective and location. All blind spots could be compensated for. Jo Nesbo, The Son Oedipus’ major handicap in his life is not knowing who he is; the parricide and incest come about as the result of this… Read more
