Debating Honor in Fifth-Century BCE Athens: Towards a Comparative and Intradisciplinary Approach

Giannotti, Andrea

Abstract

The article is not so much a practical presentation as a theoretical outline and proposal of new approaches to a particular aspect of ancient Greek culture, ie. "Parts" (τιμή). The aim is not only to illustrate how potentially advanced such a methodology is (and to prepare the ground for its application), but also to highlight concrete opportunities in the humanities to study the ways in which the language of civil institutions in epigraphic sources and the moral language of ethical philosophy penetrate Greek poetry. that epigraphs and ethical philosophy are something that poetry experts must leave to historians, specialists in antiquity, and philosophers has left much room for new discoveries in this field. Special attention is paid to Euripides ’drama and characters who, by displaying special virtues (e.g. benevolence, solidarity, friendship) and, when establishing reciprocal relations, represent a socio-ethical example of asserting honorary status in their community. The profession has not yet explored the extent to which this depiction matches the historical evidence of good deeds and fruitful exchanges between Greek citizens / cities, and to what extent it is consistent with the virtues described by Aristotle's works on ethics. The aim of interpreting honor as a means by which people regulate their social life is to show that Euripides drama can be a valuable resource for understanding Greek moral views. described by Aristotle’s works on ethics. The aim of interpreting honor as a means by which people regulate their social life is to show that Euripides drama can be a valuable resource for understanding Greek moral views. described by Aristotle’s works on ethics. The aim of interpreting honor as a means by which people regulate their social life is to show that Euripides drama can be a valuable resource for understanding Greek moral views.

Citation

Giannotti, A. (2021). Debating Honor in Fifth-Century BCE Athens: Towards a Comparative and Intradisciplinary Approach. Primerjalna književnost (Tiskana izd.), 44(2), 39-52. https://doi.org/10.3986/pkn.v44.i2.03

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jun 29, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 14, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 14, 2021
• Journal: Primerjalna književnost
• Print ISSN: 0351-1189
• Electronic ISSN: 0351-1189
• Publisher: Slovene Comparative Literature Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 39-52
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/pkn.v44.i2.03