Social Memory in Athenian Public Discourse : Uses and Meanings of the Past

Prompted By The Abundant Historical Allusions In Athenian Political And Diplomatic Discourse, Bernd Steinbock Analyzes The Uses And Meanings Of The Past In Fourth-century Athens, Using Thebes' Role In Athenian Memory As A Case Study. This Examination Is Based Upon The Premise That Athenian Social Memory, That Is, The Shared And Often Idealized And Distorted Image Of The Past, Should Not Be Viewed As An Unreliable Counterpart Of History But As An Invaluable Key To The Athenians' Mentality. Against The Tendency To View The Orators' References To The Past As Empty Rhetorical Phrases Or Propagandistic Cover-ups For Realpolitik, It Argues That The Past Constituted Important Political Capital In Its Own Right. Drawing Upon Theories Of Social Memory, It Contextualizes The Orators' Historical Allusions Within The Complex Net Of Remembrances And Beliefs Held By The Audience And Thus Tries To Gauge Their Ideological And Emotive Power. Integrating Literary, Epigraphic, And Archaeological Evidence With Recent Scholarship On Memory, Identity, Rhetoric, And International Relations, Social Memory In Athenian Public Discourse: Uses And Meanings Of The Past Enhances Our Understanding Of Both The Function Of Memory In Athenian Public Discourse And The History Of Athenian-theban Relations. It Should Be Of Interest Not Only To Students Of Greek History And Oratory But To Everybody Interested In Memory Studies, Athenian Democracy, And Political Decision Making.--publisher's Website. Introduction: Objectives, Methods, Concepts -- 1. Carriers Of Athenian Social Memory -- 2. Athens? Counterimage: The Theban Medziers -- 3. Mythical Precedent Athenian Intervention For The Fallen Argives -- 4. A Precarious Memory: Theban Help For The Athenian Democrats -- 5. Persistent Memories: The Proposed Eradication Of Athens -- Conclusion. Bernd Steinbock. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 357-376) And Indexes. Contents......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction: Objectives, Methods, Concepts......Page 14 Objectives......Page 15 What Is Social Memory?......Page 20 Social Memory in Ancient Greece: From Mythical Times to the Recent Past......Page 32 Social Memory in Athenian Public Discourse......Page 42 1. Carriers of Athenian Social Memory......Page 61 Festivals and Public Commemorations......Page 62 Different Memory Communities......Page 83 Monuments and Inscriptions......Page 97 Rhetorical Education......Page 107 Assembly and Law Courts......Page 109 2. Athens’ Counterimage: The Theban Medizers......Page 113 Fourth-Century Allusions to Thebes’ Medizing......Page 114 Theban Conduct during the Persian War......Page 116 Athenian Disposition toward Thebes in 479......Page 118 Memorialization of Thebes’ Treason......Page 119 Remembering Theban Medism throughout the Fifth Century......Page 126 Contexts for the Recollection of Theban Medism in the Fourth Century......Page 131 3. Mythical Precedent: Athenian Intervention for the Fallen Argives......Page 168 Oratorical Allusions to the Burial of the Seven......Page 169 Constitutive Elements and Formative Influences......Page 171 The Burial of the Seven in Diplomatic and Political Discourse......Page 209 4. A Precarious Memory: Theban Help for the Athenian Democrats......Page 224 Belated Praise for Theban Aid?......Page 225 The Situation in Thebes in 404/3......Page 228 Theban Support for Thrasybulus in Athenian Social Memory......Page 245 5. Persistent Memories: The Proposed Eradication of Athens......Page 293 The Debate about Athens’ Fate in 405/4......Page 294 Fourth-Century Allusions to the Proposed Destruction of Athens......Page 298 Traumatic Fear of Annihilation......Page 304 Semantic and Visual Conceptualizations: City Razing and Enslavement......Page 314 Imagining the Unimaginable: The Eradication of Athens......Page 322 Plataea, Melos, and Troy as Aide Mémoire......Page 336 Contexts for the Recollection of the Theban Proposal......Page 339 Conclusion......Page 355 Bibliography......Page 370 Index Locorum......Page 390 General Index......Page 406 Examining the role of Athenian social memory in understanding the political climate in fourth-century Athens |Prompted by the abundant historical allusions in Athenian political and diplomatic discourse, Bernd Steinbock analyzes the uses and meanings of the past in fourth-century Athens, using Thebes' role in Athenian memory as a case study. This examination is based upon the premise that Athenian social memory, that is, the shared and often idealized and distorted image of the past, should not be viewed as an unreliable counterpart of history but as an invaluable key to the Athenians' mentality. Against the tendency to view the orators' references to the past as empty rhetorical phrases or propagandistic cover-ups for Realpolitik, it argues that the past constituted important political capital in its own right. Drawing upon theories of social memory, it contextualizes the orators' historical allusions within the complex net of remembrances and beliefs held by the audience and thus tries to gauge their ideological and emotive power. Integrating literary, epigraphic, and archaeological evidence with recent scholarship on memory, identity, rhetoric, and international relations, Social Memory in Athenian Public Discourse: Uses and Meanings of the Past enhances our understanding of both the function of memory in Athenian public discourse and the history of Athenian-Theban relations. It should be of interest not only to students of Greek history and oratory but to everybody interested in memory studies, Athenian democracy, and political decision making. Integrating literary, epigraphic, and archaeological evidence with scholarship on memory, identity, rhetoric, and international relations, this book enhances readers' understanding of both the function of memory in Athenian public discourse and the history of Athenian-Theban relations