The Children of Athena : Athenian Ideas About Citizenship and the Division Between the Sexes

Caroline Levine (transl.), Froma I. Zeitlin (foreword) According to one myth, the first Athenian citizen was born from the earth after the sperm of a rejected lover, the god Hephaistos, dripped off the virgin goddess Athena’s leg and onto fertile soil. Henceforth Athenian citizens could claim to be truly indigenous to their city and to have divine origins that bypassed maternity. In these essays, the renowned French Hellenist Nicole Loraux examines the implication of this and other Greek origin myths as she explores how Athenians in the fifth century forged and maintained a collective identity. According To One Myth, The First Athenian Citizen Was Born From The Earth After The Sperm Of A Rejected Lover, The God Hephaistos, Dripped Off The Virgin Goddess Athena's Leg And Onto Fertile Soil. Henceforth Athenian Citizens Could Claim To Be Truly Indigenous To Their City And To Have Divine Origins That Bypassed Maternity. In These Essays, The Renowned French Hellenist Nicole Loraux Examines The Implication Of This And Other Greek Origin Myths As She Explores How Athenians In The Fifth Century Forged And Maintained A Collective Identity.--publisher's Description. Foreword / Froma I. Zeitlin. Autochthony And The Athenian Imaginary. Fragments Of A Lexicon For The Acropolis -- I. Athenians And Women. 1. Autochthony: An Athenian Topic. 2. On The Race Of Women And Some Of Its Tribes: Hesiod And Semonides. 3. The Athenian Name: Imaginary Structures Of Lineage In Athens -- Ii. Reality, Fiction: Women Of Athens. 4. The Comic Acropolis: Aristophanes, Lysistrata. 5. Autochthonous Kreousa: Euripides, Ion -- Epilogue: Once Again, The Woman, The Virgin, Female Athenians. Nicole Loraux ; Translated By Caroline Levine ; Foreword By Froma I. Zeitlin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [251]-266) And Index. This collection of essays examines the implications of Greek myths to explore how Athenians in the 5th century BC forged and maintained a collective identity. In particular, it reveals the peculiar status of Athenian women, whose citizenship was crucial to religion and the arts.