The Hellenistic Reception of Classical Athenian Democracy and Political Thought

In the Hellenistic period ( c. 323-31 BCE), Greek teachers, philosophers, historians, orators, and politicians found an essential point of reference in the democracy of Classical Athens and the political thought which it produced. However, while Athenian civic life and thought in the Classical period have been intensively studied, these aspects of the Hellenistic period have so far received much less attention. This volume seeks to bring together the two areas of research, shedding new light on these complementary parts of the history of the ancient Greek polis. The essays collected here encompass historical, philosophical, and literary approaches to the various Hellenistic responses to and adaptations of Classical Athenian politics. They survey the complex processes through which Athenian democratic ideals of equality, freedom, and civic virtue were emphasized, challenged, blunted, or reshaped in different Hellenistic contexts and genres. They also consider the reception, in the changed political circumstances, of Classical Athenian non- and anti-democratic political thought. This makes it possible to investigate how competing Classical Athenian ideas about the value or shortcomings of democracy and civic community continued to echo through new political debates in Hellenistic cities and schools. Looking ahead to the Roman Imperial period, the volume also explores to what extent those who idealized Classical Athens as a symbol of cultural and intellectual excellence drew on, or forgot, its legacy of democracy and vigorous political debate. By addressing these different questions it not only tracks changes in practices and conceptions of politics and the city in the Hellenistic world, but also examines developing approaches to culture, rhetoric, history, ethics, and philosophy, and especially their relationships with politics. In the Hellenistic period, Greek teachers, philosophers, historians, orators, and politicians found an essential point of reference in the democracy of Classical Athens, and the political thought which it produced. This volume brings together historical, philosophical, and literary approaches to consider varied responses to, and adaptations of, the Classical Athenian political legacy across different Hellenistic contexts and genres. The volume examines the complex processes through which Athenian democratic ideals of equality, freedom, and civic virtue were emphasized, challenged, blunted, or adapted in different Hellenistic contexts. It also considers the reception, in the changed political circumstances, of Classical Athenian non- and anti-democratic political thought. The continuing engagement with rival Athenian traditions meant that Classical Athenian discussions about the value or shortcomings of democracy and civic community continued to echo through new political debates in Hellenistic cities and schools. The volume also looks forward to the Roman Imperial period, examining to what extent those who idealized Classical Athens as a symbol of cultural and intellectual excellence drew on, or forgot, the Classical Athens of democracy and vigorous political debate. Addressing these different questions allows the volume not only to track changes in practices and conceptions of politics and the city in the Hellenistic world, but also to examine developing approaches to culture, rhetoric, history, ethics, and philosophy, especially their relationships with politics. In The Hellenistic Period (c.323-31 Bce), Greek Teachers, Philosophers, Historians, Orators, And Politicians Found An Essential Point Of Reference In The Democracy Of Classical Athens And The Political Thought Which It Produced. However, While Athenian Civic Life And Thought In The Classical Period Have Been Intensively Studied, These Aspects Of The Hellenistic Period Have So Far Received Much Less Attention. This Volume Seeks To Bring Together The Two Areas Of Research, Shedding New Light On These Complementary Parts Of The History Of The Ancient Greek Polis.--back Cover. Edited By Mirko Canevaro And Benjamin Gray. The Volume Originated In A Conference On This Theme, Held At The School Of History, Classics, And Archaeology Of The University Of Edinburgh, Which Was The Classical Association Of Scotland Conference For 2013.--page V. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 299-333) And Index. Title Pages 1 Preface and Acknowledgements 3 List of Abbreviations 5 List of Contributors 9 Introduction 11 Stairway to Heaven 30 Alexander the Great and Democracy in the Hellenistic World 56 Demosthenic Influences in Early Rhetorical Education 88 Sophists, Epicureans, and Stoics 110 Comedy and the Athenian Ideal 128 Polybius on ‘Classical Athenian Imperial Democracy’ 140 A Later Hellenistic Debate about the Value of Classical Athenian Civic Ideals? 157 Philanthropia, Athens, and Democracy in Diodorus Siculus 200 Getting Over Athens 233 Standing up to the Demos 264 The Orator in the Theatre 290 Whatever Happened to Athens? 308 Bibliography 330 Literary Sources 383 Inscriptions 413 Papyri 418 General Index 420 The Hellenistic reception of Classical Athenian democracy and politics is comprehensively explored in this collection of essays, which span historical, philosophical, and literary approaches to the various ways in which Classical Athenian civic life and thought were emphasized, challenged, blunted, or reshaped in the Hellenistic world.