Myth as a mobilizing force in Attic warrior society

This paper focuses on the mobilizing role of symbols and specifically on the workings of mythical theatre. Attic theatre is understood as a symbolic performance in which the comic and the tragic genres represented processes of ‘over-distancing’ and ‘under-distancing’, respectively. Instead of concei...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Des Bouvrie, Synnøve 1944- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Centre [2005]
In: Kernos
Year: 2005, Volume: 18, Pages: 185-201
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This paper focuses on the mobilizing role of symbols and specifically on the workings of mythical theatre. Attic theatre is understood as a symbolic performance in which the comic and the tragic genres represented processes of ‘over-distancing’ and ‘under-distancing’, respectively. Instead of conceiving of tragedy as just an aesthetic or critical medium, the tragic genre is viewed as part of a complex cultural and social process that serves as a mobilizing force around the fundamental values of the polis, e.g. the warrior and his hebe. A number of cult practices are discussed in order to demonstrate the importance of warrior symbolism in Attic society. Furthermore, it is argued that the tragic performance does not present a positive and ideal image, but a violation of the social order (‘the warrior’). The Children of Herakles and other tragedies are analysed in order to illustrate the argument.
Contains:Enthalten in: Kernos
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.4000/kernos.1524