Kepos : garden spaces in ancient Greece : imagination and reality
This is the first examination of the significance of ancient Greek gardens. It analyses the use of the word ÎșáżÏÎżÏ (kepos) using linguistic and contextual analysis, based on two databases of literary and epigraphic sources. It also uses iconographic, archaeological, ethnographical and palaeobotanical evidence to examine how Archaic and Classical gardens were perceived, the associations they invoked, and how âthe gardenâ functioned within the real Athenian landscape. Little is known about ancient Greek gardens, largely because the sources are so meagre, as is the research context. Consequently, inaccurate assumptions are made, based on Roman practice and influenced by contemporary perceptions. Understanding Greek garden practice is important because gardens are a vital part of a traditional societyâs agrarian landscape. It is equally important to understand Greek perceptions of âthe gardenâ, because they can illuminate societal attitudes towards both landscape and people: âthe gardenâ is easily co-opted as a symbol to express ideas about the surrounding culture and its beliefs. Therefore, the scanty sources that do exist relate more to âgardens of the mindâ than to real plots of land.
Hilditch, Margaret Helen
Kepos : garden spaces in ancient Greece : imagination and reality. This is the first examination of the significance of ancient Greek gardens. It analyses the use of the word ÎșáżÏÎżÏ (kepos) using linguistic and contextual analysis, based on two databases of literary and epigraphic sources. It also uses iconographic, archaeological, ethnographical and palaeobotanical evidence to examine how Archaic and Classical gardens were perceived, the associations they invoked, and how âthe gardenâ functioned within the real Athenian landscape. Little is known about ancient Greek gardens, largely because the sources are so meagre, as is the research context. Consequently, inaccurate assumptions are made, based on Roman practice and influenced by contemporary perceptions. Understanding Greek garden practice is important because gardens are a vital part of a traditional societyâs agrarian landscape. It is equally important to understand Greek perceptions of âthe gardenâ, because they can illuminate societal attitudes towards both landscape and people: âthe gardenâ is easily co-opted as a symbol to express ideas about the surrounding culture and its beliefs. Therefore, the scanty sources that do exist relate more to âgardens of the mindâ than to real plots of land.
garden space ancient_greece imagination reality first examination significance ancient_greek garden analysis use_word use linguistic contextual_analysis base database literary_epigraphic source also use iconographic archaeological ethnographical evidence examine archaic_classical garden perceive association invoke garden function_within real athenian landscape little_known ancient_greek garden largely source context consequently inaccurate assumption_make base roman practice influence contemporary_perception greek garden practice important garden vital part traditional society agrarian landscape equally_important greek perception garden illuminate societal attitude_towards landscape people garden easily opted symbol express idea surround culture belief therefore scanty source exist relate garden mind real plot land