'No freer than the helots' : Messenian rebel behaviour in Pausanias' Messeniaka in comparative perspective
This dissertation explores Pausaniasâ depiction of the (mythical) Messenian revolt against the Spartans in book 4 of his Periegesis in comparative perspective with ancient depictions of slave revolts and Flavius Josephusâ Jewish War. I concentrate on how Pausanias portrays Aristomenes and the other rebels, as well as the Messenians in general. Although recently the Messenian Wars have been the subject of scholarly interest from literary critics, historians, and archaeologists, who have fruitfully combined their disciplines in their interpretations of the story, Pausaniasâ aims and agenda in his representation of the Messenians have so far been left unexplored. This dissertation therefore asks: What stance did Pausanias take in the contested history of Messenia? In my analysis of Pausaniasâ figuration of Messenian history, in chapters 1 (the introduction) and 2 I concentrate on his frequent use of ÏáœčÎ"ÎŒÎ· and in particular in its combination with áŒÏáœčÎœÎżÎčÎ± (âdespairâ). Î€áœčÎ"ÎŒÎ·, translated as daring, contains both positive and negative connotations. It is a necessary ingredient of courage, but can also lead to recklessness if uncontrolled. My comparative framework in chapters 3 to
Langerwerf, Lydia L. B. M.
PA Classical philology
'No freer than the helots' : Messenian rebel behaviour in Pausanias' Messeniaka in comparative perspective. This dissertation explores Pausaniasâ depiction of the (mythical) Messenian revolt against the Spartans in book 4 of his Periegesis in comparative perspective with ancient depictions of slave revolts and Flavius Josephusâ Jewish War. I concentrate on how Pausanias portrays Aristomenes and the other rebels, as well as the Messenians in general. Although recently the Messenian Wars have been the subject of scholarly interest from literary critics, historians, and archaeologists, who have fruitfully combined their disciplines in their interpretations of the story, Pausaniasâ aims and agenda in his representation of the Messenians have so far been left unexplored. This dissertation therefore asks: What stance did Pausanias take in the contested history of Messenia? In my analysis of Pausaniasâ figuration of Messenian history, in chapters 1 (the introduction) and 2 I concentrate on his frequent use of ÏáœčÎ"ÎŒÎ· and in particular in its combination with áŒÏáœčÎœÎżÎčÎ± (âdespairâ). Î€áœčÎ"ÎŒÎ·, translated as daring, contains both positive and negative connotations. It is a necessary ingredient of courage, but can also lead to recklessness if uncontrolled. My comparative framework in chapters 3 to
rebel behaviour pausanias comparative_perspective explores pausanias depiction mythical revolt book comparative_perspective ancient depiction slave revolt josephus jewish war concentrate pausanias portray rebel well general although recently wars subject scholarly_interest literary_critic historian archaeologist fruitfully combine discipline interpretation story pausanias aim agenda representation far left unexplored therefore asks stance pausanias take contested history analysis pausanias history introduction concentrate frequent use particular combination despair translate contain positive_negative connotation necessary ingredient also lead uncontrolled comparative framework