Plutarch on Sparta : cultural identities and political models in the Plutarchan macrotext
Can we consider Plutarch's Parallel Lives a historical work? Can we read them as a unitary series? These are the initial questions that this thesis poses and that are investigated in the Introduction, five main Chapters, and the Conclusion. In the Introduction, a preliminary status quaestionis about ancient biography is presented before clarifying the methodology adopted for reading the Parallel Lives as a unitary historical work and the reasons for choosing the Lives of Lycurgus, Lysander, and Agesilaus as the case studies to examine in detail. Chapter 1 discusses the historiographical principles that emerge from the De sera numinis vindicta: for Plutarch history is primarily the history of individuals and cities, based on the interpretation of historical events. Chapter 2 tries to verify the hypothesis that the Parallel Lives correspond to the historical project delineated in the De sera numinis vindicta. This Chapter, moreover, reassesses the literary form of the Parallel Lives by employing the concepts of 'open macrotext' and 'cross-complementarity' between the Lives. Chapter 3 analyses the Life of Lycurgus, focusing on the formation of the cultural identity and the political model of Sparta. In the Life
Lucchesi, Michele Alessandro
Classical Greek ; Hellenic (Classical Greek) literature ; History of the ancient world ; Plutarch ; Sparta ; Parallel Lives ; De Sera Numinis Vindicta ; Lycurgus ; Lysander ; Agesilaus ; Macrotext ; Seriality
Plutarch on Sparta : cultural identities and political models in the Plutarchan macrotext. Can we consider Plutarch's Parallel Lives a historical work? Can we read them as a unitary series? These are the initial questions that this thesis poses and that are investigated in the Introduction, five main Chapters, and the Conclusion. In the Introduction, a preliminary status quaestionis about ancient biography is presented before clarifying the methodology adopted for reading the Parallel Lives as a unitary historical work and the reasons for choosing the Lives of Lycurgus, Lysander, and Agesilaus as the case studies to examine in detail. Chapter 1 discusses the historiographical principles that emerge from the De sera numinis vindicta: for Plutarch history is primarily the history of individuals and cities, based on the interpretation of historical events. Chapter 2 tries to verify the hypothesis that the Parallel Lives correspond to the historical project delineated in the De sera numinis vindicta. This Chapter, moreover, reassesses the literary form of the Parallel Lives by employing the concepts of 'open macrotext' and 'cross-complementarity' between the Lives. Chapter 3 analyses the Life of Lycurgus, focusing on the formation of the cultural identity and the political model of Sparta. In the Life
plutarch sparta cultural_identity political model consider plutarch parallel lives historical_work read unitary series initial question_pose investigated introduction five_main conclusion introduction preliminary status ancient biography present clarify adopt reading parallel lives unitary historical_work reason_choose lives case_study examine_detail discus historiographical principle emerge plutarch history primarily history individual city base interpretation historical_event try verify hypothesis parallel lives correspond historical project delineate moreover reassess literary form parallel lives employ concept open cross complementarity lives analysis life focus formation cultural_identity political model sparta life