The gymnasion in the Hellenistic East : motives, divergences, and networks of contacts
This thesis is a socio-cultural study of the Greek gymnasion in the Hellenistic period: its development, the factors that underpinned its adoption, and the role of native educational practices in that process. Focusing on the Seleukid and Ptolemaic kingdoms, it presents a parallel study of the gymnasion in each. It investigates the motives behind its adoption, the differences between gymnasia, the networks of contacts that were constructed through them, and their impact on the opening up of the institution to non-Greeks. Chapter 1 sets out the research framework and presents the findings of recent scholarship on the gymnasion and on the participation of non-Greeks. It gives an account of the sources, the problems of the evidence, the methodology, and the research questions. Chapter 2 begins with an account of the types of cities and other settlements that fostered the institution of the gymnasion, highlighting how their diversity influenced its diffusion and maintenance. Next the military and cultural roles of the gymnasion are reviewed and conclusions drawn about the variety of educational programmes it offered and its role as a unifying element in elite society. Chapter 3 presents the network of interpersonal
Stavrou, Dorothea
The gymnasion in the Hellenistic East : motives, divergences, and networks of contacts. This thesis is a socio-cultural study of the Greek gymnasion in the Hellenistic period: its development, the factors that underpinned its adoption, and the role of native educational practices in that process. Focusing on the Seleukid and Ptolemaic kingdoms, it presents a parallel study of the gymnasion in each. It investigates the motives behind its adoption, the differences between gymnasia, the networks of contacts that were constructed through them, and their impact on the opening up of the institution to non-Greeks. Chapter 1 sets out the research framework and presents the findings of recent scholarship on the gymnasion and on the participation of non-Greeks. It gives an account of the sources, the problems of the evidence, the methodology, and the research questions. Chapter 2 begins with an account of the types of cities and other settlements that fostered the institution of the gymnasion, highlighting how their diversity influenced its diffusion and maintenance. Next the military and cultural roles of the gymnasion are reviewed and conclusions drawn about the variety of educational programmes it offered and its role as a unifying element in elite society. Chapter 3 presents the network of interpersonal
hellenistic east motif divergence network contact socio_cultural study greek hellenistic_period development factor underpin adoption role native educational_practice process focusing ptolemaic kingdom present parallel study each investigates motif behind adoption difference networks contact construct impact open institution non greeks set framework present finding recent_scholarship participation non greeks give_account source problem evidence question begin account types city settlement institution highlight diversity influence diffusion maintenance next military cultural role review conclusion_draw variety educational_programme offer role unify element elite_society present network interpersonal