Lyric and the Second Sophistic : the case of Aelius Aristides
This thesis aims at investigating how a Second Sophistic author like Aelius Aristides engaged with the multifaceted tradition of archaic and classical lyric poetry and music. Affinities and similarities between rhetorical texts and specific lyric genres have already been recognised, but the deeper implications of the relationship between ancient lyric and imperial rhetoric for Greek literature and culture under the Empire are yet to be discussed fully. This thesis attempts to fill this gap by focusing on Aristides as a prominent and paradigmatic case study. Apart from a methodological <i>Introduction </i>and a <i>Conclusion</i>, the main body of the thesis consists of five chapters. <i>Chapter 1</i> provides a broad overview of the presence of lyric in Greek imperial culture by surveying a series of fields in which lyric appears to have left substantial traces: readership and education; visual representations and local traditions; contemporary lyric performances and the relation between lyric and sophistic performative practice. <i>Chapter 2</i> discusses Aristides' apparent fondness for the famous lyric poet Pindar from a new perspective, arguing that, apart from direct quotations and allusions to Pindaric
Modini, Francesca
Lyric and the Second Sophistic : the case of Aelius Aristides. This thesis aims at investigating how a Second Sophistic author like Aelius Aristides engaged with the multifaceted tradition of archaic and classical lyric poetry and music. Affinities and similarities between rhetorical texts and specific lyric genres have already been recognised, but the deeper implications of the relationship between ancient lyric and imperial rhetoric for Greek literature and culture under the Empire are yet to be discussed fully. This thesis attempts to fill this gap by focusing on Aristides as a prominent and paradigmatic case study. Apart from a methodological <i>Introduction </i>and a <i>Conclusion</i>, the main body of the thesis consists of five chapters. <i>Chapter 1</i> provides a broad overview of the presence of lyric in Greek imperial culture by surveying a series of fields in which lyric appears to have left substantial traces: readership and education; visual representations and local traditions; contemporary lyric performances and the relation between lyric and sophistic performative practice. <i>Chapter 2</i> discusses Aristides' apparent fondness for the famous lyric poet Pindar from a new perspective, arguing that, apart from direct quotations and allusions to Pindaric
lyric second_sophistic case aim_investigate second_sophistic author like engage multifaceted tradition archaic_classical lyric poetry music similarities rhetorical text specific lyric genre already recognise deep implication relationship ancient lyric imperial rhetoric greek_literature culture empire yet discuss fully attempt_fill gap focus prominent paradigmatic case_study apart methodological introduction_conclusion main_body consist_five chapter provide_broad overview presence lyric greek imperial culture survey series field lyric appear leave substantial trace readership education visual_representation local tradition_contemporary lyric performance relation lyric performative practice discus apparent famous lyric poet new_perspective argue apart direct quotation allusion