The importance of being Aeolian : shaping Aeolian identity in ancient Asia Minor
This thesis examines the formation of Aeolian collective identity in Asia Minor from the Archaic to the Roman period, and the connection of the predominant foundation myth, the Aeolian migration, to other foundation myths, which mainly involved Amazons. I intend to explore the dynamic interaction between geography and foundation myths of Aeolian poleis. When foundation myths are examined in light of the actual conditions on the ground, in a context of territorial conflicts, their function not only as a basis of co-belonging, but also in support of territorial claims against other contesters, becomes apparent. The thesis also examines both public knowledge and perceptions of Aeolis as a geographical space by ancient authors to determine what authors and political authorities expected their audience to understand by terms such as 'Aeolian', 'Aeolians', and 'Aeolis'. I argue that the localisation of Troy on the north-west corner of Asia Minor in the 5th century created a focal point for the previously vague Homeric Troy. For this reason, the area and conceptual boundaries of Aeolis expanded onto the southern coast of the Troad, and resulted in different geographical accounts of Aeolis in ancient authors. In the
Apostolou, Stefanos
DF Greece
The importance of being Aeolian : shaping Aeolian identity in ancient Asia Minor. This thesis examines the formation of Aeolian collective identity in Asia Minor from the Archaic to the Roman period, and the connection of the predominant foundation myth, the Aeolian migration, to other foundation myths, which mainly involved Amazons. I intend to explore the dynamic interaction between geography and foundation myths of Aeolian poleis. When foundation myths are examined in light of the actual conditions on the ground, in a context of territorial conflicts, their function not only as a basis of co-belonging, but also in support of territorial claims against other contesters, becomes apparent. The thesis also examines both public knowledge and perceptions of Aeolis as a geographical space by ancient authors to determine what authors and political authorities expected their audience to understand by terms such as 'Aeolian', 'Aeolians', and 'Aeolis'. I argue that the localisation of Troy on the north-west corner of Asia Minor in the 5th century created a focal point for the previously vague Homeric Troy. For this reason, the area and conceptual boundaries of Aeolis expanded onto the southern coast of the Troad, and resulted in different geographical accounts of Aeolis in ancient authors. In the
importance aeolian shaping aeolian identity ancient asia_minor examines formation aeolian collective_identity asia_minor archaic roman_period connection predominant foundation myth aeolian migration foundation myth mainly involved intend explore dynamic_interaction geography foundation myth aeolian poleis foundation myth examine_light actual condition ground context territorial conflict function basis belonging also support territorial claim become_apparent also_examine public knowledge perception geographical space ancient_author determine author political_authority expect audience term aeolian argue localisation north corner asia_minor create focal_point previously vague homeric reason area conceptual boundary expand onto southern coast result different geographical account ancient_author