Inventing the Barbarian: Greek Self-Definition through Tragedy (Oxford Classical Monographs)

Incest, polygamy, murder, sacrilege, impalement, castration, female power, and despotism are some of the images used by Athenian tragedians to define the non-Greek, "barbarian" world. This book explains for the first time the reasons behind their singular fascination with barbarians. Edith Hall sets the Greek plays against the historical background of the Panhellenic wars, and the establishment of an Athenian empire based on democracy and slavery. Analyzed within the context of contemporary anthropology and political philosophy, Hall reveals how the poets conceptualized the barbarian as the negative embodiment of Athenian civic ideals. She compares the treatment of foreigners in Homer and in tragedy, showing that the new dimension which the idea of the barbarian had brought to the tragic theater radically affected the poets' interpretation of myth and their evocation of the distant past, as well as enriching their reportoire of aural and visual effects. Hall argues that the invented barbarian of the tragic stage was a powerful cultural expression of Greek xenophobia and chauvinism that, paradoxically, produced and outburst of creative energy and literary innovation. Incest, Polygamy, Murder, Sacrilege, Impalement, Castration, Female Power, And Despotism: These Are Some Of The Images By Which The Greek Tragedians Defined The Non-greek, `barbarian' World. This Book Explains For The First Time The Reasons Behind Their Singular Fascination With Barbarians. It Sets The Plays Against The Historical Background Of The Panhellenic Wars Against Persia And The Establishment Of An Athenian Empire Based On Democracy And Slavery. Contemporary Anthropology And Political Philosophy Is Discussed, Revealing How The Poets Conceptualized The Barbarian As The Negative Embodiment Of Athenian Civic Ideals. By Comparing The Treatment Of Foreigners In Homer And Tragedy, It Shows That The New Dimension Which The Idea Of The Barbarian Had Brought To The Tragic Theatre Radically Affected The Past, And Enriched The Tragedians' Repertoire Of Aural And Visual Effects. The Invented Barbarian Of The Tragic Stage Was A Powerful Cultural Expression Of Greek Xenophobia And Chauvinism, But, Paradoxically, Produced An Outburst Of Creative Energy And Literary Innovation. The D.phil. Dissertation Out Of Which This Book Developed Won The Hellenic Foundation's Prize For The Best Doctoral Thesis In Ancient Greek Studies In The Uk And Republic Of Ireland (1988). The aim of this treatise is to explain the singular fascination ancient Greek tragedians felt for the non-Greek, "barbaric" world. It sets Greek drama against the historical background of the Panhellenic wars with Persia and the establishment of an Athenian empire based on democracy and slavery.