The Invention of Greek Ethnography: From Homer to HerodotusGreek ethnography is commonly believed to have developed in conjunction with the wider sense of Greek identity that emerged during the Greeks' "encounter with the barbarian"--Achaemenid Persia--during the late sixth to early fifth centuries BC. The dramatic nature of this meeting, it was thought, caused previous imaginings to crystallise into the diametric opposition between "Hellene" and "barbarian" that would ultimately give rise to ethnographic prose. The Invention of Greek Ethnography challenges the legitimacy of this conventional narrative. Drawing on recent advances in ethnographic and cultural studies and in the material culture-based analyses of the Ancient Mediterranean, Joseph Skinner argues that ethnographic discourse was already ubiquitous throughout the archaic Greek world, not only in the form of texts but also in a wide range of iconographic and archaeological materials. As such, it can be differentiated both on the margins of the Greek world, like in Olbia and Calabria and in its imagined centers, such as Delphi and Olympia. The reconstruction of this "ethnography before ethnography" demonstrates that discourses of identity and difference played a vital role in defining what it meant to be Greek in the first place long before the fifth century BC. The development of ethnographic writing and historiography are shown to be rooted in this wider process of "positioning" that was continually unfurling across time, as groups and individuals scattered the length and breadth of the Mediterranean world sought to locate themselves in relation to the narratives of the past. This shift in perspective provided by The Invention of Greek Ethnography has significant implications for current understanding of the means by which a sense of Greek identity came into being, the manner in which early discourses of identity and difference should be conceptualized, and the way in which so-called "Great Historiography," or narrative history, should ultimately be interpreted. |
From inside the book
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Page 6
... society. When viewed in its broadest sense, ethnography, to quote James Clifford, is simply a collection of “diverse ways of thinking and writing about culture” from an outsider's perspective.18 Largely immune to such paradigm shifts ...
... society. When viewed in its broadest sense, ethnography, to quote James Clifford, is simply a collection of “diverse ways of thinking and writing about culture” from an outsider's perspective.18 Largely immune to such paradigm shifts ...
Page 7
... societies (Woolf 2010; Raaflaub and Talbert 2010; Kim 2009). 24Cf. Turnbull 1972 (Ik); Thomas 1969; Lee 1979 (San); Chagnon 1997 (Yanamamo); and current issues of Ethnography. 25 Thucydides III 94. Cf. Hdt. V 78; VI 56–60 cf. I 65–8 ...
... societies (Woolf 2010; Raaflaub and Talbert 2010; Kim 2009). 24Cf. Turnbull 1972 (Ik); Thomas 1969; Lee 1979 (San); Chagnon 1997 (Yanamamo); and current issues of Ethnography. 25 Thucydides III 94. Cf. Hdt. V 78; VI 56–60 cf. I 65–8 ...
Page 10
... society, see Dench 1995, 39ff.; Spivey 1997. See, however, Osborne 2004b, 42 (re)emphasizing the connection between Athenian vase-painters and their (Athenian) public. 33 Moers 2010, 178. BM 1869, 1025.3–4 (Nubians); BM 1869, 1025.5; BM ...
... society, see Dench 1995, 39ff.; Spivey 1997. See, however, Osborne 2004b, 42 (re)emphasizing the connection between Athenian vase-painters and their (Athenian) public. 33 Moers 2010, 178. BM 1869, 1025.3–4 (Nubians); BM 1869, 1025.5; BM ...
Page 14
... societies” is something of a moot point.46 It might ultimately be argued that the juxtaposition of categories such as “Egyptian,” “Persian,” and “Greek” is far too brittle and subjective a process to provide a useful basis for ...
... societies” is something of a moot point.46 It might ultimately be argued that the juxtaposition of categories such as “Egyptian,” “Persian,” and “Greek” is far too brittle and subjective a process to provide a useful basis for ...
Page 21
... society—a concern for identity has long been a salient feature of Classical scholarship. While the recent upsurge in scholarship documenting both the variety of identities by which an individual might choose to define him- or herself ...
... society—a concern for identity has long been a salient feature of Classical scholarship. While the recent upsurge in scholarship documenting both the variety of identities by which an individual might choose to define him- or herself ...
Contents
3 | |
CHAPTER 2 Populating the Imaginaire | 59 |
CHAPTER 3 Mapping Ethnography | 111 |
CHAPTER 4 Mapping Identities | 151 |
CHAPTER 5 The Invention of Greek Ethnography | 233 |
Abbreviations | 259 |
Bibliography | 263 |
Index | 327 |
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The Invention of Greek Ethnography: From Homer to Herodotus Joseph E. Skinner No preview available - 2012 |
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activity ancient appear approach Archaic argued argument associated Athens attempt attributed authors barbarian Cambridge century b.c. chapter Classical coins concepts concerning constructed context cult cultural Cyrene dating defined depicted described detailed difference discourse discussion early effectively emergence engagement entirely equally ethnic ethnographic evidence example extent fact fifth century figure foreign further Greek groups Hall Hellenic Herodotus Homeric ideas identity images imagined important indicative individuals interest interpreted Italy knowledge lands largely least linked Malkin manner material matter means Mediterranean myth narrative nature objects Olbia origins Oxford particular perhaps period Persian played political populations practice prose questions range recent references reflect regarding region relating remains represent result role sanctuaries Scythian sense significant sixth social society suggests thought tion trade traditions University Press variety various widely wider