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. |
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Page 3
... appear relatively straightforward. Greek ethnographic interests are widely assumed to have developed in tandem with the wider sense of (Greek) identity from which they took their cue. This collective sense of identity is generally ...
... appear relatively straightforward. Greek ethnographic interests are widely assumed to have developed in tandem with the wider sense of (Greek) identity from which they took their cue. This collective sense of identity is generally ...
Page 4
... appears at first sight to be an entirely convincing narrative of an evolution from archaic to classical periods turns out, on closer inspection, to contain many glosses and elisions—some comparatively minor and subtle, others less so ...
... appears at first sight to be an entirely convincing narrative of an evolution from archaic to classical periods turns out, on closer inspection, to contain many glosses and elisions—some comparatively minor and subtle, others less so ...
Page 11
... appear somewhat rose-tinted (Sargon's subjects were, after all, being regaled with an account of the subjugation, humiliation, and defeat of Assyria's neighbors), signs of ethnographic interest are readily apparent—even if it is merely ...
... appear somewhat rose-tinted (Sargon's subjects were, after all, being regaled with an account of the subjugation, humiliation, and defeat of Assyria's neighbors), signs of ethnographic interest are readily apparent—even if it is merely ...
Page 12
... appear to have singled out traits capable of conjuring a notion of “Gandahara,” “Arabia,” and “Egypt” to an audience of dignitaries, petitioners, and whoever else had cause to climb the staircases leading to the Apadana.41 39See Root ...
... appear to have singled out traits capable of conjuring a notion of “Gandahara,” “Arabia,” and “Egypt” to an audience of dignitaries, petitioners, and whoever else had cause to climb the staircases leading to the Apadana.41 39See Root ...
Page 15
... and meant to cite Fr. 125a instead. Regardless of whether Herodotus was mistaken or not, the fragment appears to have attained the status of a proverb. the corpses of their fathers was in each case met ETH NO GRAPHY BE FORE ETH NO GRAPHY ...
... and meant to cite Fr. 125a instead. Regardless of whether Herodotus was mistaken or not, the fragment appears to have attained the status of a proverb. the corpses of their fathers was in each case met ETH NO GRAPHY BE FORE ETH NO GRAPHY ...
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 attributed authors barbarian Cambridge century b.c. chapter Classical coins concepts concerning constructed context cult cultural customs 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 Greece 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 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