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 8
... relating to ethnographic thought.29 One of the aims of this study, therefore, is to incorporate material evidence for an interest in foreign lands and peoples into a wider discussion of the nature and purpose of “ethnographic” discourse ...
... relating to ethnographic thought.29 One of the aims of this study, therefore, is to incorporate material evidence for an interest in foreign lands and peoples into a wider discussion of the nature and purpose of “ethnographic” discourse ...
Page 10
... Relating such material imaginings to the ethnographic enquiries of early Greek prose authors is far from straightforward, however, and raises a very important question: to what extent were both Greek ethnography and any associated ...
... Relating such material imaginings to the ethnographic enquiries of early Greek prose authors is far from straightforward, however, and raises a very important question: to what extent were both Greek ethnography and any associated ...
Page 16
... relating to all kinds of laws and customs? Just as a recent comparison of Thucydides and Pindar has successfully demonstrated that both poet and historian drew on similar materials, it seems highly likely that Herodotus and Pindar ...
... relating to all kinds of laws and customs? Just as a recent comparison of Thucydides and Pindar has successfully demonstrated that both poet and historian drew on similar materials, it seems highly likely that Herodotus and Pindar ...
Page 17
... relating to a variety of foreign peoples was far more widespread than has been suggested, for instance, by Edith Hall.58 “Enquiries” of this sort are not simply indicative of the musings of some erudite theoretician or wordsmith, whose ...
... relating to a variety of foreign peoples was far more widespread than has been suggested, for instance, by Edith Hall.58 “Enquiries” of this sort are not simply indicative of the musings of some erudite theoretician or wordsmith, whose ...
Page 23
... relating to the description of peoples and poleis, their distinctive attributes and customs, is still largely dependent upon an a priori notion of Greek identity. This would not, in itself, be a problem were it not for the fact that ...
... relating to the description of peoples and poleis, their distinctive attributes and customs, is still largely dependent upon an a priori notion of Greek identity. This would not, in itself, be a problem were it not for the fact that ...
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 |
Common terms and phrases
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