#ancient greek litrature

[aboutanancientenquiry]

Early Greek prose inquiry (historia) and mythical tradition-I

“The Early Greek Prose-writing Tradition: Bridging the Myth-History Divide

Gaston Javier Basile

Dans Dialogues d'histoire ancienne 2019/2 (45/2), pages 81 à 112

The so-called move ‘vom Mythos zum Logos’ as well as the myth-history divide have been recurrently revisited in the last decades. The Greek notions of μῦθος, λόγος and ἱστορία have been reassessed. [1] So was the anachronistic compartmentalization of texts in view of the later development of specific institutionalized ‘genres’ or the labelling of texts in terms of contemporary areas of knowledge which were foreign to the intellectual milieu where they first appeared. This paper aims to advance the de-construction of such hermeneutical constructs – often expressed as polarities – by examining some of the methodological and linguistic procedures used by the early Greek prose-writers (6-5th century BCE) to engage with the mythical tradition. Rather than as a categorical distinction, the interface between mythos and logos will be explored in terms of the inception of new discursive prose genres in Archaic Greece and the deployment of novel linguistic procedures.

The sixth century BCE saw the emergence of a new breed of Greek intellectuals in Ionia who, often abandoning verse for prose and adopting a critical stance towards mythology and poetry, gradually began to step beyond the boundaries of the so-called spatium mythicum. They inaugurated a form of prose writing, largely of a narrative or descriptive type, which was based on the first-hand record of experience or some form of source analysis. Though scholars have grouped them by different criteria and given them assorted names (polymaths, logographoi, histores, etc.), these intellectuals can all be said to have produced some form of prose-inquiry (ἱστορίη). These prose narratives ranged from local traditions, popular tales, mythological rationalizations, genealogies, accounts of foreign travel and people, to the kind of discourse about the human past we now narrowly count as “histories”. Regrettably, with the exception of Herodotus’ Histories, an exceptional work which is often regarded as the epigone of the Ionian prose-writing tradition, the works attributed to the logographers have only survived in the form of fragments and testimonies preserved by Alexandrian and later scholars.

Whatever the specific subject matter of these early texts, they can all be said to have produced some kind of ἱστορίη (inquiry) which departed from, but also engaged with and was often critical of, the standard mythical tradition. Hence the term historia does not designate a specific genre dealing with the human past but rather a novel cognitive category and discursive form. It designates an individual, comprehensive and critical mode of inquiry which involved a first-hand gathering and record of experience and source examination. Additionally, this inquiry adopted a new form of discourse: expository texts, largely narrative or descriptive, written in prose. Under this description, the standard myth-history divide appears at best immaterial, if not altogether flawed. Indeed, far from steering clear of myth, the Gods and archaic legends, these early Greek prose writings often actively engaged with the mythical tradition. It is the purpose of this paper to draw on the category of historia in order to sketch out some of the methodological and linguistic features of these early texts. Through a selection of fragments or passages – from Hecataeus of Miletus, Pherecydes of Athens, Pherecydes of Syros to Herodotus of Halicarnassus’ History (Book II) – the paper explores the inception of a number of commentarial and exegetical procedures ranging from straightforward etymological observations to more complex explanatory or critical operations on the traditional material.

I- Mapping the province of early Greek historia: some methodological remarks

As has been well established by classical scholars, historia is a misnomer. Though the Greek term ἱστορίη – as used by Herodotus in the proem to his groundbreaking work – was soon associated with a form of inquiry and record of the human past, the early (and, incidentally, relatively few) occurrences of the word in the Greek classical world indicate otherwise. The now regular meaning of the word historia as an inquiry into the past appears to be in fifth-century Greece a derivative one, or perhaps even a novel and more technical use inaugurated by Herodotus himself. Scholars have insisted on the meaning of the term ἱστορία in general as an “intellectual activity” and, in a more technical sense, chiefly as first used by Herodotus, as the record of the human past. In fact, early and classical uses of the lexical family of ἵστωρ and its cognates – ἱστορέω, ἱστορία – mainly refer to some unspecified kind or act of knowing in general or to the act of acquiring, recording or reporting such knowledge. In this sense, the term has been frequently rendered after Herodotus’ inaugural text as ‘inquiry’ or ‘investigation’. [2]

The notion of historia is seen as embedded in a “pre-disciplinary” world where the boundaries between what later became separate forms of knowledge were fuzzy or ill-defined. At any rate, ἱστορία (ἱστορίη in the Ionian dialect) is generally taken to indicate an active form of learning (“to learn by inquiry”). There have been attempts at pinning down the scope of ἱστορία both in terms of the precise cognitive operations involved (seeing, hearing, questioning, inquiring, adjudicating, etc.) as well as the particular field of inquiry (ethnographical, geographical, historical, etc.). However, scholars tend to regard it as an umbrella term designating a complex intellectual activity spanning the Ionian science, the works of the early Ionian prose-writers, the medical teachings, etc. [3] As more fully illustrated in Herodotus’ work, historia is best understood as a cognitive category entailing a number of heuristic operations – ὄψις, ἀκοή, γνώμη, ἱστορίη (in the narrow sense of questioning the informants) which are not often easy to disentangle or rank. [4]

Aristotle represents both a landmark and a turning-point in the semantic development of the word historia. Even if the use Aristotle makes of this term in his encyclopedic treatises is far from consistent, ranging from narrative or ‘story’ in general, to something close to our modern notion of ‘history’, to ‘inquiry’ or, more precisely, the preliminary stages of an inquiry, Aristotle provides a key to understanding the more technical side of historia as a modus cognoscendi. [5] Following Aristotle’s categorization and revisiting earlier uses of the word, the scope of historia comes more clearly into focus. In this paper historia is understood as a cognitive category and as a discursive form. It designates an individual, comprehensive and active mode of inquiry bearing on empirical matters or involving a first-hand gathering and record of experience. Additionally, this inquiry adopted a new form of discourse: expository texts, largely narrative or descriptive, written in prose. More specifically, the term historia will be used in this paper to characterize the production of a group of intellectuals from Ionia (or epigones of such Ionian tradition) who inaugurated a form of inquiry and discourse on a wide range of topics – ranging from mythography, genealogy, geography and ethnography to history proper – which departed from (and was often critical of) traditional myths.

The term ‘prose’ itself is problematic and deserves a closer examination. While there are earlier records of public uses of prose in Greece through the eight and seventh century [6] in the form of graffiti, law codes and stone inscriptions, the sixth-century witnessed an increasingly widespread use of prose, notably in the Ionian milieu, as a medium to compose and disseminate new forms of knowledge and intellectual inquiries. This new use of prose was not merely aphoristic – as the private record of graffiti in the public space – or apodictic – as was the case with public legislation engraved in stone, but was chosen as the medium to communicate the findings of an extended process of inquiry (and, accordingly, imposed new demands on language). If this choice was not unanimous (for example, as shown by Parmenides, Xenophanes and Empedocles’ preference for metrical rendering), it was by far the medium that the logographers, irrespective of their objects of study (mythography philosophy, history, science, etc.) favored to communicate their individual historiai to a (possibly) semi-literate audience. It is highly probable that these written prose texts were the basis for some kind of attendant epideixis, possibly in the form of public reading or lectures in small circles, but they may have also served as records for private use by the author himself or his disciples and acolytes. This paper will examine a number of formal patterns of this expository prose (or ‘technical’ prose) [7] by comparison with the old genre of didactic epic verse.”

Source: https://www.cairn.info/revue-dialogues-d-histoire-ancienne-2019-2-page-81.htm

#ancient greek litrature #herodotus #mythos and logos #gaston javier basile

[nanditaagr7]

#zeus aesthetic #zeusunbulutu #zeus and hera #litrature #the secret history #greek myth memes #greek posts #greek mythology #greekromanart #heroes of olympus #egyptian mythology #ancient

[fangirlfromdownunder]

Who wants a reincarnation au?

As mentioned in the Halloween count down for Fate, I have a rencarnation au. Figured I’d put it out there so you can request for them in this au.

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Artoria Pendragon:

She decends from a high ranking mage family that has been around for centruies

Although her sister Morgan is a far better mage than she is

She currently attends a private school in the English contryside, although later will studdy at the clock tower

So will her sister

They make an unstopable team

She’s a straight A student though

While her sister, Morgan, is very feminine and excells at mage craft, Artoria often struggles with feminine persuntes such as make up (Although she is fond of skin care) and prefers fencing to actual magic

As such she’s a member of her schools fencing team

Owns both the boys and girls uniform

Will switch between them depending on how she’s feelings

Most teachers don’t care but sometimes she gets yelled at for wearing the boys uniform

Highly gifted in classes surrouning English Litrature or the Dramatic Arts

Often auditions for the male roles

Although she doesn’t mind playing women

One year she played Lady Macbeth and got a standing ovation

Less talented in subjects like Maths

Due to her gentamanly manner she has gained many female admires due to her kindness and willingness to beat up a dude if he’s hassling someone

She also has many male admiries

However, most want to break her and make her into their little pet

We all know who I’m talking about right?

Friends with an Irish boy called Diarmuid

They form the gentamanly duo of the school

So many love confessions

This dude called Gil also likes to hang around them

It started as him trying to impress her but then he just kinda became apart of the group?

How did it even happen?

Unofrtunaly Artoria also has a few stalkers

Once again, we all know who I’m talking about?

At one point her father encouraged her to take their siduel but she declied as Morgan was a far better choice for the family head

I mean her magic is amazing guys

She’s a prodogy

In the future I see her becoming a teacher for both mage craft but also English and Swordplay

Even after graduating she continues her fencing as a hobby and travels to many locations with her two friends from school

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne:

His parents loved old knight stories, thus the name

While he isn’t much of a mage he finds magic facinating and found out about it by accident when he overheared Artoria talking to Morgan

That’s actually how they met

She made him swear on his life he wouldn’t tell and started hangging around him to make sure he didn’t

They became friends from there

His grades could be better but as long as he’s passing he doesn’t care

He’s actually very talented with words and writes rather romantic poetry

It makes Gil vomit

Artoria finds it sweet

He and Gil did not get along at all at first

You can’t treat Artoria like that damn it!

They eventually settle their diffrences

He palyed Macbeth alongside Artoria

And he was brilliant

Not as good as Artoria but still amazing

As stated before he’s one of the schools gentlemanly duo

Gets confessed to at least once a day

So gentle when he turns them down

People confess just to be tuned down so they can hear it

He’s so sweet

Has a crush on one of his upperclassmen for a few years

But she’s in a relationship

Don’t be that guy!

Actually has a rather nice singging voice

Yes he’s in a band

So many fangirls

Oh my god so many

In the future he persues his music career and gets signed rather quickly

Girls go crazy for him

Sells so well

Often uses his tours as an excuse to travel with his two friends

Gilgamesh:

Okay he forces everyone to call him Gil because he thinks his actual name is stupid

Who calls their kids Gilgimehs and Enkidu (His little bro)

an archilogist and a mage thats who

His mother is an archilogist and his father a mage

While he did inherit some magic from his father his brother is far better at it

That’s why he studies at the clock tower and Gil doesn’t

Doesn’t have to many friends at first

He’s up himself who would want to be friends with that?

Very do you know who my father is

fuck off mate

Great at history man

Great at most classes

Straight A student

Feels the need to make up for his failue as a mage to his father

At first he was a creep and flirted with Artoria because he wanted to be the guy to tame the lion

Once they’re friends it turns into a huge joke

Mostly

Now he kind of actually wants to date her? Maybe?

But he’s got a good thing going

A bit of a show off

This is where Diarmuid comes in

He’s like 80% of Gil’s impulse control

Joined a band and forced Diarmuid to join

He plays the drums

Lets him get out his agression

Can also play the guitar if needed

Not really interested in persuing a career in it though

Opens a restraunt instead

He themes it to babalon

His name is Gilgamesh might as well use it

It’s actually pretty sucessful

His first trip once out of school was a tour of all the areas that are recorded to be apart of Mesopatamia

Drags the others with him

This is all a huge joke to him

Hassan-i-Sabbah:

A member of an organised crime cindicate

Not much is known about them

He has a private tutor and rarely speaks to people outside his families circle

Very few friends

Thats about it

Lancelot du Lac:

Another famous mage family

Is tutored by his father for much of his life

He lives in a small town in France

Probibly like in Normandy or something

Met Artoria when he began studying in the Clock tower and the two became quick friends

Although he’s not apart of their trio when traveling he gets along rather well with the others

Although he does question Artoira’s friendship with Gil

Very talented at Mage craft

A bit of a perfectionsit

Might have a crush on Artoria but he’s not sure about if she likes him back

Or even is she likes guys for the matter

He’s a quiet dude and often prefres reading to going out drinking or anything with his freinds

And when he does go drinking with them he’s always the sober one that makes sure they don’t do the stupid shit they try to 

Artoria get down from that wall!

Gil don’t climb the tree!

Diarmuid I expected better from you

Honestly, he’s kinda just a good guy if a little nieve at times

Alexander the Great:

Yo, dude is popular with everyone

In school he’s kind of a history nerd

Loves history books

He was also a huge gamer

But he was popular because he was just so nice and cheerful most of the time

Not to mention he protected everyone!

Walk home all the people who feel scared

Seriously though

People come to him when they feel unsafe and he walks them home

Also flirts a lot

Pretty girls, cute and mature

Cute boys, he prefers them to be smol so he can pick them up easy but doesn’t mind if they aren’t

Just all the humans

You’re non-binary? He’s all about inclusion and acceptance you’re getting flirted with too!

He just loves everyone

(I mean he’s essentually canoncialy bi but I feel like he could be pan)

Once he graduates he enters his families buissness

They’re some really big company

And he becomes Jumin Han to C&R levels important

And what does he do with his money?

Spends it on others of course!

He’s a suagr daddy now

Most of the time it’s non romantic and non sexual sugar babies

But if he finds someone he likes he might persue something more with them

Just date the big guy, he’s a sweetie

Gilles de Rais;

Remember Artoria’s stalker?

This is him

He decends from a long line of mages

And studies abrawed at the English private school

Which is where he stalkes Artoria

He blood liniage intreegs him

Pendragon was an ancient king how can you not be facinated by a family sharing the name?

He’s very creepy

Later in life he gets involved in a murder and ends up in jail for life

Shirou Emiya;

....do I... Do I really need to write for him?

Medusa:

A half greek student at an Amrican public school

Got a big family

Her two older sister keep setting her up on blind dates

But the fact that she’s blind often turns people off dating her

Someone find her a nice partner

Please

She doesn’t deserve this

Friends with a boy called Heracles who lives down the road from her

She got lost once and he helped her home

He’s actually rather sweet, if a bit short tempered

To bad he has a girlfriend right

Or well that’s how her sisters see it

She doesn’t talk to much

Enjoys scilence

Finds it easier to read

She’s obsessed with Homer’s epics and Greek mythology

It’s where she got her name from after all

She loves kids

Plans to go into child care in the future

Heracles:

His parents are imigrants to America

Their lives were hard but they don’t want his to be so they work so hard

Heracles is very thankful for this

He’s got a bit of an anger issue but he’s been working on it and he’s getting better!

You go baby! you got this

Not the best in schools

He struggles to read and pay attention in class

His girlfriend helps him study so he doesn’t fail

Speaking of girlfriends!

Meg is a sweet girl who’s family are pretty well off

Heracles often wonders why she’d pick a guy like him when she could have had so many guys

It’s a sweet relationship and they end up getting married after graduating

Cu Chulainn:

His parents were obsessed with Irish mythology

And he embraces his name! Unlike some other people we know

That’s right Gil!

Cu is judging you!

His family traveled around a lot when he was younger but they ended up setteling down in the English contryside

While he doesn’t attend school with the trio he sees them in town a lot

Its a small town

Where else will they go

Admires Artoria and Diarmuid and Artoria’s ability to be gentlemen

But also admires Gil’s ability to be a dick and somehow still get the ladies

Sometime he talks to them

Specificaly when they come to his families store

They run a magic/spiritual shop

What you thought this kid was normal?

He’s the rencarnation of the son of the god of fucking light

ain’t no way this kid doesn’t have some magic

On the topic of his magic

I have this headcannon that there is a magic like that we see him use in the anime but most don’t use it anylonger due to it being old and the need for fay blood to use it

Well guess who can use it

That’s right this mage family!

He’s rather talented in it but the style is looked down on most mage families as it’s viewed as primitive

Fuck you he’s gonna brun down your whole hose with one movement!

Cu is actually rather popular with them ladies

He’s a bit of a bad boy, ya know?

But as soon as he’s in a relationship boy is loyal

Although there are many temptations

Medea

Oh my pour child!

She needs a break

She get’s one

You don’t have to marry Jason in this life

Aphrodite can’t touch you here

Another mage

She studies at the clock tower and confesses her atraction to Artoria early in her first year of knowing her

Of course Artoria lets her down gently

They stay aqucainted

She’s extreemly talented

Prodogy child

But has a bad habbit of dating guys that are rather cruel

Someone get her a best friend to smack some sense into her

She ends up as a teacher at the clocktower when she graduates

Sasaki Koujirou:

His family runs a sword fighting school in Japan

They’re proud of their linigae

Claiming to be able to trace their family line back centuries

And that it’s full of amazing fighters

He’s a rather talented fighter and proud of his family name

Many of the people he attands school with admire his dedication

Another who get’s many confessions

He’s just so cool and colected

Hard to not get a crush on him

While he’s gone on a few dates with the people who confess to him he’s never felt a spark

he’s sure when he meets the one he’ll feel it

Belives very strongly in soulmates, you see

Spends most of his free time at home

His family are really traditional too, so no shoes in the house

He wears a kimono a lot

They own an old house too

Like the Emiya estate

So he speands a lot of his time doing things most would consider boring or useless today instead of say watching TV

Dude parctices calligraphy for fun

He’s pretty odd in that sense that at home it’s kind of like a diffrent century

#So here it is #reincarnation au #modern au #fate #fate zero #fate unlimited blade works #fate stay night #fate seris #saber #artoria pendragon #artoria #arthur pendragon #king arthur #diarmuid ua duibhne #diarmuid #gil #gilgamesh #hassan-i-sabbah #assasin #lancer #archer #lancelot #sir lancelot #lancelot du lac #alexander #alexander the great #berserker #rider #gilles #gilles de rais