Journal | Lexis
Journal issue | Num. 39 (n.s.) – Giugno 2021 – Fasc. 1
Research Article | Epic Tradition and Sophistic Innovation in the ‘Shame Culture’ of Thucydides’ Dialogue of the Melii and the Athenians
Epic Tradition and Sophistic Innovation in the ‘Shame Culture’ of Thucydides’ Dialogue of the Melii and the Athenians
Abstract
This paper aims at adding new pieces to the complex patchwork of knowledge on ‘shame’ in the ancient Greek world by analysing the meanings and the cultural framework of the terms αἰσχύνη and αἰσχρός in the Dialogue of the Melians of Thucydides. The contribution sheds light on the role played by the traditional concept of shame, mostly witnessed by the Homeric poems, in the elaboration of the concept made by the Athenians in accordance with the sophistic cultural climate of the second half of the fifth century BCE.
Submitted: Oct. 5, 2020 | Accepted: Dec. 21, 2020 | Published June 30, 2021 | Language: it
Keywords Dialogue of the Melians • Sophistic • Homer • Hesiod • Thucydides • Shame culture • Aidōs
Copyright © 2021 Valeria Melis. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/Lexis/2724-1564/2021/01/004
