Abstract
The analysis of political language in Aeschylus' Suppliants confirms the hypothesis that the form of government here represented is strongly influenced by contemporary Athens: prehistoric Argos turns out to be a sort of mirror of democratic Athens. It is no coincidence that the sequence running from the entrance of Pelasgus at 234 to the Danaids' song of benediction (625-709) presents a dramatic pattern similar in several respects to that underlying in Eumenides 397-1002 (the scenes between the entrance of Athena and the Chorus’ prayer of blessing). Pelasgus (likewise Athena in Eumenides) imparts to the Danaids a sort of lesson on "democratic paideia", in view of their integration as metoikoi in the institutional structures of the polis.
KEYWORDS: Aeschylus, Suppliants, Eumenides, metoikia, democracy, Athens.
| Lingua originale | English |
|---|---|
| pagine (da-a) | 251-272 |
| Numero di pagine | 22 |
| Rivista | Polis. The Journal for Ancient Greek Political Thought |
| Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2017 |
Keywords
- Aeschylus
- Eschilo
- Suppliants
- Supplici