This thesis tackles a conspicuous absence in current scholarship on ancient theatre. Amid the recent scholarly interest in the rapid expansion of the theatre industry from the late fifth-century BC onwards, no study has been made of a central, defining even, element of ancient Greek drama at that time – the chorus. Instead, what we find is a widespread assumption concerning the fourth-century dramatic chorus, particularly with regard to the comic chorus, still prevalent in today’s scholarship: ‘The history of the dramatic chorus is one of decline both quantitatively and qualitatively’, states one of the more detailed recent reviews of the evidence for dramatic choral culture in the ancient world (Csapo and Slater 1995:349). The thesis focuses on the literary sources available to us concerning fourth-century dramatic choruses in Athens. The material is divided into three sections. The first section addresses the important testimony of Aristotle concerning the choruses of his day, particularly in the Poetics (chapter one). The second section analyses the choral text in the (probably fourth-century) Rhesus (chapter two), the interpolated choral passages in the Iphigenia at Aulis and Seven Against Thebes (chapter three), and the choruses of Aristophanes’ Assemblywomen and Wealth, as well as extant fragments of fourth-century comedy (chapter four). The third section is a survey of how the chorus is used in a wide range of fourth-century texts (chapter five), and gives special attention to Plato’s somewhat idiosyncratic presentation of the chorus in his works (chapter six). These analyses show 1) that ‘decline’ is an inappropriate term to describe the development of the chorus and 2) the creativity with which the chorus is used and thought about in fourth-century drama and society. The thesis aims to provide an elucidation of dramatic choral activity in the fourth century and to provoke further interrogation of the assumptions commonly held about the development of both the ancient chorus and ancient drama as a whole.

Euripides’ Electra has long been one of the playwright’s most controversial works. This book offers a reading of the play concentrating on its language, which is analysed by applying a variety of modern linguistic approaches: conversation analysis, pragmatic theories of speech acts and inference, politeness theory, the study of the interplay of gender and language, paroemiology, and the study of discourse cohesion. The first three chapters argue for the Peasant, Electra and Orestes, respectively, that their linguistic behaviour constitutes a vital part of their characterisation. The Peasant’s (ch. 1) sturdy morality is established by the way his language becomes more forceful when he touches on ethical questions; it is then tested in his conversations with Electra, where his language is suggestive of a conflict between his morals and his desire to please his royal wife. Electra herself (ch. 2) is characterised initially by the inability to communicate successfully with those around her — a disconnect which is suggestive of the fundamental incongruity of her circumstances. This adds a dimension to her motivations, which, as a force driving Electra’s linguistic behaviour, remain highly stable throughout the play up until the matricide. Another consistent feature of Electra’s language is the way it is patterned by her gender. Orestes’ characterisation in the early part of the play is ingeniously kept to a minimum through his sustained disguise. Various aspects of his language, but particularly his use of gnomai, contribute to that disguise, which involves a suppression of emotion, an avoidance of self-reference, and the exertion of control over the flow and topic of his conversation with Electra. We can only interpret a dramatic text if we know what it says, and if we know who says what. In chapter 4, I argue that the linguistic approaches I adopt can also help us in making a determination about textual-critical problems, particularly concerning the issue of speaker-line attribution (two notorious cases are discussed: 671-84 and 959-87). The final two chapters deal with longer speeches. In the messenger scene (ch. 5), Euripides uses linguistic devices to create an ebb and flow of suspense, and to manipulate audience expectation. In the agon (ch. 6), differences in the way Clytemnestra and Electra structure their speeches, particularly their narrationes, reveal much about their different (and fundamentally irreconcilable) viewpoints and approaches.

The thesis focuses on the theory of tragedy in Germany around 1800, and has two primary aims: to demonstrate the importance of idealist thought for contemporary approaches to tragedy and the tragic; and to revise the intellectual historiography of the classic phase in German letters. It traces reflection on Greek tragedy from the Querelle des anciens et des modernes in France around 1700 through the aesthetic systems formulated in Germany around 1800. Two intellectual developments are emphasized: the historicist consciousness that develops throughout the eighteenth century and places Greek tragedy more radically in its cultural context than ever before; and the idealist philosophy of art, which seeks to restore a measure of universality to the ancient genre, seeing it as the manifestation of a timeless quality of ‘the tragic.’ These two impulses, historicizing and universalizing, it is argued, are fundamental to modern understanding of Greek tragedy. The genealogical method seeks to establish a greater continuity with earlier eighteenth-century thought than is generally recognized, and to refute the teleologies that dominate accounts of idealist thought. A reconstruction of the central texts of Schiller, Schelling, Hegel, and Hölderlin reveals that the theory of tragedy around 1800 is in large part a reflection on history, an effort to understand how ancient literature can be meaningful in modernity. Greek tragedy becomes the ground for an engagement with the pastness of antiquity and its possible presence. Idealist theories, far from dissolving particularity in abstraction, seek a mediation between philological historicism and philosophical universalism in considering Greek tragedy. A genealogy of the tragic suggests that such mediation remains a vital task for scholars of the Classics.

Η παρούσα μελέτη αποτελεί προσπάθεια συλλογής και ανάλυσης των αρχαιολογικών μαρτυριών σχετικά με την εμφάνιση των αρχαίων Ελλήνων δραματικών ποιητών και των τρόπων με τους οποίους αυτοί απεικονίζονται τόσο στην αρχαία ελληνική όσο και στη Ρωμαϊκή τέχνη. / This study is an attempt to collect and analyse the archaeological finds related with the look of the ancient Greek dramatists and the way they were presented.

No description available.

This thesis examines the theology of Aeschylus through a close text-based discussion of the nature and justice of Zeus. This will not be a dogmatic investigation that looks for signs of monotheism or 'proto-monotheism'. Rather, this thesis will examine the presentation of the god in Aeschylus, as he is found in his plays, free from any desire or attempt to form a rounded, comprehensive 'Aeschylean theology'. The first chapter considers the two closely connected divine terms, thetaepsilonozeta and deltaalphaiotamuonu. The clear-cut and easily discernible meaning of thetaepsilonozeta acts as a constant with which the more ambiguous and less determinable word deltaalphaiotamuonu can be compared and contrasted. This chapter discusses both those instances where deltaalphaiotamuonu seems to be synonymous with thetaepsilonozeta and where it does not, where the term seems to possess a meaning close to that of an individual's fortune or destiny in life. This is done in order to conclusively see how Aeschylus uses the word deltaalphaiotamuonu in the Eumenides as part of his characterisation of the Erinyes, which enables us to see more clearly what role divine terminology plays in the presentation of Zeus and the god's justice. The remaining chapters of this thesis examine Zeus in Aeschylus. First, attention is given to the old debates concerning the potential and respective influence of Homeric, Hesiodic and Presocratic conceptions of divinity on the theology of Aeschylus. Then, the final chapter of the thesis looks at the justice of Zeus primarily through a discussion of one question, whether we should understand Agamemnon as guilty in the eyes of Zeus, which it is argued we should not. It is shown that Aeschylus does not present an optimistic idea of Zeus or divine justice, and the god's rule is seen as neither kind nor benevolent. Rather a pragmatic and pessimistic view is presented to us by Aeschylus, one which recognises that Zeus is an all-powerful being in need of respect and honour and whose will must be carefully observed.

The EU Directive on the accessibility requirements for products and services, Directive 2019/882, is an accessibility law that will come into effect in the European Union starting in 2025. The criteria for compliance are based on the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, WCAG 2.1, the industry standard for accessibility on the web. There are however few empirical studies attempting to ascertain the effectiveness of adhering to the guidelines to prevent accessibility issues faced by real users. The present study utilises usability testing with users with disabilities to identify accessibility problems, to then compare whether adherence to Directive 2019/882 or WCAG 2.1 solves the errors. The results showed that the effectiveness of WCAG 2.1’s ability to prevent accessibility problems on e-commerce websites lies between 41% and 71% and that the effectiveness of Directive 2019/882 lies between 39% and 69%. Blind users, visually impaired users, and users with cognitive impairments were overrepresented when it came to encountered issues left unaddressed by Directive 2019/882 and WCAG 2.1. The results may be used to argue whether Directive 2019/882 and WCAG 2.1 are appropriate guidelines to determine accessibility on the web, which may have societal consequences. We recommend further studies testing the findings of the present study by performing similar research on different websites and different spread of disabilities among participants in the test group.

The study of old age in the humanities has developed significantly in the last few decades, but there is still much scope for progress. This thesis, therefore, seeks to contribute to the growing academic discourse in this area by considering ageing as it is represented in ancient Greek theatre. At the same time, it seeks to take its place within Classical Studies by developing new readings of the plays. To develop a context for its analysis, this study begins with consideration of the contemporary demographics, social position, and stage portrayal of old age, and following this dedicates a chapter to each of the four surviving fifth century dramatists. In Aiskhylos’ Agamemnon, old age emerges as a crucial element in choral self-identity, and an important component of the authority that they display. Following this, the thesis considers the chorus of Euripides’ Herakles, in particular its use of metadramatic language, and the impact this has on plot-development and the representation of their age. The next chapter, on Oidipous Koloneus, shifts to consideration of the protagonist. The old age of Oidipous emerges as a powerful driver of his mental and spiritual power, and forms a striking background to the exploration of his character. The final chapter of the thesis examines how mechanisms of renewal that old men undergo in Aristophanes’ comedies (Knights, Akharnians, Peace, Wasps, Birds) differ across the dramas, and the impact this difference has on their interpretations. Such reassessments of ancient dramatic texts through the lens of old age can provide significant insight into the complexity of old men’s characterisations and of their involvement in the dramas. At the same time (from a gerontological perspective), this thesis’ analysis contributes to the developing discussion of the history of ageing, and highlights the differences between the ancient and modern worlds in this respect.

This thesis is a study of zandaqa, or heresy, in the early medieval period of al-Andalus. The goal of this work is to uncover subtexts between caliphal power and legal authority through an analysis of the historiography of the Andalusian Muhammad ibn `Abd Allah Ibn Masarra al-Jabali (d. 319/931). This is accomplished by applying the Foucauldian theories of limit and transgression on the scholarly reconstructions of his life. The formation of the madhahib in al-Andalus, the construction of Orthodoxy and Heresy in Islam, and the historical-legal development of zandaqa colours how scholars have approached the subject, and leads to questions concerning the relationship that marginal or subversive intellectual developments had with authoritative bodies. The resulting play of divergent and authoritative discourses that emerge from a Post-Modernist analysis of the Masarrian context have the capacity to illustrate intellectual developments within early Andalusian society and provide an alternate explanatory narrative for historical reconstruction.

Dans l’Antiquité, en Grèce, la tragédie joue un rôle important dans la vie des Grecs. Il y avait des concours tragiques pendant des fêtes religieuses ; surtout, pendant les Grandes Dionysies, avait lieu le concours tragique le plus important. Beaucoup de dramaturges y participaient et trois grands tragiques ont émergé, dont Eschyle a été le premier dramaturge illustre et connu. Il s’inspirait des sources mythiques et des légendes antiques. Il posait les questions et présentait sur scène les problèmes que les Athéniens rencontraient. Il faisait réfléchir les citoyens athéniens par ses tragédies. Il a introduit de nombreux personnages féminins dans l’espace théâtral et leur a accordé des rôles importants. Cela ne correspondait pas à la situation réelle des femmes grecques de cette période-là. Les femmes grecques devaient rester toujours dans le gynécée, s’occuper des affaires à l’intérieur de la maison, être en charge du filage et du tissage, rester toujours silencieuses sans se mêler des affaires politiques et donner naissance aux enfants pour assurer le renouvellement des générations. En revanche, les figures féminines du monde créé par Eschyle quittent leur gynécée, voyagent, s’exposent devant le public, s’expriment à haute-voix, se mêlent des affaires politiques, refusent le mariage et la maternité ou montrent peu d’amour maternel envers leurs enfants. Mais pourquoi le dramaturge se décide-t-il à mettre sur scène de si nombreuses figures féminines qui ont un rôle important ? D’abord, il ne faut pas oublier que les personnages féminins sont joués par les acteurs masculins et que les chœurs féminins sont constitués de choreutes masculins ; par conséquent, les figures féminines sont créées par le dramaturge Eschyle. Il y a plusieurs raisons : la beauté scénique qui séduit l’attention de l’auditoire ; la nature de femme qui est à l’origine des maux humains et son irrationalité qui pousse le développement tragique ; et la faiblesse féminine qui entraîne le manque de contrôle et de maîtrise de soi et qui rend les figures féminines aptes à jouer le rôle que les personnages masculins ont du mal à interpréter. / In ancient Greece, the tragedy plays an important role in the lives of Greeks. There were tragic contests during the religious holidays. During the Great Dionysia, there was the most important tragedy contest. Many playwrights participated in it and there emerged three great tragedians, the first playwright, Aeschylus included. He was inspired by the mythical sources and ancient legends. He showed the problems met by the Athenians on stage through mythical characters. His tragedies made the Athenians think about the problems. He showed many female roles in theatrical space and put them in an important place, which didn't correspond to the real situation of the Greek women in that period. These Greek women had to remain still in the harem, take care of household affairs, charge the spinning and the weaving, always remain silent without meddling in political affairs and give birth to children for the family. In contrast, the female figures in the world created by Aeschylus leave their harem, travel, expose themselves to the public, express themselves loudly, get involved political affairs, refuse marriage and show little maternal love towards their children. But why the playwright decides to make the many female figures on stage play the important roles? First, we need to notice that the female characters are played by male actors and that the female choirs consist of male choruses, therefore, the female figures are created by the playwright Aeschylus. There are several reasons for this : the beauty in the scene attracted the attention of the audience; woman is the source of human evil ; irrationality of women drives the development of the tragedy ; and the weakness of women decides their lack of self-control and make them more suitable to play the roles that male characters struggle to interpret.