Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the discovery of the so-called “New Sappho” in 2004, there has been a revival in
the research about Sappho, Greek lyric and old age in Greek literature. In this short
fragment, Sappho writes about the symptoms of old age. She interweaves this with
mythological references to Eos and Tithonus. It was especially this remarkable find
that has focused my attention on the themes of old age, caducity, bodily decay and
mortality in Greek literature. In my opinion the discovery of a new fragment of
Greek poetry justifies research on this genre as well as the themes that occur in it.
This thesis explores the following research question: What is the view of old age that
is brought to the fore in a thematic examination of early Greek poetry? My
discussion includes works by Sappho, Anacreon, Ibycus, Mimnermus, Tyrtaeus of
Sparta, Solon of Athens, Theognis, Archilochus and Semonides of Amorgos.
This thesis found that the view of old age in early Greek poetry is predominantly
negative. The thesis proves the hypothesis that the view of old age, caducity, bodily
decay and mortality that is brought to the fore in a thematic examination of early
Greek poetry agrees with the negative view of these aspects as appears from the
other literary genres from the Greek canon.
In most cases there is a strong relationship between old age and eroticism and how
old age obstructs eroticism. In these fragments we often find a human revolt on a
universal scale against old age and the loss of love. The aged body is no longer seen
as an erotic object. This also has serious implications for the social circumstances of
the aged. The use of the first person voice stresses both the raw, personal experience
of old age and the universal experience thereof. The first person plural in some cases
underlines the collective attitude and experiences of the ageing person.
Early Greek poets describe old age as πόλιος (grey), ὀδυνηρός (painful), ἀργαλέος
(baneful), κακός (evil), ἄμορφος (ugly), οὐλόμενος (accursed) and ἄζηλος
(unenviable). The epithets and adjectival clauses which are identified in the
discussed poetry form a conceptual nexus of old age which is almost uniformly negative. Except for Tyrtaeus and maybe Solon, most poets have a disapproving,
reproachful, despising and repulsive attitude towards old age. In these fragments,
old age is described as the threshold to death. Old age in itself is a type of death, a
living death. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die ontdekking van die sogenaamde “Nuwe Sappho” in 2004 het daar weer
opflikkering gekom in die navorsing oor Sappho, die Griekse liriek en die ouderdom
in Griekse letterkunde. In hierdie kort fragment skryf Sappho oor die simptome van
die ouderdom en verweef sy dit ook met mitologiese verwysings na Eos en Tithonos.
Dit is juis hierdie merkwaardige vonds wat my aandag gefokus het op die temas van
ouderdom, verganklikheid, aftakeling en sterflikheid in die Griekse letterkunde. Die
ontdekking van ʼn nuwe fragment Griekse poësie regverdig na myns insiens
navorsing oor hierdie genre en dus ook die temas wat daarin voorkom. In hierdie
tesis word die volgende navorsingsprobleem ondersoek: Wat is die siening van
ouderdom, verganklikheid, aftakeling en sterflikheid wat na vore kom in ʼn tematiese
ondersoek van die vroeë Griekse digkuns? My bespreking sluit werke deur Sappho,
Anakreon, Ibukos, Mimnermos, Turtaios van Sparta, Solon van Athene, Theognis,
Archilochos en Semonides van Amorgos in.
In hierdie tesis is daar bevind dat die siening van die ouderdom in die vroeë Griekse
digkuns oorwegend negatief is. Die tesis bewys die hipotese dat die siening van
ouderdom, verganklikheid, aftakeling en sterflikheid wat na vore kom in ʼn tematiese
ondersoek van die vroeë Griekse digkuns ooreenstem met die negatiewe siening oor
hierdie aspekte wat in ander letterkundige genres van die Griekse kanon blyk.
Daar is in die meeste gevalle ʼn sterk verbintenis tussen die ouderdom en die erotiek
en hoe eersgenoemde die tweede kortwiek. Dikwels tref ons op ʼn universele vlak ʼn
uiting van die menslike verset teen die ouderdom en die verlies van liefde in die
fragmente aan. Die bejaarde liggaam word nie meer as ʼn erotiese voorwerp gesien
nie. Dit het ook ernstige implikasies vir die sosiale omstandighede van die bejaardes.
Die gebruik van die eerstepersoonspreker in die vroeë Griekse digkuns onderstreep
tegelyk die rou, persoonlike belewenis van die ouderdom sowel as die universele
ervaring daarvan. Die eerstepersoonsmeervoud in sekere gevalle beklemtoon die
kollektiewe houding en ervaring van die ouerwordende mens.
Die ouderdom word deur die vroeë Griekse digters as πόλιος (gryskop; grou),
ὀδυνηρός (pynlik), ἀργαλέος (verderflik), κακός (boos), ἄμορφος (lelik), οὐλόμενος
(vervloek) en ἄζηλος (onbenydenswaardig) uitgekryt. Die epiteta en byvoeglike
bepalings wat in die bespreekte kortpoësie aangetref word, vorm ʼn konseptuele
neksus van die ouderdom wat amper gelykmatig negatief is. Behalwe vir die
uitsondering van Turtaios en miskien Solon, is die meeste digters se houding teenoor
die ouderdom en bejaardes daardie van afkeer, verwyt, veragting en ongeneentheid.
In dié fragmente word die ouderdom geskets as die drumpel tot die dood.
Ouderdom is op sigself ʼn soort dood, ʼn lewende dood.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86693 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Erasmus, Alecia |
| Contributors | Thom, J. C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient studies. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | x, 176 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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