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.
Pattoni, M. P., Democratic Paideia in Aeschylus' Suppliants, <<Polis. The Journal for Ancient Greek Political Thought>>, 2017; (34): 251-272. [doi:10.1163/20512996-12340126] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/110081]
Democratic Paideia in Aeschylus' Suppliants
Pattoni, Maria Pia
2017
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.
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