Ancient Greek Letter Writing: A Cultural History (600 BC- 150 BC)

Author:   Paola Ceccarelli (Fellow in Classics, Newnham College, University of Cambridge)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
ISBN:  

9780199675593


Pages:   464
Publication Date:   24 October 2013
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   To order   Availability explained
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Ancient Greek Letter Writing: A Cultural History (600 BC- 150 BC)


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Overview

In this volume, Ceccarelli offers a history of the development of letter writing in ancient Greece from the archaic to the early Hellenistic period. Highlighting the specificity of letter-writing, as opposed to other forms of communication and writing, the volume looks at documentary letters, but also traces the role of embedded letters in the texts of the ancient historians, in drama, and in the speeches of the orators. While a letter is in itself the transcription of an oral message and, as such, can be either truthful or deceitful, letters acquired negative connotations in the fifth century, especially when used for transactions concerning the public and not the private sphere. Viewed as the instrument of tyrants or near eastern kings, these negative connotations were evident especially in Athens where comedy and tragedy testified to an underlying concern with epistolary communication. In other areas of the Greek world, such as Sparta or Crete, the letter may have been seen as an unproblematic instrument for managing public policies, with inscriptions documenting the official use of letters not only by the Hellenistic kings, but also by some poleis.

Full Product Details

Author:   Paola Ceccarelli (Fellow in Classics, Newnham College, University of Cambridge)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
Imprint:   Oxford University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 16.30cm , Height: 3.20cm , Length: 24.00cm
Weight:   0.838kg
ISBN:  

9780199675593


ISBN 10:   0199675597
Pages:   464
Publication Date:   24 October 2013
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order   Availability explained
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations 1: Ancient Greek Letters: An Introduction Part I: Greek Beginnings: Writing and Letter Writing, Evidence and Representation 2: Writing and Letter Writing: The Evidence 3: Writing and Letter Writing: Representations 4: When a Letter and Why? Narrative Strategies in the Ancient Historians Part II: Letter-Writing and the Polis 5: Writing and Letter-Writing on the Athenian Dramatic Stage 6: Letters on the Legal and Political Stage 7: Royal Letters and City Decrees: the Greek Cities and Epistolary Writing 8: Epilogue Appendix I Archaic and Classical Documentary Letters Appendix II Some ancient texts on the invention of writing Appendix III Official Letters sent by Greek Poleis or Koina and Inscribed on Stone Bibliography Index

Reviews

this book will henceforth be crucial for all research on epistolary writing in the Greek world, and for many studies of letters in contemporary non-Greek cultures and in the Roman Empire. Owen Hodkinson, SHARP News (Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing)


this book will henceforth be crucial for all research on epistolary writing in the Greek world, and for many studies of letters in contemporary non-Greek cultures and in the Roman Empire. Owen Hodkinson, SHARP News (Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing) with her careful analysis of the extant material Ceccarelli admirably accomplishes her goal of studying long-distance communication in the Greek world. Her book not only provides a thorough examination of the origins, use and development of letter writing in the Greek world. It also offers a deep analysis of the primary and secondary sources in a rigorous but accessible manner, which makes it an indispensable tool for anyone interested in ancient Greek letters. Elena Martin Gonzalez, The Classical Journal Online Undoubtedly this book represents a useful complement to studies that deal with the later periods of Greek epistolography. Bruno Marien, LAntiquite Classique


this book will henceforth be crucial for all research on epistolary writing in the Greek world, and for many studies of letters in contemporary non-Greek cultures and in the Roman Empire. Owen Hodkinson, SHARP News (Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing) with her careful analysis of the extant material Ceccarelli admirably accomplishes her goal of studying long-distance communication in the Greek world. Her book not only provides a thorough examination of the origins, use and development of letter writing in the Greek world. It also offers a deep analysis of the primary and secondary sources in a rigorous but accessible manner, which makes it an indispensable tool for anyone interested in ancient Greek letters. Elena Martin Gonzalez, The Classical Journal Online


Author Information

Paola Ceccarelli is Fellow in Classics at Newnham College, University of Cambridge. Her research interests range from ancient dance and theatre to ancient historiography and epistolary writing.

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