Vassiliki Panoussi
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780199644094
- eISBN:
- 9780191745010
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199644094.003.0020
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Literary Studies: Classical, Early, and Medieval
This chapter examines the representation of young women’s rituals in Statius’ Achilleid. The poem shows female ritual activity (expressed through Bacchic rites, choral dancing, and collective worship ...
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This chapter examines the representation of young women’s rituals in Statius’ Achilleid. The poem shows female ritual activity (expressed through Bacchic rites, choral dancing, and collective worship of Pallas) as bestowing the young women of Scyros with a power that appears capable of containing (or at least delaying) the manifestation of Achilles’ masculinity. The girls’ agency is indicated in three ways: the power of their beauty and sexuality to attract and potentially dominate men; their association with Amazons; and their performance of Bacchic rituals. An analysis of these narrative strategies reveals that Statius invests typical motifs associated with women with an exceptional power that renders the young women capable of posing a threat to the full articulation of masculinity.Less
This chapter examines the representation of young women’s rituals in Statius’ Achilleid. The poem shows female ritual activity (expressed through Bacchic rites, choral dancing, and collective worship of Pallas) as bestowing the young women of Scyros with a power that appears capable of containing (or at least delaying) the manifestation of Achilles’ masculinity. The girls’ agency is indicated in three ways: the power of their beauty and sexuality to attract and potentially dominate men; their association with Amazons; and their performance of Bacchic rituals. An analysis of these narrative strategies reveals that Statius invests typical motifs associated with women with an exceptional power that renders the young women capable of posing a threat to the full articulation of masculinity.
S. C. Humphreys
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- January 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780198788249
- eISBN:
- 9780191830204
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198788249.003.0010
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, European History: BCE to 500CE
This chapter discusses rituals as occasions for kin to gather together, specifically those with a marked social setting or socio-legal implications: these include the amphidromia, dekate, meion, ...
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This chapter discusses rituals as occasions for kin to gather together, specifically those with a marked social setting or socio-legal implications: these include the amphidromia, dekate, meion, choes, other ritual roles for male and female adolescents, koureion, betrothal, wedding, aphaeresis, divorce, and will making.Less
This chapter discusses rituals as occasions for kin to gather together, specifically those with a marked social setting or socio-legal implications: these include the amphidromia, dekate, meion, choes, other ritual roles for male and female adolescents, koureion, betrothal, wedding, aphaeresis, divorce, and will making.
