1st Edition

Fathers and Sons in Athens Ideology and Society in the Era of the Peloponnesian War

By Barry Strauss Copyright 1993
    300 Pages
    by Routledge

    304 Pages
    by Routledge

    As history's first democracy, classical Athens invited political discourse. The Athenians, however could not completely separate the politicals from the private sphere; indeed father-son conflict, from patricide to murdering one's son, was a major public as well as a private theme. In a fascinating historical reappraisal, the author explores the consequences, for Athens and us, of the powerful influence of familial ideology on politics.

    Preface; 1. Introduction: Solidarity or Conflict? 2. Intellectual Paternity, Appendix A: Patrios and Pater 3. Solidarity: Proud Fathers Obedient Sons 4. Conflict: The Sons of Theseus 5. The Hour of the Son, ca. 450-415 B.C. 6. The Return of the Father, 413-399 B.C.; Conclusion; Bibliography

    Biography

    Barry Strauss

    `The theoretical sophistication of this and subsequent publications placed him in the first rank of those who have sought to inform and invigorate political narrative through cultural anthropology, mentalite, and social history. Fathers and Sons in Athens will confirm this standing.' - Classical Review

    `Professor Strauss's book has many useful notes and suggestions for further reading, and may be recommended as a relatively jargon-free introduction to the family relationships of the ancient Greeks.' - Greek Gazette