Abstract
This paper delves into the question of the potential addresses of ancient Greek novels. After shedding some light on the matter (based on ancient sources which account for the sociocultural underpinnings of the new genre), a classification is established in an attempt to provide a deeper understanding of alleged homogeneity in readership. The entire bibliography demonstrates a discontinuation in the conception prevalent decades ago, which, based on subjective and anachronistic interpretations, would find reinforcement in the silence of ancient sources. To make matters more intricate, the surviving information regarding how the novel was viewed in ancient times appears not to point to a prestigious status thereof. All things considered, should these presumptions alone lead us to consider the novel as a low-quality genre in terms of literary and stylistic standards? Ancient Greek novel might well be one of those cases in which literary or cultural creations have called for reassessment and revaluation several centuries following their conception.
Highlights
This paper explores the issue of who might have been the potential addressees of ancient Greek novels
Based on subjective and anachronistic interpretations ―and largely fueled by the troubling silence found in most ancient sources― the ancient Greek novel has a consistent history of being regarded as a minor genre
Prior assumptions which tended to brand novels as a “minor genre” are definitely no longer the norm
Summary
Several sociocultural changes are mentioned in connection with the emergence of the Hellenic period. The values of social cohesion and land attachment (typically found in Athens’ traditional myths of autochthony) are gradually abandoned by individuals who appear to undergo a de-politicization process (in the etymological sense of the term) ―more and more, the πατρίς or ‘homeland’ is no longer related to the birthplace, but rather to one’s temporary location.. The values of social cohesion and land attachment (typically found in Athens’ traditional myths of autochthony) are gradually abandoned by individuals who appear to undergo a de-politicization process (in the etymological sense of the term) ―more and more, the πατρίς or ‘homeland’ is no longer related to the birthplace, but rather to one’s temporary location.2 Needless to say, such new situation permeates the novels by means of a number of allegorical stereotypes which are either situational or associated with a particular character in the plot. As will be covered later on, taxonomizing the novels in subgenres reveals several discrepancies when it comes to identifying a potential readership for each of those subgenres
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