Ancient Greece Research Articles

Le dilemme d’Agamemnon face au sacrifice dans Iphigénie à Aulis d’Euripide

Abstract. Serving his people and satisfying the divinity: that was Agamemnon's weighty mission. In ancient Greece, it was the moral duty of all mortals to submit to divine power, and to use their power to unite mankind with the gods. Euripides seized the opportunity to reveal the psychotraumatic dimension of this duty through theatrical means

Towards Metaclinical Medicine - The Non-Human Physician as Our Destiny.

Medicine, and human healing more generally, have been constantly evolving for millennia as part of humanity's persistent efforts to heal its injuries and diseases, to maintain wellbeing, and to delay the inevitable: death. The philosophy underlying medicine has always been closely intertwined with the prevailing ideas in each historical period. Prejudices, religious beliefs, even magical herbs, as well as rational thought and advanced sciences, make up the fabric of over 2,000 years of western medicine. Hippocrates (460-377 BC), a physician from ancient Greece, is considered the father of western medicine. Almost 2,000 years later, Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), by being the first to explore anatomical dissections of humans, significantly challenged the views of Galen, thus ushering in modern medicine, which, by the mid-19th century, had evolved into clinical medicine, a holistic approach that remains relevant today. The rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and more broadly in digital health, are shifting clinical medicine towards a new perspective, that of metaclinical medicine, where human doctors will need to work closely with non-human physicians, delegating a significant part of their traditional role in diagnosis and treatment. This article outlines the existing realities regarding the role of artificial intelligence in diagnosing various diseases, and speculates on the collaboration between human and non-human physicians in the metaclinical era.

The Landscape Design Proposal for the New Archeological Museum of Cyprus

This paper deals with the landscape design strategy that was followed in the proposal that was submitted to the International Architecture Competition of the New Archaeological Museum of Cyprus. The aim of this document is to analyze how landscape and architecture interact. In the author’s design proposal for the New Archaeological Museum of Cyprus, the various “gardens” integrated into the Landscape are analyzed. The concept of landscape design is related to the sacredness of trees to certain gods in Ancient Greece and Greek Mythology. The proposal addresses the symbolic meaning of trees and water. The design triggered the creation of several “gardens”: the “Sacred Garden”, the “Stone Garden”, the “Olive Garden”, the “Sacred Grove”, and the “Public Garden”, combining their soft landscapes with the hard landscape of the “Plaza” and the “Courtyard”. Each figure in the garden has a symbolic meaning that allows for a dialogue between landscape and architectural design. In addition, the findings provide valuable insights into the historical and spiritual value of landscape elements (plants, water) that are also thermal regulators for sustainable urban planning. The research results may be of value to landscape architects, architects, and landscape designers in the Mediterranean region.

The heritage of Tyneham as a living memorial: between complex historical narratives and suggestive performing traditions

Tyneham was a farming and fishing village in Dorset, with a history extending over nine centuries, and human habitation dating back 2,500 years. However, in 1943 the village, and its wider surrounding area, was transformed after being requisitioned to serve as a training ground for tank soldiers during the Second World War. Consequently, Tyenham’s landscape evolved, but the remaining structures still describe the life of this pre-industrial community. While the village is now a major tourist destination attracting thousands of visitors, it remains within a live tank-firing range. Tyneham is a living memorial, relevant to current discourses of heritage preservation and community engagement. To reveal its dynamic nature a mixed methodology was used: literature and historic archives’ review, observations by visitors, the Tyneham village group posts review and students’ engagement to understand the value of Tyneham as a palimpsest of identity, conflict, memory and universal narratives – personal, communal and imagined. The historic transformation of the site’s ownership and its shifting narratives sometimes strongly contrast with each other. At present, the site is owned by the military but displayed narratives exclude its perspective. Can inclusive performing practices transform the site from a place of conflict to a place of reconciliation and education? Parallels with the historic performative traditions of ancient Greece and Japanese Noh theatre are noted to suggest a dynamic heritage space. This article highlights how a contested site could become a living memorial by encouraging visitors’ imaginations to engage in aspects of a story that are constantly being reinvented.

A unified understanding of the human mind — a neuroethical perspective

Abstract This article, titled “A Unified Understanding of the Human Mind - A Neuroethical Perspective,” examines the evolution of the concept of the human mind in Western thought and its integration with neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and relational dimensions. The author explores how the understanding of the mind has changed over time, influenced by shifts in philosophical paradigms, scientific advancements, and societal perspectives. The article traces the historical development of the mind’s concept, starting from ancient Greece, through influential thinkers like Plato and René Descartes, and progressing to contemporary perspectives. It highlights various philosophical and scientific approaches, including structuralism, functionalism, empiricism, and associationism, which have shaped our understanding of the mind. The article also delves into contemporary integration, where advancements in neuroimaging and the rise of holistic approaches offer a more nuanced understanding of the human mind. The author emphasizes the importance of the relational dimension and the interconnectedness of mental processes, the brain, and the external environment. This integrated perspective can benefit psychiatric treatment and psychological assessments by fostering a holistic approach to mental health. In conclusion, the article advocates for a multidimensional perspective that bridges subjective and objective aspects of human experience, offering promise for theoretical knowledge and practical applications in psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience.

Resurecția Antigonei

It is said that some works never die, through their meanings and validity, through the actuality of there depiction of a humanity which remains, now and always, the same. If so, then Antigone is one of the most suitable choices. Both through the general human attitude that the paradigmatic conflict of the tragic depicts – where “both sides of the opposition, considered for themselves, are justified, while on the other hand each of them can realize the true positive content of the goal and its character only by denying and harming the other side”, as Hegel states in Lectures on Aesthetics -, as well as by the necessity of an answer to a problem beyond the artistic field, in our very current existence: namely, war. From this point of view, re-reading Antigone in the key of a contemporary perspective could give us the opportunity to confirm the values and actuality of the ancient Greek dramatist. But not only that. In a way it is like opening a Pandora’s Box, one originating in ancient Greece. Besides the fact that it had laid the foundations for the debate about the morality of the city and the individual`s “despair” of ethical origin, it seems that it also deals in an exhaustive manner with the topic and implications of war – a radical event of the city, which enshrines a very specific relationship in history, both at individual and at state levels, and which arises from the discursive mediation of a narrative that is also our object of study.

The surgical case reports of Hippocrates of Cos. Medical Practice in Ancient Greece

Which theoretical and practical competences do the surgical case histories of the Hippocratic Corpus convey? The 431 Hippocratic case histories have been studied for reports and communication on diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of single persons and groups of patients suffering from surgical diseases. Within the 7 books of the Hippocratic "Epidemics", a total of 18 patients with general and visceral surgical diseases are described. The main signs of the disorders were fever, pain, looseness, constipation, colic, swelling and bleeding, the most common affections abscesses, ruptures, ulcers and necroses. In addition, breast cancer can be reliably identified. Seven men are facing six women. Moreover, four children and one group are described. The patients' information about the course of their disease is sparse. Diagnostics were limited to inspection and palpation. In many cases, the treating physician confined to conservative measures. Among the surgical interventions incision, cauterization and bloodletting dominated. 11 of 18 patients succumbed to their diseases. The Hippocratic doctor diagnosed and treated a limited number of general and visceral surgical diseases. The symptoms of inflammation and traumatic lesions are narrated in detail. The observer describes the bloody secretion in two women with breast cancer as briefly as impressively. In two thirds of the cases, neither conservative measures alone nor in combination with invasive treatment led to enduring success. Complete recovery is reported of only three persons. The unfavourable balance of treatment for the involved physicians is an important reason for the confidence of scientists in the credibility of the Hippocratic case histories.

Pengaruh Filsafat Hukum Terhadap Dinamika Pembentukan Hukum Modern

Legal philosophy plays an important role in bridging the relationship between law, society, and changing times. Rooted in the principle of "ubi societas, ibi ius" which emphasizes that law and society are complementary entities, this study explores the dynamics of legal philosophy in the digital era. Normative research methods with philosophical and conceptual approaches are used to explore how basic values such as justice, human rights, and utilitarianism are adapted in the modern legal system. The digital era presents new challenges, such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital justice. Legal philosophy is expected to be able to develop a new conceptual framework to adapt to technological realities, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in law enforcement. In addition, the role of legal philosophy is also seen in the development of relevant regulations, such as the protection of personal data and electronic transactions, to answer the needs of the digital era society. The history of legal philosophy shows a significant evolution of thought from ancient Greece to the modern era, which continues to be relevant in supporting the legitimacy of law and justice. In this era, legal philosophy combines ethics with technology to ensure the inclusivity, transparency, and sustainability of the legal system. This study highlights the importance of technology integration in legal education, improving digital regulations, and innovation of the justice system to maintain access to justice amidst social change.

'Animals Continue to Gather': Animality and the Desubjectification of Feminine Desire in Jennifer's Body

This article examines the depiction of interspecies kinship in the 2009 queer horror-comedy film Jennifer's Body through analysis of the 2007 film script. The article centers on scenes of women and various species of non-human animals gathering to form an ‘interspecies pack’. Through these scenes, Jennifer's Body taps into a significant history of cultural association between feminine desire and interspecies kinship. From the maenads of ancient Greece to the witches of early-modern Europe, to the Disney princesses of the USA, the interspecies pack functions as a powerful evocation of feminine desire within the dominant Western imaginary. This analysis aims to develop frameworks for reading depictions of kinship between women and non-human animals outside the interpretive confines of analogy. This work thereby attends to Patricia MacCormack's ethical injunction to feminist analysis to think ‘the animal’ beyond its use as anthropomorphic representation (2005). The article takes Barbara Creed's psychoanalysis of ‘the monstrous-feminine' as a point of departure and utilizes Deleuze and Guattari's theorization of the pack (Deleuze and Guattari, 1987, 26-38; 239-250). The interspecies pack is read as a model for desire that decenters the human(ist) subject. The depiction of women as participants within interspecies packs therefore opens up liberatory possibilities for encountering feminine desire outside its representation as the desire of a human subject. To examine how participation within the interspecies pack decomposes the human(ist) subject, this article focuses on three ways the pack functions. Firstly, as the production of (interspecies and queer) relations outside of naturalized kinship structures. Secondly, as the presence of desire outside of human subjectivity. Thirdly, as the envelopment of the human subject within a metamorphic, fluid dimension of matter that cuts across species.

Biomechanical Insights in Ancient Greek Combat Sports: A Static Analysis of Selected Pottery Depictions

Background: Though ancient Greece preserves many pictures of combat sports, there is limited research in terms of biomechanical analysis of their sports. This research aimed to investigate the Pankration postures of ancient Greek athletics, expecting to bridge the gap between historical sports practices and contemporary biomechanical applications. Methods: This study employed computer vision (OpenPose) to analyze two images, one as readiness and another as kicking postures, from ancient Greek Pankration by constructing a static multi-segmental model. Using Newton’s Laws, the models simulated the postures as presented in historical depictions, estimated joint forces and moments, and calculated weight distribution and ground reaction forces for these postures. Results: For the readiness posture, it was found that the right hind leg experienced significant forces, with the highest moment at the knee joint, while the ankle and hip joints showed similar slightly lower moments. The front leg encountered lower forces and moments. For the kick posture, the supporting leg experienced the highest moment at the knee, while the kicking leg showed minimal moments at the ankle, knee, and hip. Conclusions: The static analysis provided quantitative estimates of joint forces and moments in the depicted Pankration postures, suggesting that these postures were biomechanically effective for their intended functions in combat. While the analysis cannot confirm whether ancient athletes deliberately applied biomechanical principles, the results highlight the potential of biomechanical modeling to enhance our understanding of ancient sports practices. The research demonstrates the possible benefits of integrating static analysis with historical elements to study the physical demands and techniques of ancient combat sports.

About the evolution of the concept of «prisoner of war» and the rules of treatment of prisoners of war: a historical and legal research

The article examines the issues related to the historical evolution of the concept of «prisoner of war» and the rules of detention, treatment and internment of such persons. It is stated that the precedent of discrepancies between legal acts providing for legal regulation of the status of prisoners of war is retrospective. The author analyses the customs of the ancient world and early civilisations for compliance with moral norms in the context of treatment of prisoners of war. Early states did not actually know what a system of «humane» treatment of prisoners of war was, but such countries and states as Ancient Greece and India were the driving force for fundamental changes in the vector of humane treatment of persons held in captivity. Using the method of comparative legal analysis, the author concludes that the periods of the Middle Ages and Modern times in terms of treatment of prisoners of war have both a close correlation and direct inconsistency. The author identifies the legislative acts that served as the basis for the regulatory settlement of the problem, such as the Special Prisoners’ Decree or the Hague Convention of 1899. The author analyses the historical changes in international approaches to understanding the concept of «prisoner of war» and the rules for the treatment of such persons from early armed conflicts to modern norms of international humanitarian law. Attention is drawn to the national framework of Ukrainian legislation in the context of the customs of Kyivan Rus, the late Middle Ages, the Ukrainian SSR and the period of independence. The treatment of prisoners of war on the territory of Ukraine has always been historically consistent with moral values, even those which can be compared with modern international humanitarian law. The author concludes that the conflict between theory, legislation and practice has been present throughout human history due to the destructive nature of war and hostilities. The author emphasises the need to find new practical approaches to improve the level of legal regulation of the status of prisoners of war in international humanitarian law and national legislation of Ukraine (in particular, criminal procedure law).

Origin and development of the values of the European Union

The article analyzes the emergence of European values in the concepts of philosophers of Ancient Greece and state thinkers of Ancient Rome. The author shows their further development under the influence of Christianity, social church doctrine, ideas of German classical philosophers, thinkers of the Enlightenment, and founders of the concept of natural law.The significance of the first European documents on the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, in particular the Magna Charta of 1215, the Habeas Corpus of 1679, the English Bill of Rights of 1689, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, the first constitutions in Europe, and the US Constitution (1787) are studied. The study of the genesis of the values on which the EU is based today takes into account the development of the Ukrainian state and law and their impact on this process, in particular the establishment of Greek city-states in the Southern Black Sea region, the introduction of Christianity in Kyivan Rus. The significance of the documents and treaties of Kyivan Rus and the Constitution of Pylyp Orlyk (1710) in terms of their compliance with the values of the EU and their influence on their formation is clarified. Particular attention is paid to the evolution of EU values after the conclusion of the 1950 Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms within the framework of the Council of Europe and the creation of the European Communities. The author analyzes the texts of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (1951), the Treaty on the European Economic Community (1957), and the Single European Act (1986).The transformation of EU values and their legal nature from the Draft Treaty on a Constitution for Europe (2003) to the Charter of Fundamental Rights (2001), which became part of the Lisbon Treaty (2009), is studied in more detail. Special attention is paid to the evolution of legal terminology in EU law, when the term «principles» is still used in the text of the Treaty of Amsterdam, and the term «values» is used in the text of the Treaty of Lisbon. The author shows how values developed from philosophical, concepts, under the influence of religious and political teachings, supplemented and transformed in EU law from legal principles to values. In the final part of the article, conclusions are formulated.

Stoic Management and Philosophy: Resilience and Stress Management in the Workplace

This research examines the relationship between the principles of Stoic philosophy and their application in a management context, specifically in terms of resilience and stress management in the workplace. Stoic philosophy, which flourished in Ancient Greece and Rome, offers a view of life that can help individuals face life's challenges with poise and wisdom. Using the literature review research method, this article analyzes various studies and theories that link Stoic teachings to modern management, as well as how Stoic principles can be applied to increase mental resilience, reduce stress, and promote well-being in the workplace. This research aims to provide insight into the relevance of Stoic philosophy in improving managerial effectiveness and workers' psychological well-being

A political economy perspective of the constitution of ancient Sparta: conflict resolution, credibility, and stability

AbstractUniquely in Ancient Greece the constitution of Sparta provided for two kings from different dynasties reigning simultaneously, an aristocratic upper house, an annually elected board of overseers, an assembly, and a society of warriors to rule over an enslaved neighbouring population. It contributed to Sparta’s elevation to a great power and lasted almost unaltered for five hundred years until the middle of the third century BCE. The paper argues that the intricate constitutional order resolved internal conflicts about income distribution that had plagued Sparta in her early days. The dual kingship was a power sharing arrangement to avoid intra-elite fighting. Constraints on royal power, military organization and conquest of foreign lands secured redistribution to the Spartan poor solving inter-group conflict between the rich and the poor. The checks and balances provided by the constitution served to credibly commit the elite to the settlements. However, the rigidity of the constitution ossified Sparta’s society who could not respond to changing circumstances.

Tracing metallurgical links and silver provenance in Balkan coinage (5th -1st centuries BCE)

Local types of coinage testify to the emerging use of silver in the Balkan interior, possibly related to abundant ore deposits in the region. Here, we present Pb isotope data for silver coins minted by local tribes and settlements (anepigraphic coins attributed to the Derrones/Laeaei, Damastion, Pelagia, Kings of Paeonia) between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. For comparison, we analysed coinage of the potential Greek emporia Dyrrhachium and Apollonia for their main element and Pb-Ag isotope compositions. Statistical data evaluation demonstrates close material connections between coins from the Balkan interior and identify a predominantly local raw material provenance. The majority of Damastion’s issues defines a tight cluster fitting Strabo’s (VII.7.8) account that the settlement possessed nearby silver mines in the Balkan interior. Novobërdë/Novo Brdo (Kosovo) can be plausibly hypothesised among the available reference data to have been one of the main ore districts supplying the mint. Mixing is evident for coins from the Kings of Paeonia and coinage attributed to the Derrones/Laeaei. Virtually identical end-members suggest that Paeonian regal coinage recycled tribal issues with contribution of metal obtained from Damastion’s hypothesised mines. Contemporaneous coinage struck by Dyrrhachium as well as end-members calculated for Thasos and the Macedon kingdom (Albarede et al. in Bullion mixtures in silver coinage from ancient Greece and Egypt, J Archaeol Sci 162:105918, 2024a) signal metal sourced from the Balkans, presumably the Macedonian/Paeonian border area. Comparison of data from Greek city-states and coinage issued by Apollonia and Dyrrhachium for the Romans demonstrates a change in the type and origin of raw materials and bullion composition, indicating a shift in monetary customs and possibly metal production technology.

A Comparison of the Extensibility of Marriage in Ancient Greek and Chinese Taoist Traditions

Abstract: In ancient societies, people experienced different wedding rituals under Chinese Taoist culture and in ancient Greece. Women of various social backgrounds faced distinctive treatment. Comparing two kinds of cultural settings, this paper will analyze how these distinct married conventions manifest the past broader societal perspectives and morality towards power dynamics, involving rules, status, and rituals for couples. In addition, this research purposely focuses on their societal structures and gender roles, promoting gender equality and diminishing patriarchal for future development. In ancient Greek society, particularly in Athens and Sparta, this paper reveals that marriage was an important process that reflected family ties and societal expectations, leading to limited rights for women. In contrast, Chinese Taoism approached marriage more practically, this culture emphasized the balance of yin and yang and announced a more egalitarian perspective with some limitations. Utilizing a comparative analysis method, the study gathers insights into the marriage customs of both civilizations. This investigation illuminates the evolution of marital norms and encourages contemporary discussions about relationships and gender roles.

On the issue of impact of income inequality on the socio-economic development of territories

The issues of economic inequality and justice were considered in the works of the philosophers of Ancient Greece. Over time, the problem of income inequality has not lost its relevance, which is confirmed by domestic and foreign studies. Until 2015, the capital of the Russian Federation had the highest value of the Gini index, which indicates a high degree of inequality in income distribution in the territory of this subject. Over time, the situation has changed, in particular, by increasing the incomes of the least well-off groups of the population, providing them with subsidies and payments. The purpose of the study is to analyse to what extent these changes have an impact on the socio-economic development of the region. With the help of econometric calculations, the degree of dependence between the equity index and the value of the gross regional product per capita has been determined. It is revealed that there is an inverse relationship between the considered indicators, that is, a reduction in income inequality has an impact on the growth of regional production. The high value of the coefficient of determination indicates the high quality of the constructed model. The possibility of using the simulation results in practice is confirmed by calculations of the average approximation error and the Fisher criterion.

The aporetic dialogues of Modena on gender differences: Is it all about testosterone? EPISODE I: CRIME.

This is the first episode of a series of four discussions on the differences between males and females, in apparently non-andrological fields. You will read the transcript of discussions that actually took place at the Endocrinology Unit in Modena, Italy, in the form of the aporetic dialogues of ancient Greece. In this episode, the role of testosterone in gender differences in criminal behavior will be explored. The discussants were divided into two groups: group 1, which supports the thesis of a predominant role of testosterone, and group 2, which opposes it. The first group affirmed that both endogenous testosterone and anabolic-androgenic steroids could trigger aggressive and criminal behavior, regardless of predisposition to psychiatric disease or sociocultural background. The second group asserted the multifactorial genesis of aggressive and criminal behavior, citing other hormonal and non-hormonal factors, such as neurotransmitters, cortisol, and sociological and psychological aspects. In the end, a forensic physician, acting as a referee, tried to resolve the aporia: are the two theories equivalent or one is superior?

The role of λαϊκή αγορά (“street market”) in modern greek towns

The article discusses the phenomenon of “people’s market” in contemporary Greek cities and towns. Historically, the market in Greece has played an important role not only as a place of trade, but also as a concentration of social and political life. The word αγορά, derived from the ancient Greek verb ἀγορεύω (“to speak publicly”), meant not only a market square but also people’s assembly in Ancient Greece. In modern society, the “people’s market” has almost lost its political function. From a commercial point of view, it should have been replaced by mega-stores, supermarkets, and online commerce, especially during the covid pandemic. However, today in Greece this phenomenon does not lose its relevance and even acquires new functions. In a large city, the “people’s market” is embedded in a new ideology of environmental friendliness of the goods for sale and in the discourse related to the identity of the Modern Greek. In addition, a street market in a city retains the archaic functions of socializing residents, exchanging information, and being a barometer of political sentiment. For rural residents, λαϊκή αγορά is an opportunity to sell an agricultural product and exchange information and contact with the urban environment. Internationally, outside Greece, the Greek folk market is sometimes positioned as a distinct brand.

The development of the water supply on the Peloponnese in Greco-Roman times

It has long been clear that the water supply in ancient Greece was transformed over time, with the relative number of various types of water sources varying in time and space. Yet, what patterns this produced has never been explored, and the degree to which trends suggested by local or qualitative studies are representative for larger areas and patterns is unknown. The root of this uncertainty lies largely in the difficulty assembling an extensive and representative material beyond individual sites or cities. Following this, the present article has two aims. The first is to test and evaluate a method for collecting an extensive and (more) representative material for the investigation of the water supply in ancient Greece on a regional scale, based on a systematic review of the material from the Peloponnese published in Archaeological Reports 1887–2012. The second aim is to discuss how the collected data can be used to explore the transformations of the water supply systems on the Peloponnese in the period 900 BC–AD 300. Together the results are intended to develop further the WaterWorks project, which aims to create a better understanding of the development of the ancient water supply. The method produced a considerably better dataset than previously available. The dataset, recorded in an Access database, suggests that some hitherto acknowledged trends are probably valid for larger areas while others are less prominent than previously believed. However, in the end, the dataset is too limited to allow firm conclusions concerning how, and to a larger degree why, the water supply system was transformed over time. The dataset will be made publicly accessible in an open access repository.