Research Catalog

The poetics of victory in the Greek West epinician, oral tradition, and the Deinomenid empire

Title
The poetics of victory in the Greek West [electronic resource] : epinician, oral tradition, and the Deinomenid empire / Nigel Nicholson.
Author
Nicholson, Nigel James.
Publication
New York : Oxford University Press, [2016]

Available Online

  • Available from home with a valid library card
  • Available onsite at NYPL

Details

Description
1 online resource (xviii, 353 pages) : illustrations.
Summary
"The Poetics of Victory in the Greek West examines the relationship between epinician and the heroizing narratives about athletes, or 'hero-athlete narratives,' that circulated orally in Sicily and Italy in the late archaic and early classical period. Drawing on the colorful stories told about athletes in later sources, the fragments of Simonides, and the surviving odes of Pindar and Bacchylides, it argues that epinician was formed in opposition to orally transmitted narratives and that these two forms--epinician and the hero-athlete narrative--promoted opposed political visions, with epinician promoting the Deinomenid empire and its structures and the hero-athlete narrative opposing Deinomenid rule. Combining an intimate knowledge of the material culture of the Greek West with an innovative use of available source material, The Poetics of Victory in the Greek West exposes the rich intersections between athletics and politics in Sicily and Italy, offering a new and compelling account of Deinomenid self-promotion and of the varied and complex communities that operated under the Deinomenids' control or within their shadow. Further, by establishing models of production and interpretation for the orally transmitted narratives and bringing them into dialogue with epinician, The Poetics of Victory in the Greek West reveals much about epinician as a form, how it developed in the Greek West, what meanings it already carried, and what meanings it accrued as it was appropriated by Hieron the second Deinomenid ruler"--
Series Statement
Greeks overseas
Uniform Title
Poetics of victory in the Greek West (Online)
Alternative Title
Poetics of victory in the Greek West (Online)
Subject
  • Odes, Greek > History and criticism
  • Narrative poetry, Greek > History and criticism
  • Athletes in literature
  • Heroes in literature
  • Oral tradition > Italy > Sicily > History > To 1500
  • Oral tradition > Italy, Southern > History > To 1500
  • Athletics > Political aspects > History > Italy > Sicily > To 1500
  • Athletics > Political aspects > History > Italy, Southern > To 1500
  • Syracuse (Italy) > Kings and rulers > History
  • Sicily (Italy) > History > To 800
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access (note)
  • Access restricted to authorized users.
LCCN
2015008771
OCLC
ssj0001553017
Author
Nicholson, Nigel James.
Title
The poetics of victory in the Greek West [electronic resource] : epinician, oral tradition, and the Deinomenid empire / Nigel Nicholson.
Imprint
New York : Oxford University Press, [2016]
Series
Greeks overseas
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access
Access restricted to authorized users.
Connect to:
Available from home with a valid library card
Available onsite at NYPL
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