Oral tradition and written record in classical Athens /
Thomas, Rosalind, 1959-
Oral tradition and written record in classical Athens / Rosalind Thomas. - Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1991. - 321 p. ; 23 cm. - Cambridge studies in oral and literate culture
Revision of thesis (doctoral) - London University, 1986.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
"Despite its written literature, ancient Greece was in many ways an oral society. This is the first serious attempt to study the implications of this view. Dr Thomas stresses the coexistence of literacy and oral tradition in Greece and examines their interaction. Concentrating on the plentiful evidence from Classical Athens, she shows how the use of writing developed only gradually and under the influence of the previous oral communication. Drawing on anthropological discussion, the author isolates different types of Athenian oral tradition, building up a picture of Athens' traditions about its past and examining why they changed and disappeared. This study provides crucial insights into the methods and achievements of the Greek historians and therefore into the very material of Greek history. It also has major implications for the interpretation of ancient literacy."-- Publisher's description.
0521425182
Greek language--History--Greece--Athens
Oral tradition--History--Greece--Athens
Oral communication--History--Greece--Athens
Written communication--History--Greece--Athens
Writing--History--Greece--Athens
Literacy--History--Greece--Athens
Language and culture--History.--Greece--Athens
Athens (Greece)--Intellectual life
480.9385
Oral tradition and written record in classical Athens / Rosalind Thomas. - Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1991. - 321 p. ; 23 cm. - Cambridge studies in oral and literate culture
Revision of thesis (doctoral) - London University, 1986.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
"Despite its written literature, ancient Greece was in many ways an oral society. This is the first serious attempt to study the implications of this view. Dr Thomas stresses the coexistence of literacy and oral tradition in Greece and examines their interaction. Concentrating on the plentiful evidence from Classical Athens, she shows how the use of writing developed only gradually and under the influence of the previous oral communication. Drawing on anthropological discussion, the author isolates different types of Athenian oral tradition, building up a picture of Athens' traditions about its past and examining why they changed and disappeared. This study provides crucial insights into the methods and achievements of the Greek historians and therefore into the very material of Greek history. It also has major implications for the interpretation of ancient literacy."-- Publisher's description.
0521425182
Greek language--History--Greece--Athens
Oral tradition--History--Greece--Athens
Oral communication--History--Greece--Athens
Written communication--History--Greece--Athens
Writing--History--Greece--Athens
Literacy--History--Greece--Athens
Language and culture--History.--Greece--Athens
Athens (Greece)--Intellectual life
480.9385