Mimesis in the Ancient World -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 13:43:38 03/13/08 Thu
Author: Shannon
Subject: Mimesis in the Ancient World

I noticed recently what a strong role mimesis plays in the ironies of history. Consider the aftermath of the Persian Wars in Greece. Athens, the defender of Greek freedom against the mighty despotic and disolute Persian Empire, itself becomes an empire, twisting the very institutions it established to punish their enemies and defend Greek borders to a means of subjugating their fellow city-states. On a more individual scale, many of the very generals who led the Greeks to victory against Xerxes' forces became imitators of their enemies in the very customs their own culture most despised--to the point of abandoning their homeland for Persia. Consider Themostocles, the Athenian general renouned for the victory at Salamis, and Pausanias, the famed Spartan king, who both became servants of Xerses, enjoying the decadent life of a despot that they had so valiantly fought to defend their people from. Though perhaps these are not examples of interdividual conflicts, but they do seem to illuminate the relationships of mediator and rival Girard discusses.

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Replies:

Re: Mimesis in the Ancient World -- Jonathan Dunn, 10:58:56 03/16/08 Sun