Articles by Manolis Pagkalos
During the early Hellenistic period, the Athenians found themselves entangled in the competition ... more During the early Hellenistic period, the Athenians found themselves entangled in the competition of the Diadochoi, struggling between subjugation and autonomy and the different factions of the Macedonians. The democratic regime, one of the main characteristics of the Athenian political imaginary, was repeatedly targeted, forcing responses, when possible, by its civic body. This paper discusses some of these responses, as attested in the epigraphic data, where the reception and use of the past are vividly imprinted. The epigraphic evidence demonstrates civic needs where ties with the historical past of the polis are established to address the present and solidify a particular image of co-belonging.
This paper discusses strategies of negotiating Roman control over Athens in a contested political... more This paper discusses strategies of negotiating Roman control over Athens in a contested political sphere during the first century BCE. It explores the language in Athenian political discourse, political reactions to Roman power, and the ideological grounds for decision-making in the pre-and post-Sulla periods, tracing continuity in practices and focusing on the iconographical choices of the New Style coinage of Mentor and Moschion. To that end, it examines the different articulations of power as manifested at a symbolic level; it traces reforms in Athenian civic narratives in a period of increasing Roman activity in the East; it highlights links between Athenian cultural memory and decision-making during this period; finally, it explains the ways the embedded, new narratives were disseminated. The evidence shows significant political fluidity in first-century Athens and mirrors the political elites' understanding of the role of the past and the need for constructing new political narratives depending on circumstances.
One of the most common expedients for preventing conflicts, especially from the Hellenistic perio... more One of the most common expedients for preventing conflicts, especially from the Hellenistic period onwards, was the recourse to interstate arbitrations. The phenomenon was not restricted only to the great powers of the day; smaller states would often resort to the process in order to pursue their own interests through less demanding, in militaristic and financial, terms. From the Archaic period to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and from prominent cities like Athens and Sparta to smaller ones, the past was prominently used in the context of interstate arbitrations to legitimise claims or actual possession of territories. A favourable verdict would offer direct and tangible benefits for the winning side. However, much like its use in the political discourse, the past played a central role in the arbitrating courts. More so, a positive verdict was not only the outcome of compelling argumentation, but it was supported by historical evidence both in the form of mythical and/or historical accounts and of historical memories. Thus, alongside the many practical benefits, there are other, at least equally, important advantages; namely, the effective alteration of the modes of self-representation and the ability to mould civic identities. This paper will discuss various instances of the use of the past within the interstate arbitration corpus and will examine its central position in yet another aspect of the political life of Ancient Greece, especially from the Hellenistic period onwards.
Graeco-Latina Brunensia, 2015
For many years, scholars describe king Areus I as the monarch who followed the Hellenistic model ... more For many years, scholars describe king Areus I as the monarch who followed the Hellenistic model of ruling. He was the only one of the two Spartan kings mentioned by name at the Chremonidean Decree and he issued Sparta's first silver coins, which bore inscription with his name. These changes are implemented in a period during which Sparta is nowhere near its former glorious self. I will argue that during the early Hellenistic period, an era of major political, cultural and social changes, the past is used as a prominent political instrument more than ever. As new structures of power and political organisation rise, the status quo of the city-states of Classical Greece is transformed. The past always occupied a specific role in the history of the polis throughout the Archaic and Classical periods as civic identity was authenticated by more or less exclusive local myths. However, now the past is urgently needed to be rewritten as it possesses the potential to reshape contemporary worldviews. Areus I initiatives brought Sparta again at the forefront of the Hellenistic world and were the result of the mentality of Hegemony built in Sparta through a long history of hegemonial presence both in Peloponnesos and Greece. This paper aims (a) to assess the use of the past during the reign of Areus I of Sparta (r. 309-265) and (b) to highlight the dynamics of the active manipulation of the past as political tool by evaluating the iconographic choices on the first example of Spartan silver coinage.
Book Chapters by Manolis Pagkalos
in AMPOUTIS, A., DIMITRIADIS, M., DIMITRIADIS, S., KONSTANTELLOU, T., MAMALI, M. & SARAFIS, V. (eds.) 2018. Violence and Politics: Ideologies, Identities, Representations, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars, 54-71, 2018
Edited Volumes by Manolis Pagkalos
Pagkalos, M. E. & Scarpato A. (eds) 2024. New Perspectives on the Hellenistic Peloponnese: History, Politics and Material Culture. London: Bloomsbury (ISBN: 9781350228900), Nov 2024
This volume fills a gap in current research on the Hellenistic Peloponnese, complementing and cha... more This volume fills a gap in current research on the Hellenistic Peloponnese, complementing and challenging traditional interpretations by adopting new perspectives on its complex social and political history in response to emerging trends in research. By examining aspects of the region's interstate relations, contemporary politics and modes of representation that have been relatively little studied to date, it affords a much more well-rounded picture of the Hellenistic Peloponnese and a rich basis for broadening scholarly debate and stimulating further research on the area.
Each chapter promotes interdisciplinary approaches to a wide range of ancient evidence and material culture, and offers a renewed understanding of how socio-political transformations unfolded within the region. Together they shed new light on key agents of the period and their interactions, material evidence and political history both in and beyond the Peloponnese – from the enduring Macedonian influence in the 3rd century BCE and the violence and terror tactics deployed within the Achaian Koinon, to strategies of identity construction and memory politics wielded by local elites – and will be crucial points of reference for graduate students and scholars with an interest in the region.
Outreach/Service by Manolis Pagkalos
Agricultural and Rural Studies, Sep 9, 2024
An Interview with Roberto Sammartano on the Occasion of the Monograph, Alle radici della syngeneia. Parentele etniche nel mondo greco prima della guerra del Peloponneso (Alessandria: Edizioni dell’Orso, 2020), Jun 2024
At Isegoria Publishing, we support the work of colleagues worldwide, especially those from outsid... more At Isegoria Publishing, we support the work of colleagues worldwide, especially those from outside mainstream academic backgrounds and in the Global South, irrespective of their publisher. Thus, even if you have not published your work with Isegoria Publishing (although you should genuinly try!), you can still find a place to tell your story and reach an expanded audience. Short interviews will feature in our Author Profiles, with additional audio-visual content in our social media outlets. Our Author Profile is dedicated to the author of 'Alle radici della syngeneia. Parentele etniche nel mondo greco prima della guerra del Peloponneso (Alessandria: Edizioni dell'Orso, 2020)', Roberto Sammartano.
At Isegoria Publishing, we support the work of colleagues worldwide, especially those from outsid... more At Isegoria Publishing, we support the work of colleagues worldwide, especially those from outside mainstream academic backgrounds and in the Global South, irrespective of their publisher. Thus, even if you have not published your work with Isegoria Publishing (although you should genuinly try!), you can still find a place to tell your story and reach an expanded audience. Short interviews will feature in our Author Profiles, with additional audio-visual content in our social media outlets. Our Author Profile is dedicated to the editors of the People on the Move across the Greek World volume (Editorial Universidad de Sevilla, 2022), Chiara Maria Mauro, Diego Chapinal-Heras, and Miriam Valdés Guía.
At Isegoria Publishing, we support the work of colleagues worldwide, especially those from outsid... more At Isegoria Publishing, we support the work of colleagues worldwide, especially those from outside mainstream academic backgrounds and in the Global South, irrespective of their publisher. Thus, even if you have not published your work with Isegoria Publishing (although you should genuinly try!), you can still find a place to tell your story and reach an expanded audience. Short interviews will feature in our Author Profiles, with additional audio-visual content in our social media outlets. Our first author is Obert Bernardo Mlambo, Associate Professor of Classics (Zimbabwe).
Preface: Introducing Pnyx, 2022
Pnyx is a digital-only, double-blind peer-reviewed, free-for-all, Open Access journal for Classic... more Pnyx is a digital-only, double-blind peer-reviewed, free-for-all, Open Access journal for Classical Studies, Archaeology, and their Receptions that publishes research papers in English and offers full editorial services to authors. We understand that every term used in the previous sentence invites debate and in what follows we address each one separately. Before we proceed, we must say that we are proud of our Advisory Board, which spans three continents and a dozen countries, whose numbers are tilted in favour of female, non-Anglophone members. It is indicative of our vision of Classical Studies and the slightly different way we do things. We thank them for their support, insight, and confidence, and we look forward to the wonderful journey ahead.
Liberaal Journal, Dec 2020
Book Reviews by Manolis Pagkalos
Bryn Mawr Classical Review (BMCR), 2021
Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2021.03.14
Review of Luca Castagnoli, Paolo Ceccarelli, Greek Memorie... more Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2021.03.14
Review of Luca Castagnoli, Paolo Ceccarelli, Greek Memories: theories and practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
Bryn Mawr Classical Review (BMCR), 2019
Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2019.07.34
Review of Powell, A. (ed.) 2018. A Companion to Sparta, Ox... more Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2019.07.34
Review of Powell, A. (ed.) 2018. A Companion to Sparta, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Research introductions by Manolis Pagkalos
TMA64, 2020
Postdoctoral research project (University of Groningen & OIKOS Anchoring Innovation Research Agenda)
Thesis by Manolis Pagkalos
This thesis examines the use of the past as a medium for the articulation of claims of present po... more This thesis examines the use of the past as a medium for the articulation of claims of present political power during the early Hellenistic period. The Hellenistic period marks an era of major changes both in the political and geographical landscapes. The polis, which remains the centre of political life, struggles between autonomy and dependence among the emerging political formations (Kingdoms and Koina). In the fluid political environment, the past presents an excellent opportunity: it can be used as a (re)confirmation of a certain identity, be it civic or collective, or can help to construct a new one. In either way, its potential is enormous. In the contemporary world, the connection between the use of the past and politics has been confirmed. However, this relationship was also clearly realised in the ancient world. Due to the workings of memory, the past has a central role in the political life of communities; memory and the use of the past are social and cultural forces, eff...
Invited Papers by Manolis Pagkalos
Laetae Segetes VII, 2020
This paper discusses how the Athenians negotiated power over their polis on the contested politic... more This paper discusses how the Athenians negotiated power over their polis on the contested political sphere during the first century BCE, a period when the Romans tighten their control over Greece. Moreover, it explores how they articulated these claims both in the local and interstate levels. In their long tradition, the Athenians had established a robust civic identity, formed around narratives of the polis’ glorious past and democratic polity. Such narratives were disseminated to domestic and foreign audiences and formed the backbone of the Athenian cultural memory. An exemplified past that the Athenians could look up to with pride, but also (re)use in times of need. During the long Hellenistic period, these narratives were tested multiple times due to the precarious position of Athens, which fluctuated between autonomy and dependence to new rulers. Accordingly, these narratives were reformed to conform with the socio-political needs of the Athenians. Athenian response to the ambient changes included the appropriation of the contextual political realities into the political discourse and, consequently, their incorporation to civic narratives. The process of appropriation was multifaced and included a variety of means, from coinage and religion to epigraphy. Hence, it transcended the strictly ‘political’ discourse to incorporate religious and social narratives and inform anew the essence of being ‘Athenian’ and solidify the feeling of co-belonging. Under this light, this paper explores the Athenian political language and reactions to Roman power as well as the ideological grounds for decision-making both in the pre- and post-Sulla periods. How did the Athenians reform their civic narrative in a period of increasing Roman activity in the East? What are the links between Athenian cultural memory and decision-making during this period, and how are these communicated in the political discourse? The approach incorporates a variety of evidence, textual, numismatic, epigraphic and archaeological to offer a comprehensive picture of how the Athenian political discourse actively shaped, and was informed by, the Athenian social imagination. The evidence highlights the political fluidity of first-century BCE Athens, yet also mirrors the understanding the political elites have on the role of the past and the need for constructing new political narratives depending on political directions and their results. Thus, in short, this paper explores both the agency of the Athenian elite and the political tools and ideological formations for negotiating power and anchoring political developments in the Athenian political discourse on the first century BCE and compares them to similar contemporary practices.
12th OIKOS Anchoring Innovation Expert Meeting, 2020
Memory and Impression: A Walk-Through in the Peloponnese International Colloquium, 2019
This paper discusses the relationship between memory and politics during the Hellenistic period i... more This paper discusses the relationship between memory and politics during the Hellenistic period in the context of the Achaian League. Two adjacent regions will be considered, Arkadia and Achaia, to approach the changing nature of complex notions such as ‘memory’ and ‘identity’ and to make some sense of the reasons that they can shift and be reformed.
Arkadia occupies the centre of Peloponnesos; a mostly mountainous and secluded region that from early on supported the creation of ethnic identity for its population based on its geographical definition. According to Herodotos (8.73), it is the Arkadian, along with the Kynourian and the Achaian ethne that have strong roots to the region of Peloponnesos and are identified as indigenous population (αὐτόχθονα ἔθνεα). However, in the years between the formation of the Arkadian Koinon in the fourth century to the emergence of the Achaian Koinon in the third century, the political landscape of Peloponnesos regularly changed, partly due to the dwindling power of the Spartans. By proximity to the region of Achaia, it should not be a surprise that the poleis of Arkadia soon enrolled to the (re)formed and ever-expanding League. In contrast, what is of interest is how a region with a tradition of ethnic unity and continuation, but also of extreme political fragmentation, would – from the beginning of the second century – be fully integrated to the Achaian Koinon, with the Arkadian Megalopolis and important figures, such as Philopoimen and Lykortas, calling the shots. How can one approach the use of the ethnic ‘AΡΚΑΔΙΚΟΝ’ (of the Arkadians) on coinage as early as the fifth century (with religious rather than political links) to the minting of Achaian federal coinage, bearing the inscription ‘ΑΧΑΙΩN’ accompanied by the name of the Arkadian poleis? Glimpses of ideological orientations of the elite can be seen in the work of Polybios, the Achaian statesman and self-proclaimed historian of the Koinon, as well as a citizen of Megalopolis. A past which recognised two separate ethne, the Arkadians and the Achaians, was to be renarrated. In the Hellenistic present, a merged identity was pronounced – an Arkadian could also be Achaian and vice versa. This shift in representation mirrors the changes in the political sphere.
This paper will approach the transformation of memories and the creation of a transformed identity for the Arkadian population in the context of the Achaian Koinon. Epigraphic, numismatic and historiographical evidence will be discussed to highlight the workings of identity formation in parallel to the political and social history of the region in the period of the expansion of the Achaian League in Peloponnesos.
Greek History Work-In-Progress Meeting, 2019
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Articles by Manolis Pagkalos
Book Chapters by Manolis Pagkalos
Edited Volumes by Manolis Pagkalos
Each chapter promotes interdisciplinary approaches to a wide range of ancient evidence and material culture, and offers a renewed understanding of how socio-political transformations unfolded within the region. Together they shed new light on key agents of the period and their interactions, material evidence and political history both in and beyond the Peloponnese – from the enduring Macedonian influence in the 3rd century BCE and the violence and terror tactics deployed within the Achaian Koinon, to strategies of identity construction and memory politics wielded by local elites – and will be crucial points of reference for graduate students and scholars with an interest in the region.
Outreach/Service by Manolis Pagkalos
Book Reviews by Manolis Pagkalos
Review of Luca Castagnoli, Paolo Ceccarelli, Greek Memories: theories and practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
Review of Powell, A. (ed.) 2018. A Companion to Sparta, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Research introductions by Manolis Pagkalos
Thesis by Manolis Pagkalos
Invited Papers by Manolis Pagkalos
Arkadia occupies the centre of Peloponnesos; a mostly mountainous and secluded region that from early on supported the creation of ethnic identity for its population based on its geographical definition. According to Herodotos (8.73), it is the Arkadian, along with the Kynourian and the Achaian ethne that have strong roots to the region of Peloponnesos and are identified as indigenous population (αὐτόχθονα ἔθνεα). However, in the years between the formation of the Arkadian Koinon in the fourth century to the emergence of the Achaian Koinon in the third century, the political landscape of Peloponnesos regularly changed, partly due to the dwindling power of the Spartans. By proximity to the region of Achaia, it should not be a surprise that the poleis of Arkadia soon enrolled to the (re)formed and ever-expanding League. In contrast, what is of interest is how a region with a tradition of ethnic unity and continuation, but also of extreme political fragmentation, would – from the beginning of the second century – be fully integrated to the Achaian Koinon, with the Arkadian Megalopolis and important figures, such as Philopoimen and Lykortas, calling the shots. How can one approach the use of the ethnic ‘AΡΚΑΔΙΚΟΝ’ (of the Arkadians) on coinage as early as the fifth century (with religious rather than political links) to the minting of Achaian federal coinage, bearing the inscription ‘ΑΧΑΙΩN’ accompanied by the name of the Arkadian poleis? Glimpses of ideological orientations of the elite can be seen in the work of Polybios, the Achaian statesman and self-proclaimed historian of the Koinon, as well as a citizen of Megalopolis. A past which recognised two separate ethne, the Arkadians and the Achaians, was to be renarrated. In the Hellenistic present, a merged identity was pronounced – an Arkadian could also be Achaian and vice versa. This shift in representation mirrors the changes in the political sphere.
This paper will approach the transformation of memories and the creation of a transformed identity for the Arkadian population in the context of the Achaian Koinon. Epigraphic, numismatic and historiographical evidence will be discussed to highlight the workings of identity formation in parallel to the political and social history of the region in the period of the expansion of the Achaian League in Peloponnesos.
Each chapter promotes interdisciplinary approaches to a wide range of ancient evidence and material culture, and offers a renewed understanding of how socio-political transformations unfolded within the region. Together they shed new light on key agents of the period and their interactions, material evidence and political history both in and beyond the Peloponnese – from the enduring Macedonian influence in the 3rd century BCE and the violence and terror tactics deployed within the Achaian Koinon, to strategies of identity construction and memory politics wielded by local elites – and will be crucial points of reference for graduate students and scholars with an interest in the region.
Review of Luca Castagnoli, Paolo Ceccarelli, Greek Memories: theories and practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
Review of Powell, A. (ed.) 2018. A Companion to Sparta, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Arkadia occupies the centre of Peloponnesos; a mostly mountainous and secluded region that from early on supported the creation of ethnic identity for its population based on its geographical definition. According to Herodotos (8.73), it is the Arkadian, along with the Kynourian and the Achaian ethne that have strong roots to the region of Peloponnesos and are identified as indigenous population (αὐτόχθονα ἔθνεα). However, in the years between the formation of the Arkadian Koinon in the fourth century to the emergence of the Achaian Koinon in the third century, the political landscape of Peloponnesos regularly changed, partly due to the dwindling power of the Spartans. By proximity to the region of Achaia, it should not be a surprise that the poleis of Arkadia soon enrolled to the (re)formed and ever-expanding League. In contrast, what is of interest is how a region with a tradition of ethnic unity and continuation, but also of extreme political fragmentation, would – from the beginning of the second century – be fully integrated to the Achaian Koinon, with the Arkadian Megalopolis and important figures, such as Philopoimen and Lykortas, calling the shots. How can one approach the use of the ethnic ‘AΡΚΑΔΙΚΟΝ’ (of the Arkadians) on coinage as early as the fifth century (with religious rather than political links) to the minting of Achaian federal coinage, bearing the inscription ‘ΑΧΑΙΩN’ accompanied by the name of the Arkadian poleis? Glimpses of ideological orientations of the elite can be seen in the work of Polybios, the Achaian statesman and self-proclaimed historian of the Koinon, as well as a citizen of Megalopolis. A past which recognised two separate ethne, the Arkadians and the Achaians, was to be renarrated. In the Hellenistic present, a merged identity was pronounced – an Arkadian could also be Achaian and vice versa. This shift in representation mirrors the changes in the political sphere.
This paper will approach the transformation of memories and the creation of a transformed identity for the Arkadian population in the context of the Achaian Koinon. Epigraphic, numismatic and historiographical evidence will be discussed to highlight the workings of identity formation in parallel to the political and social history of the region in the period of the expansion of the Achaian League in Peloponnesos.
The paper examines the ominous dynamics between ancient history and Modern Greek politics. It relates the development of similar, unhistorical narratives of the two alleged discoveries to the self-ascribed historical role of the Hellenic Republic as a guardian of ancient tradition. From its very creation, the declared raison d'être of the state has been the defence of the values and legacy of antiquity against modernity; to protect what is rightfully ours: our space, both actual and historical. Resistance to modernity has created a huge cultural gap between historicity and reception that grows wider due to current, politically driven attitudes towards the past.
The two discoveries unleashed the rhetoric of (championing) historical legacy onto the general population in the form of ever-popular dramatised stunts. The paper explores the interdependence between the narrative built around the two discoveries and political conditions of the time: the frantic clash over the name of (now Northern) Macedonia; Greek exceptionalism, and the nation's burden to uphold antiquity; appeasing a conservative audience against wokeism and political correctness. Siege mentality, a trump card of conservative rhetoric, alerted Greek audiences over enemy action: within twenty years, the enemy shifted from the deep state (at the hands of Social Democrats) to the anti-national enemy within (the rising left).
The role of coinage as an expression of identity developed during the Classical period, next to the monetisation of the Greek economy, with ideological implications. However, it is during the Hellenistic period that the increase of coin circulation greatly impacted the role of coins not only in actual economic but also in ideological terms. Coins, next to their intrinsic value, acted as social agents, conveying messages and reproducing narratives in a tangible, omnipresent way. Both the iconographical choices and their legends are intentional messages to internal and external audiences and, as such, they were heavily instrumentalised in the power struggle and competition among the different authorities, be they poleis, federal unions or Hellenistic rulers. It is during the Hellenistic period that the coins became one of the most visible expressions of identity, incorporating traditions, cultural memory and narratives of power in a single object, which was both meant to be circulated and could easily travel across the Hellenistic world.
The paper will discuss two locales from the Peloponnese, Megalopolis and Sparta, and Athens. Since the late Classical period and the foundation of Megalopolis, shortly after the defeat of the Spartans at Leuktra (371 BCE), the Megalopolitans minted coins with clear links to the Arkadian past and the local minting tradition. These links are still attested and expressed in series minted in the Hellenistic period when Megalopolis was part of the Achaian Koinon. During the early Hellenistic period, the Spartans, under the reign of Areus I (c. 309-265 BCE), minted their first civic coins. This unconventional act opposed the Lykourgan legislation but also bore clear elements of Spartan traditions and aspirations for power – arguably an intentional act, part of the civic renewal of Areus. Finally, Hellenistic Athens, now free from Makedonian control (229 BCE) inaugurated a continuous series of ‘new-style’ Athenian Owls with issues from c. the first quarter of the 2nd century up to the sack of the city by Sulla (87/86 BCE).
What are the links between the iconographical choices and ambient political developments? In each case-study, coinage plays a central role in the expression of a political (and social) identity, and this is precisely under consideration in this paper. The common denominator in every case is the need to anchor political developments and enhance social coherence by appropriating anything new within the pre-existing, cultural memory. This ‘intentional’ narrative should be approached as a vivid expression of the collective imagination of every society which must, therefore, be disseminated to internal and external audiences.
This paper aims to investigate the importance of phyletic identity in the Hellenistic period, when new opportunities and challenges raised in Asia Minor, and to explore local responses to supra-polis identities. The consolidation of Troy to the north-west of the peninsula gave to the Troad a new focal point. As a result, the phyletic affiliation of the poleis on the southern Troad became negotiable. Poleis previously acknowledged as Aeolian became members of the Koinon of Athena Ilias around Troy and Alexandria Troas at the end of the 4th century. Important settlements sought to exploit new opportunities and reap the benefits of both identities (e.g. Assos). Others rejected an alternate affiliation (such as Skepsis) or refrained altogether from ascribing to any collective identity (such as Adramyttion). In Cyme, the Amazon foundation myth supported both conflict and rapprochement, first against nearby settlements in the 3rd century, afterwards to establish common ideological ground with a powerful authority in the vicinity, the Attalids. At the same time, in Elaea, where Attalid influence was stronger, myths of Athenian foundation were advocated. Arguably, local variations form a diverse conceptual hard surface onto which political authorities attempted to steer and exploit new opportunities.
In 281/0, four Achaian poleis, Dyme, Patrai, Tritaia and Pharai formed the Achaian League (Plb. 2.41). The (re)formed Koinon is connected to the first Achaian League by Polybios, surrounded by a narrative of democracy and unity. This political act coincides with the formation of an alliance against the Aitolians who occupied Delphoi (280; Just. 24.1). The Spartans, under Areus I (c. 309-265), not only succeeded in reviving a large alliance in Peloponnesos but were also accepted as its leaders – a traditional topos for the polis – and wore again the mantle of protectors of the sacred land of Delphoi. Both the Spartans and the Achaians, diverse as they were, largely depended on the past not only for the establishment or solidification of a certain identity but in actual political practices.
By focusing on the above case-studies and exploring epigraphic, numismatic and historiographical evidence, the paper demonstrates how ancient societies used myths in order to consolidate their status and, vice versa, how these myths were, in turn, seen as history, especially when a historian could narrate them.
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Among others, history can teach by example and legitimise claims. However, what happens when the rhetoric of (championing) historical legacy is repeatedly promoted by political parties and is unleashed in the general population via numerous stunts and dramatised events in current mainstream political discourse? From the labelling of a Roman tomb in Amphipolis as the tomb of Alexander the Great to the recent, yet preliminary, agreement between Athens and Skopje concerning the name of (North) Macedonia we will highlight some indicative examples of how an entire society is kept hostage of its alleged past. From the 'politically correct' conservative party to the far right, the persistent referral to the classical past has far-reaching effects to society. As this paper will discuss, the references to the classical Greek past are constantly at the forefront of the political discourse in the Hellenic Republic and create a socially acceptable version of a historical continuum. Anyone opposing this reality does not partake in the ethnic identity and is confronted as an outcast. And vice versa, those who play well this 'game of pasts' can have a very successful career in Greek politics.
This paper aims to demonstrate the power of the use of the past; a power greatly augmented by the writings of a prolific historian, who enjoyed an elevated status within the Achaian and Roman societies. By investigating and evaluating the existence and dynamics of several different identities – some created by the persona of the historian, other derived by complex social and historical processes – Polybios’ agenda will become clearer. More importantly, the need for a strong, imaginary, past will be highlighted. In the end, Polybios’ Achaian League is exactly what its elite wants to be seen as, masking a not so radiant picture with the guise of history.
Our contribution outlines problems and explores solutions for publishers and authors from a small, independent, OA publisher's perspective. We take the audience on a journey through the Sea of Problems towards the Promised Land of sustainable, inclusive, and affordable OA. We discuss issues and present ways forward: donor-based models, free services to non-Anglophone colleagues, transparency, and collaborative work between authors and reviewers, are some forward-thinking answers that can drive the sector forward in the immediate future. A more holistic and considerate approach can assist small-scale university presses and independent publishers and support their long-term sustainability. In addition, transparency, clear quality criteria, and reasonable and tailored pricing can change the image and perceptions of OA publishing sector-wide and drive the sustainable development of OA policies for a niche market.
Conference to be held at the University of Leicester on May 6, 2016.
The event was set to function as a herald of the temporary exhibition "Memory and impression: A walk-through in the Peloponnese using ancient coins as a guide" (to open in 2021 at the Archaeological Museum of Tegea).
The contributions to the Colloquium included perspectives by historians, numismatists, archaeologists, art historians, and so on, broadening the spectrum of the approaches employed.
Organisers: KIKPE – Stassinopoulos-Viohalco Foundation – Ephorate of Antiquities of Arkadia
Coordination: Yannis Stoyas (KIKPE Numismatic Collection) and Anna Vasiliki Karapanagiotou (Ephorate of Antiquities of Arkadia).