Reception and the Epistemic Violence of the Classical

Advance booking is required for this online seminar.

We hear a lot about violence against the classical – but surprisingly little about the violence of it. And yet there is an increasing awareness that violence goes into making the classical, as alternative histories are bulldozed, populations displaced (and sometimes even killed) and territories invaded, colonised and occupied in order to produce the myth of a classical origin. In this paper I want to consider the epistemic violence that is part of this material violence. The relationship between Classics and colonialism has in recent years been much discussed, and comments on the Eurocentrism of the classical are a now a mainstay of introductory chapters on Greece, Rome and their receptions. But by comparing the violence that makes the classical with the epistemic violence of the classical I want to explore how Eurocentrism has been misunderstood, and its critique diminished as classicists have sought to rescue the classical from it (by showcasing antiquity’s global or diverse credentials).  I will focus on the Islamophobia of the classical specifically, articulating the violence of Classicism and imagining the emergence of Counter-Classicism through examples from Tadmur to Tabaristan and from Egypt to Ethiopia.

Ancient Violence and Contemporary Receptions: Challenges and Perspectives

The forms and perceptions of violence in the ancient world remain a widely debated issue in contemporary scholarship. This speaker series aims to explore the various ways in which violence was conceptualized, represented, and interpreted in antiquity, as well as its reception and reinterpretation in modern contexts. By bringing together scholars from different disciplines, including history, philosophy, material culture, and literature, the series seeks to offer a comprehensive perspective on the role of violence in shaping ancient societies and its lasting impact on contemporary thought.

Through this interdisciplinary approach, the series aims to provide new insights into the multifaceted nature of violence in antiquity and its enduring influence on modern societies. By critically engaging with both ancient sources and their receptions, the discussions will contribute to a deeper understanding of how violence has been, and continues to be, a crucial element in shaping cultural and intellectual traditions.

The series will open with a reflection on the historiographical and ideological dimensions of violence, considering how modern interpretations have shaped and, at times, distorted our understanding of its role in antiquity. This methodological approach will serve as a foundation for further discussions on the philosophical, theological, and political implications of violence in the ancient world, including its intersections with slavery, power structures, and social hierarchies. Further sessions will examine the ways in which violent acts and representations of violence have been mediated through various forms of cultural production. This includes an exploration of textual and visual narratives, considering how translation, adaptation, and artistic representations have framed and reshaped perceptions of violence across time. Special attention will be given to the ethical and ideological implications of these reinterpretations, as well as their resonance in contemporary discourse.

The series will also engage with the reception of violence in modern media, from literature to film, and its role in educational and rehabilitative contexts. By analyzing how ancient violence is reimagined in contemporary storytelling, the discussions will highlight the pedagogical and social functions of these narratives, particularly in addressing issues of justice, identity, and historical memory.

Image of Sculpture: Why Born Enslaved! – a sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux