Experiencing Color in the Indo-European World: A Literary and Linguistic Approach

This study investigates the language of color in the ancient Indo-European world. The first of three parts is a linguistic endeavor that traces the history of color terms in the Indo-European language family and reconstructs the color roots that existed at various stages throughout the pre-histories of the languages. A morphological analysis of the attested forms helps elucidate the mechanisms and patterns of derivation and semantic change. The second of three parts focuses on the use of color terms by two authors of epic from antiquity—Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey (Greek) and Vergil’s Aeneid (Latin). Investigation of the former includes discussion of ancient aesthetics, perception, and cognition, and argues for a multisensory, emotional, and kinetic reading of Homer’s color terms. The latter examines colorful moments in the poem and argues that Vergil uses specific color descriptions and clusters as a literary tool to signal key moments in the story and to invite audience members to recall and anticipate episodes. The third and final part briefly considers modern theories of color vocabulary and their applicability to ancient, literary, and reconstructed languages.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D., Classics

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Classics

Grantor

Cornell University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Aghababian, Hana

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Kirk, Athena
• Weiss, Michael
• Rusten, Jeffrey

• ancient epic
• color
• color terms
• historical linguistics
• Homer
• Vergil

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7298/zh9t-nb23

Dc Identifier Other

ProQuest Submission ID: 14883
ProQuest Publication ID: 31994997

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ecommons.cornell.edu:1813/117525