Aristophanic Oracles

Four out of the eleven extant Aristophanic comedies contain, or refer to, oracles (Knights, Peace, Birds, Lysistrata). This thesis aims (a) to discuss Aristophanes’ stance toward oracles and oracle-collections; (b) to comment on each oracle in these four plays in chronological order, and to reach conclusions regarding Aristophanes’ usage of them while paying close attention to their language. The conclusions reached are that oracles are depicted in a way that takes for granted their political manipulation, that their language is never self-sufficient and authoritative by itself, and that the persuasive force of an oracle depends equally on an interpretation that has to be linked to something easily recognizable by the audience.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Classics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Karatzoglou, Orestis

Contributors dc:contributor

• Traill, Ariana

• Aristophanes
• Oracles
• Ancient Comedy
• Old Comedy
• Politics
• Political discourse
• Manipulation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2013 Orestis Karatzoglou

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/44157

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/44157