Inventing Origins? Aetiological Thinking in Greek and Roman Antiquity

Antje Wessels, Dr. phil. (2001), University of Heidelberg, Habilitation (2011), Free University Berlin, is Full Professor of Latin Language and Literature at Leiden University. She has published books on aesthetic theory, history of scholarship, and reception of antiquity.Jacqueline Klooster, PhD (2009), University of Groningen, is assistant professor of Greek Literature. She has published widely on Hellenistic Poetry and other topics, including the monograph Poetry as Window and Mirror. Positioning the Poet in Hellenistic Poetry (Brill, 2011).Contributors are Susanna de Beer, Susanne Gödde, Annette Harder, Alexander Kirichenko, Jacqueline Klooster, Hugo Koning, Inger N.I. Kuin, Andrea de March, Sean E. McGrath, Michiel Meeusen, Antje Wessels.

• Introduction: Inventing Anchors? Aetiological Thinking in Greek and Roman AntiquityAntje Wessels and Jacqueline KloosterPART 1: Aetiological Thinking. Old & New. From Present to Past to Future1 Anchoring Innovations through AetiologyAnnette Harder2 The Parallels between Aetiology and Prophecy in Ancient Literature. Hindsight as Foresight Makes SenseJacqueline KloosterPART 2: Aetiology and Politics3 Veterem atque antiquam rem novam ad vos proferam. A New Drama, a Surprised Audience, and a ‘Live Aetiology’. Performing the Origin of the AmphitruoAndrea de March4 Callimachus Romanus. Propertius’ Love Elegy and the Aetiology of EmpireAlexander Kirichenko5 The Origins of Rome in the Renaissance. Revival & Reinvention, Rejection & ReplacementSusanna de BeerPART 3: Aetiology in Myth and Science. From Religion to Research6 Resistance to Origins. Cult Foundation in the Myths of Dionysus, Apollo, and DemeterSusanne Gödde7 Beginning with Hermes: Promoting Hermeticism through Aetiology in Corpus Hermeticum 1Sean E. McGrath8 The Aetiology of MythHugo Koning9 Patroclus Was a Parasite. Lucian’s Satirical AitiaInger N.I. Kuin10 Crossing Borders. Aetiological Overlap in Plutarch’s Collections of QuestionsMichiel MeeusenIndex