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University of Cincinnati U UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Date: May 15, 2009 I, Kristine M. Trego , hereby submit this original work as part of the requirements for the degree of: Doctorate of Philosophy in Classics It is entitled: Plutarch's Story of Agesilaos; A Narratological Commentary Student Signature: Kristine M. Trego This work and its defense approved by: Committee Chair: Holt Parker Peter van Minnen Kathryn Gutzwiller Approval of the electronic document: I have reviewed the Thesis/Dissertation in its final electronic format and certify that it is an accurate copy of the document reviewed and approved by the committee. Committee Chair signature: Holt Parker Plutarch’s Story of Agesilaos; A Narratological Commentary A dissertation submitted to the Division of Research and Advanced Studies of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the Department of Classics of the College of Arts and Sciences 2009 by Kristine M. Trego B.A., University of South Florida, 2001 M.A. University of Cincinnati, 2004 Committee Chair: Holt N. Parker Committee Members: Peter van Minnen Kathryn J. Gutzwiller Abstract This analysis will look at the narration and structure of Plutarch’s Agesilaos. The project will offer insight into the methods by which the narrator constructs and presents the story of the life of a well-known historical figure and how his narrative techniques effects his reliability as a historical source. There is an abundance of exceptional recent studies on Plutarch’s interaction with and place within the historical tradition, his literary and philosophical influences, the role of morals in his Lives, and his use of source material, however there has been little scholarly focus—but much interest—in the examination of how Plutarch constructs his narratives to tell the stories they do. An examination of Plutarch through a narratological lens will illuminate the narrative of Agesilaos through functional analysis. Such a study can prove the utility of approaching any of Plutarch’s Bioi, individually and collectively, with this method and how it can offer new insights into this author, ancient narrative techniques and devices, and how stories are created, changed, and received. Looking at the construction of narrative and its effects will aid investigations into many of these and other questions. iii iv Acknowledgements and Dedication First and foremost, I offer the deepest gratitude to my committee members Profs. Holt Parker, Peter van Minnen, and Kathryn Gutzwiller. Their comments and advice contributed greatly to the strengths of my project; all errors and weaknesses within are completely my own. My research would never have been possible without access to the John Miller Burnam Classics Library and the amazing staff of scholars that runs it; I especially thank Jean Wellington, Jacquelene Riley, David Ball, and Mike Braunlin. Throughout my career at the University of Cincinnati two professors made an enormous impact on my professional development and I want to offer the highest praise, respect, and gratitude to Profs. Harold Gotoff and William Johnson. I also want to thanks friends Prof. Deborah Carlson, Prof. Brian Sowers, Katie Swinford, Shannon LaFayette, Mark Atwood, and Marcie Handler; without their friendship, laughter, and support I would be nothing. I dedicate this work to my mother, Judith D. Trego, who was taken from my life far too soon, but who has never left my side or my heart. v Table of Contents Introduction...............................................................................................................p. 2 Part One.....................................................................................................................p. 20 Part Two....................................................................................................................p. 50 Part Three..................................................................................................................p. 75 Part Four....................................................................................................................p. 113 Part Five.....................................................................................................................p. 133 Part Six.......................................................................................................................p. 154 Part Seven...................................................................................................................p. 176 Part Eight....................................................................................................................p. 197 Part Nine.....................................................................................................................p. 220 Part Ten.......................................................................................................................p. 235 Conclusions.................................................................................................................p. 258 Glossary.......................................................................................................................p. 262 Bibliography................................................................................................................p. 266 1 Introduction Form and Use of Commentary This analysis will look at the narration and structure of Plutarch’s Agesilaos. The project will offer insight into the methods by which the narrator constructs and presents the story of the life of a well-known historical figure and how his narrative techniques effects his reliability as a historical source. There is an abundance of exceptional recent studies on Plutarch’s interaction with and place within the historical tradition,1 his literary and philosophical influences,2 the role of morals in his Lives,3 and his use of source material;4 however there has been little scholarly focus—but much interest—in the examination of how Plutarch constructs his narratives to tell the stories they do.5 The commentary is intended to serve as a guide through the narrative of Agesilaos and an analysis of its structure, narrative voice, and the relationship between the narrator and narratee. As will be discussed in more detail in the following section, the term “narratee” is used to denote the one who is the addressee of the narrator, whether named or implied. Because a narrative may have innumerable readers from diverse cultural or temporal backgrounds who are not immediately deducible from the text, the term “narratee” has been adopted for this study since the narratee’s role as the receiver of the narrative can be inferred from the text. I have included the Greek text of Agesilaos, adopted from the Teubner edition, so that the reader may follow along closely while reading the commentary.6 Each Greek passage is followed by an English translation to facilitate the reader’s interaction with the text. All translations within the 1 See especially the edited volume on these topics, Stadter (1992) passim. 2 See especially Jiménez, López, and Aguilar (1999) passim. 3 Frazier (1996) passim. 4 Pelling (1995) 125-154; Hamilton (1992) 4208-4212.. 5 For an extensive bibliography on these and other topics on the Greek Lives discussed by scholars from 1951-1988, see Podlecki and Duane (1992) 4053-4127. 6 C. Lindskog, ed. (1906). 2 commentary are my own unless otherwise noted. The standard numeration of the forty chapters is used for ease in referring the reader to specific passages in the text. I have divided the text of Agesilaos into ten parts for discussion. I delineated what I consider to be narrative wholes, that is, sections that have cohesion in context, theme, or focus. I have included a table below that illustrates the divisions within the commentary. The delineations are not intended to argue for a standard method of dividing the story and doubtlessly the text may be partitioned into different sections. For those readers who are unfamiliar with the narratological terminology that is used in this study, I have included a short Glossary of terms frequently employed. Commentary Part Plutarch, Agesilaos chapters Context, theme, and focus One 1-5 Family lineage, birth, education, physical description, youth, and ascension Two 6-8 Preparations for campaign against Persia, Agesilaos’ arrival in Asia Minor, conflict with Lysander, and commencement of expedition Three 9-15 Actions and conduct of Agesilaos in Asia Minor Four 16-19.3 Agesilaos’ return from Asia Minor, movements through Thrace and Boiotia, and dedication of tithe at Delphi Five 19.4-22 Agesilaos’ conduct at home Six 23-25 Agesilaos’ hatred of Thebes, Peace of Antalkidas, and the Phoibidas and Sphodrias affairs Seven 26-29 The decline of Agesilaos’ reputation and Sparta’s hegemony, defeat at Leuktra Eight 30-33 Invasion of Lakonia by Epaminondas Nine 34-35 Agesilaos’ defense of Sparta and the Battle of Mantineia Ten 36-40 Agesilaos in Egypt and death 3 Why Narratology? Narratology is a literary analysis of narratives that focuses upon the distinctions between events of a story and how they are narrated in a text. It offers scholars a systematic approach to the mechanics of narrative and provides a toolbox with which to explain how a narrative builds meaning. Narratology is an endeavor to approach texts with an analysis of the narrative methods employed in a text in order to structure meaning. Narratologists attempt to expose the deep structure of narratives by a systematic
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