Durham E-Theses Social memory and ethnic identity: ancient Greek drama performances as commemorative ceremonies Lalioti, Vassiliki How to cite: Lalioti, Vassiliki (2001) Social memory and ethnic identity: ancient Greek drama performances as commemorative ceremonies, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/3850/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail:
[email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Social Memory and Ethnic Identity: Ancient Greek Drama Performance§ a§ Commemorative Ceremonies Vassiliki Lalioti Submitted for Ph.D. Degree 2001 ABSTRACT This thesis is an ethnographic account of ancient Greek drama performances that take place in contemporary Greece. It illuminates an aspect of them that has not been taken into account until today: it treats them as commemorative ceremonies that produce, reproduce, and transmit social memory. The interrelation and interdependence between social memory and ethnic identity construction processes are analysed and it is shown that ancient drama performances, due to specific characteristics, constitute something more than mere theatrical events (as they are defined within the Western tradition).