DOCSLIB.ORG

Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? Dis/Unity, Gender and Orientalism in the Fourth Century

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? Dis/Unity, Gender and Orientalism in the Fourth Century Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? 147 Chapter 8 Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? Dis/unity, Gender and Orientalism in the Fourth Century Shaun Tougher Introduction In the narrative of relations between East and West in the Roman Empire in the fourth century AD, the tensions between the eastern and western imperial courts at the end of the century loom large. The decision of Theodosius I to “split” the empire between his young sons Arcadius and Honorius (the teenage Arcadius in the east and the ten-year-old Honorius in the west) ushered in a period of intense hostility and competition between the courts, famously fo- cused on the figure of Stilicho.1 Stilicho, half-Vandal general and son-in-law of Theodosius I (Stilicho was married to Serena, Theodosius’ niece and adopted daughter), had been left as guardian of Honorius, but claimed guardianship of Arcadius too and concomitant authority over the east. In the political manoeu- vrings which followed the death of Theodosius I in 395, Stilicho was branded a public enemy by the eastern court. In the war of words between east and west a key figure was the (probably Alexandrian) poet Claudian, who acted as a ‘pro- pagandist’ (through panegyric and invective) for the western court, or rather Stilicho. Famously, Claudian wrote invectives on leading officials at the eastern court, namely Rufinus the praetorian prefect and Eutropius, the grand cham- berlain (praepositus sacri cubiculi), who was a eunuch. It is Claudian’s two at- tacks on Eutropius that are the inspiration and central focus of this paper which will examine the significance of the figure of the eunuch for the topic of the end of unity between east and west in the Roman Empire. Eunuchs became an institutional feature of the imperial court in the late Roman period.2 This phenomenon was especially associated with the east, an 1 For recent treatment of Stilicho see Natalie Kampen, Family Fictions in Roman Art (Cambridge, Eng., 2009), pp. 123–38. 2 See for instance Keith Hopkins, “Eunuchs in Politics in the Later Roman Empire,” Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society 189 (1963), 62–80, slightly revised in his Conquerors and Slaves (Cambridge, Eng., 1978), pp. 172–96; Peter Guyot, Eunuchen als Sklaven und Freigelassene in der griechisch-römischen Antike (Stuttgart, 1980), pp. 130–76; and Shaun Tougher, The Eunuch in Byzantine History and Society (London and New York, 2008), pp. 36–53. © Shaun Tougher, 2015 | doi 10.1163/9789004291935_010 This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-NC 3.0) License. Shaun Tougher - 9789004291935 Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 01:58:12AM via free access 148 Tougher association Claudian dwells on in his invectives on Eutropius. I will examine how Claudian presents Eutropius and how he utilises the eunuch to emphasise the contrast between east and west. In Greek and Roman writing there was a long history of deploying the figure of the eunuch (whose gender, as a castrat- ed male, was ambiguous) as a marker and symbol of the feminine and effemi- nate east as opposed to the ‘normal’ masculine west. I will consider the roots of such orientalist discourse, but also consider its validity. I will ask, to what ex- tent were court eunuchs an eastern phenomenon, and whether we see an end to unity between east and west in the matter of the nature of the imperial courts in relation to the use of eunuchs. I will argue that the situation is more complicated than the simple contrast Claudian creates, and that continuity of practice across both parts of the empire persisted beyond the fourth century. The orientalist discourse needs to be recognised, addressed and corrected, for modern historians themselves can compound its potency; in his inaugural lec- ture, on Claudian, Oswald Dilke summed up parts of the invectives on Eutro- pius as follows: The so-called patrician has been nothing but a pander and a punkah- walla, who fanned an empress with peacock’s feathers … Statues of this Pooh-Bah appear all over Constantinople, as judge, as consul, even as general, one of them dominating the senate-house.3 He adds later orientalist imagery to an already heady mix. Eunuchs were not just an eastern phenomenon, though it was easy to brand them as such. In real- ity they were a defining feature of Roman culture. Claudian and Eutropius The figures of Claudian and Eutropius, and their role in the history of the Ro- man Empire at the end of the fourth century, are well known. Claudian was the subject of a major monograph by Alan Cameron published in 1970.4 More re- cently, he has received scrutiny from Catherine Ware in her Claudian and the Roman Epic Tradition.5 The significance of the poet for court politics and 3 Oswald Ashton Wentworth Dilke, Claudian: Poet of Declining Empire and Morals; An Inaugural Lecture (Leeds, 1969), p. 14. 4 Alan Cameron, Claudian. Poetry and Propaganda at the Court of Honorius (Oxford, 1970). 5 Catherine Ware, Claudian and the Roman Epic Tradition (Cambridge, Eng., 2012). For other recent work on Claudian see for instance Marie-France Guipponi-Gineste, Claudien. Poète du monde à la cour d’Occident (Paris, 2010); Florence Garambois-Vasquez, Les invectices de Claudian. Une poétique de la violence (Brussels, 2007). Shaun Tougher - 9789004291935 Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 01:58:12AM via free access Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? 149 culture of the late fourth and early fifth centuries is not in doubt, given his prolific output of panegyric and invective; he was also celebrated in his own day, a statue of him being erected in Rome in the Forum of Trajan, in the names of Arcadius and Honorius.6 As for Eutropius, he was a product of the trade in eunuch slaves and rose to become the leading minister of Arcadius, though he had served Theodosius I too (undertaking for him a mission to Egypt).7 He was Arcadius’ grand cham- berlain, and replaced Rufinus as the emperor’s right hand man in 395. The po- litical importance of the eunuch – and Stilicho – is strikingly conveyed by a fragment of the lost history of their contemporary Eunapius, which reflects on the difficulty of acquiring good information about affairs in the west in “the time of Eutropius”. Eunapius observes: If any officials or soldiers had access to information on political activity, they related it as they wished, biased by friendship or hostility or a desire to please someone. And if you brought together three or four of them with conflicting versions as witnesses, there would be a great argument which would proceed from passionate and heated interjections to a pitched battle. They would say, ‘Where did you get this from?’ ‘Where did Stilicho see you?’ ‘Would you have seen the eunuch?’ so that it was quite a task to sort out the tangle.8 Eutropius’ pre-eminence is also reflected by the number of statues and other images of him that were produced, and by his appointment as consul for 399.9 The usefulness of Eutropius as an example of the powerful court eunuchs who characterise later Roman and Byzantine history means that he has featured heavily in modern discussions of the phenomenon, such as studies by James Dunlap and Helga Scholten.10 6 CIL VI.1710. The inscription identifies Claudian as a vir clarissimus, tribune and notary. 7 For Eutropius see for instance PLRE 2, Eutropius 1, pp. 440–44; James E. Dunlap, “The Office of the Grand Chamberlain in the Later Roman and Byzantine Empires,” in Two Studies in Later Roman and Byzantine Administration (New York and London, 1924), pp. 161–324, esp. pp. 272–84. 8 Eunapius, History, Fragment 66.2, trans. Roger Blockley, The Fragmentary Classicising His- torians of the Later Roman Empire: Eunapius, Olympiodorus, Priscus and Malchus, 2 (Liver- pool, 1983), p. 103. 9 For statues and images of Eutropius see Claudian, In Eutropium 2.72–77, and Codex Theo- dosianus 9.40.17. 10 Dunlap, “Grand Chamberlain”; Helga Scholten, Der Eunuch in Kaisernähe: zur politischen und sozialen Bedeutung des praepositus sacri cubiculi im 4. und 5. Jahrhundert n. Chr. (Frankfurt, 1995). Shaun Tougher - 9789004291935 Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 01:58:12AM via free access 150 Tougher The duo of Claudian and Eutropius are nicely brought together, of course, because Claudian wrote two invectives on the eunuch.11 The first was elicited by the designation of Eutropius as consul for 399, and the second completed following the eunuch’s sudden fall and exile to Cyprus in the same year. These texts are certainly not neglected by historians and classicists for they reveal much about the career of Eutropius, concepts of the gender identity of eu- nuchs, and the political and literary context of the time; they are, for instance, the focus of Jacqueline Long’s wonderfully subtitled Claudian’s In Eutropium. Or, How, When, and Why to Slander a Eunuch (Chapel Hill and London, 1996).12 Such is the importance of these texts for East-West relations and concepts that they deserve a place in this volume. In his invectives on Eutropius Claudian dwells heavily on the gender iden- tity of the eunuch, presenting him in a range of guises: as woman, as man, and as other – a third gender.13 The image of Eutropius as a woman appears at the very start of the first invective, Claudian exclaiming “O shame to heaven and earth! Our cities behold an old woman (anus) decked in a consul’s robe who gives a woman’s name to the year” (1.9–10), and he begs “at least give us a man (virum)” (1.29).14 Eutropius’ military role provides Claudian with ammunition for his assault.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? 147
    Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? 147 Chapter 8 Eunuchs in the East, Men in the West? Dis/unity, Gender and Orientalism in the Fourth Century Shaun Tougher Introduction In the narrative of relations between East and West in the Roman Empire in the fourth century AD, the tensions between the eastern and western imperial courts at the end of the century loom large. The decision of Theodosius I to “split” the empire between his young sons Arcadius and Honorius (the teenage Arcadius in the east and the ten-year-old Honorius in the west) ushered in a period of intense hostility and competition between the courts, famously fo- cused on the figure of Stilicho.1 Stilicho, half-Vandal general and son-in-law of Theodosius I (Stilicho was married to Serena, Theodosius’ niece and adopted daughter), had been left as guardian of Honorius, but claimed guardianship of Arcadius too and concomitant authority over the east. In the political manoeu- vrings which followed the death of Theodosius I in 395, Stilicho was branded a public enemy by the eastern court. In the war of words between east and west a key figure was the (probably Alexandrian) poet Claudian, who acted as a ‘pro- pagandist’ (through panegyric and invective) for the western court, or rather Stilicho. Famously, Claudian wrote invectives on leading officials at the eastern court, namely Rufinus the praetorian prefect and Eutropius, the grand cham- berlain (praepositus sacri cubiculi), who was a eunuch. It is Claudian’s two at- tacks on Eutropius that are the inspiration and central focus of this paper which will examine the significance of the figure of the eunuch for the topic of the end of unity between east and west in the Roman Empire.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Best of the Macedonians
    The Best of the Macedonians: Alexander as Achilles in Curtius’ History of Alexander Traditionally, Quintus Curtius Rufus’ History of Alexander, the main Latin source for the reign of Alexander the Great, has been studied primarily from a historical perspective, with the majority of scholarship being devoted to the historian’s date and sources (e.g., Dosson 1887, Tarn 1948, Atkinson 1980, Hammond 1983). More recently, however, scholars have become increasingly aware that Curtius’ work, like all ancient historiography, contains a marked literary dimension as well, and, as a result, have begun to study the work from a more literary perspective (e.g., Currie 1990, Baynham 1998, Spencer 2002). Following in this growing tradition of literary scholarship on Curtius, I seek in this paper to shed light on one particular aspect of Curtius’ complex, but underappreciated, literary design: his portrayal of Alexander as a second Achilles. While based on historical fact, Curtius’ depiction of Alexander as Achilles serves, I argue, a particular literary purpose, namely, to highlight the dark side of Alexander’s character—his ira and his vis—and, thereby, to reinforce the central moralizing theme of the work as a whole. In the first section, I present the case for Curtius’ depiction of Alexander as Achilles. To begin with, I consider the passages where Curtius makes the Alexander-Achilles connection explicit: (i.) Alexander at the siege of Gaza, where Curtius compares Alexander’ act of dragging Betis’ body around Gaza to Achilles’ act of dragging Hector’s body around Troy (Curt. 4.6.29); (ii.) Alexander’s marriage to Roxane, where Curtius depicts Alexander as justifying his marriage to a barbarian wife by reference to Achilles’ quasi-marriage to Briseis (Curt.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bare Necessities: Ascetic Indian Sages in Philostratus' 'Life of Apollonius'
    W&M ScholarWorks Undergraduate Honors Theses Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 5-2011 The Bare Necessities: Ascetic Indian Sages in Philostratus' 'Life of Apollonius' Samuel McVane College of William and Mary Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses Part of the Classical Literature and Philology Commons Recommended Citation McVane, Samuel, "The Bare Necessities: Ascetic Indian Sages in Philostratus' 'Life of Apollonius'" (2011). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 362. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/362 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 Introduction One might not think that much direct contact occurred between the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome and ancient India. The civilizations lay thousands of miles apart, a vast distance for men who traveled by foot or horse. But in fact, we have much evidence, both material and literary, for rather extensive contact – economic, military, and cultural – between the ancient East and West. One of the most interesting interactions, in my opinion, was the intellectual exchange between the West and ancient Indian philosophers, sages, and religious thinkers. Fortunately, we have a great body of extant ancient Western literature – primarily in Greek – that provide numerous accounts and descriptions, historic, pseudo- historic, and fictional, of Indian wise men and their interactions with the West. This body of literature particularly focuses on portrayals of Indian ascetics who lived a very frugal lifestyle, scorning most material needs, in the pursuit of knowledge.
    [Show full text]
  • “Just Rage”: Causes of the Rise in Violence in the Eastern Campaigns of Alexander the Great
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by University of Missouri: MOspace “Just Rage”: Causes of the Rise in Violence in the Eastern Campaigns of Alexander the Great _______________________________________ A Thesis presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia _____________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts _____________________________________________________ by Jenna Rice MAY 2014 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the thesis entitled “JUST RAGE”: CAUSES OF THE RISE IN VIOLENCE IN THE EASTERN CAMPAIGNS OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT presented by Jenna Rice, a candidate for the degree of master of history, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Professor Ian Worthington Professor Lawrence Okamura Professor LeeAnn Whites Professor Michael Barnes τῷ πατρί, ὅς ἐμοί τ'ἐπίστευε καὶ ἐπεκέλευε ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the members of my committee, Professors Worthington, Okamura, Whites, and Barnes, for the time they spent reading and considering my thesis during such a busy part of the semester. I received a number of thoughtful questions and suggestions of new methodologies which will prompt further research of my topic in the future. I am especially grateful to my advisor, Professor Worthington, for reading through and assessing many drafts of many chapters and for his willingness to discuss and debate the topic at length. I know that the advice I received throughout the editing process will serve me well in future research endeavors. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ iv INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 Chapter 1.
    [Show full text]
  • STUDIES in the DEVELOPMENT of ROYAL AUTHORITY in ARGEAD MACEDONIA WILLIAM STEVEN GREENWALT Annandale, Virginia B.A., University
    STUDIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ROYAL AUTHORITY IN ARGEAD MACEDONIA WILLIAM STEVEN GREENWALT Annandale, Virginia B.A., University of Virginia, 1975 M.A., University of Virginia, 1978 A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Virginia in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Corcoran Department of History University of Virginia May, ABSTRACT This dissertation examines the elements which defined Argead kingship from the mid-seventh until the late fourth centuries B.C. It begins by reviewing the Argead king list where it is argued that the official reckoning of the dynasty's past was exploited in order to secure the throne against rivals, including those who were Argeads. Chapter Two analyzes the principles of Argead succession and concludes that the current theories on the subject are unsatisfactory in face of the e v id enc e. Ra the r, the sources suggest that Argead succession was a function of status where many ingredients were considered before a candidate 1 eg it ima te 1 y ass urned the throne. Among the factors influencing the selection were, the status of a potential heir's mother, age, competence, order of birth, and in lieu of father to son succession, relation to the late monarch. Chapter Three outlines the development of the king's military, judicial, economic, and social responsibilities from the personal monarchy of the early period to the increa~ingly centralized realm of the fourth century. Chapter Four concentrates on the religious aspects of Argead kingship, reviewing the monarch's religious duties· and interpreting a widespread foundation myth as an attempt to distinguish Argead status by its divine origin and its specific cult responsibilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Age of Alexander the Great Course No
    Southeast Missouri State University Course Syllabus Department of History Course Title: Age of Alexander the Great Course no. UI 503 New I Catalog Description and Credit Hours of Course: The civilization and physical geography of the world of Age of Alexander the Great. (3) II Justification for the Interdisciplinary Nature of the Course: This course combines the two perspectives Human Institutions and Natural Systems, specifically the categories Development of a Major Civilization and Physical Systems. The civilization approach will examine the primary sources using not only the historical data, but will also employ archaeology, numismatics and epigraphic material that supplement the literary sources. As such, students will be able to understand the Age of Alexander not only within its own historical setting, but also within our own history and educational system. The physical approach will at the same time explore the physical geography of areas of the world in which Alexander not only traveled and his successors established Hellenistic civilization, but that are in the very forefront of today's news: Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Arabia, Egypt, and the Middle East. Several teaching strategies will encourage this interdisciplinary approach. In addition to reading the primary ancient sources (in translation) to understand the civilization of this period, students and the instructor will undertake an exhaustive examination of the physical geography of these regions using ancient sources, modern topographical maps and satellite photographs. The Age of Alexander presents one of the clearest proofs that a single great individual can change the course of history, and that the physical world can influence political, military and cultural history.
    [Show full text]
  • The Alexander-Achilles Connection: the Historical Dimension
    UCLA UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title The Best of the Macedonians: Alexander as Achilles in Arrian, Curtius, and Plutarch Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/76s9x3jv Author Vorhis, Justin Grant Publication Date 2017 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles The Best of the Macedonians: Alexander as Achilles in Arrian, Curtius, and Plutarch A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Classics by Justin Grant Vorhis 2017 © Copyright by Justin Grant Vorhis 2017 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION The Best of the Macedonians: Alexander as Achilles in Arrian, Curtius, and Plutarch by Justin Grant Vorhis Doctor of Philosophy in Classics University of California, Los Angeles, 2017 Professor Kathryn Anne Morgan, Chair This dissertation concerns the connection between Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.), the famous Macedonian king, and Achilles, the preeminent Greek hero of the Trojan War. As scholars have long recognized, Alexander’s connection to Achilles represents both a historical and a literary phenomenon: Alexander not only portrayed himself as a second Achilles, but was also portrayed as such by those who wrote about him. While scholars have traditionally concentrated on the connection’s historical dimension, I concentrate in this study on its literary dimension (the Achilles motif), taking Arrian, Curtius, and Plutarch, the three extant Alexander historians
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology
    JOURNAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY Institute of Archeology and Art History of Romanian Academy Cluj-Napoca JAHA JOURNAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY Technical University Of Cluj-Napoca AND ARCHAEOLOGY Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14795/j.v4i3 ISSN 2360 – 266X ISSN–L 2360 – 266X No. 4.3/2017 CONTENTS Sorin Nemeti REVIEWS MANIFESTO FOR THE ROMANIAN PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY .......................................... 5 STUDIES Stefan Bojowald Katja Lembke, Ammoniaca II, Das Grab des Siamun in der Oase Siwa, Mit Beiträgen von Heinz Felber Ercüment Yıldırım und Jan Moje, Unter Mitarbeit von Michael Sohn THE POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN (Zeichnungen) und Mohammed alRoumi (Photos) ..................... 55 GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND CLERGYMEN IN THE ANCIENT HISTORY ................................... 8 Oana-Corina Filip Cicero, On Life and Death, transl. John Davie, Nathan Gamble, Edmund F. Bloedow ed. Miriam T. Griffin ........................................................................ 57 A MEDICAL-HISTORICAL EXAMINATION OF THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT .................................. 18 Isobel Pinder FORM OR FUNCTION? TOWARDS A TYPOLOGY OF AUGUSTAN CITY WALLS IN ROMAN ITALY ................................ 30 Jonathan Alan Stumpf ON THE MUTILATION AND BLINDING OF BYZANTINE EMPERORS FROM THE REIGN OF HERACLIUS I UNTIL THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE .................. 46 Design & layout: Petru Ureche Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology No. 4.3/2017 MANIFESTO FOR THE ROMANIAN PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY Abstract: In this paper I shall only discuss a few of the problems of archaeology in Romania from the perspective of my one-year experience as member and vice-president of the National Commission of Archaeology. My goal here is to attempt to systematize the discussions during the meetings and round tables of the year that has just passed.
    [Show full text]
  • The Death of Alexander the Great 1. Introduction
    The death of Alexander the Great THE DEATH OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT ABSTRACT The circumstances of Alexander’s death are reviewed. Since contemporary sources vary in their accounts of the reason for his death, they are briefly reviewed and assessed. The account of Alexander’s final illness is then discussed as recorded in the King’s Journal and the Liber de morte testamentumque Alexandri Magni. The theory that he was poisoned is rejected, as is the hypothesis that he drank himself to death. His final illness shows symptoms characteristic of malignant tertian malaria (Plasmodium fal- ciparum), possibly precipitated by recent wounds, exhaustion and heavy drinking. 1. INTRODUCTION Alexander, King of Macedonia, conqueror of the Persian empire, died in Babylon at sunset on the 10th of June, 323 BC.1 He was not yet 33 years old, had been king for 12 years and 8 months and had shown himself to be fully deserving of the title “The Great”. Educated by Aristotle, trained in warfare by his father Philip II, he invaded Asia at the age of 22 and defeated Darius III within 3 years. He never returned to Macedonia but commenced with the establishment of an Asian em- pire based on Hellenistic culture whilst incorporating the best elements of the Persians and other conquered nations. With few exceptions he was remarkably magnanimous towards his former enemies, perform- ing acts of justice far in advance of his time. As Tarn (1948:I.124- 125) puts it: This was probably the most important thing about him: he was a great dreamer. To be mystical and intensely practical, to dream greatly and to do greatly, is not given to many men; it is this combination which gives Alexander his place apart in history.
    [Show full text]
  • Hellenes and Romans in Ancient China (240 BC – 1398 AD)
    SINO-PLATONIC PAPERS Number 230 August, 2012 Hellenes and Romans in Ancient China (240 BC – 1398 AD) by Lucas Christopoulos Victor H. Mair, Editor Sino-Platonic Papers Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305 USA [email protected] www.sino-platonic.org SINO-PLATONIC PAPERS FOUNDED 1986 Editor-in-Chief VICTOR H. MAIR Associate Editors PAULA ROBERTS MARK SWOFFORD ISSN 2157-9679 (print) 2157-9687 (online) SINO-PLATONIC PAPERS is an occasional series dedicated to making available to specialists and the interested public the results of research that, because of its unconventional or controversial nature, might otherwise go unpublished. The editor-in-chief actively encourages younger, not yet well established, scholars and independent authors to submit manuscripts for consideration. Contributions in any of the major scholarly languages of the world, including romanized modern standard Mandarin (MSM) and Japanese, are acceptable. In special circumstances, papers written in one of the Sinitic topolects (fangyan) may be considered for publication. Although the chief focus of Sino-Platonic Papers is on the intercultural relations of China with other peoples, challenging and creative studies on a wide variety of philological subjects will be entertained. This series is not the place for safe, sober, and stodgy presentations. Sino- Platonic Papers prefers lively work that, while taking reasonable risks to advance the field, capitalizes on brilliant new insights into the development of civilization. Submissions are regularly sent out to be refereed, and extensive editorial suggestions for revision may be offered. Sino-Platonic Papers emphasizes substance over form. We do, however, strongly recommend that prospective authors consult our style guidelines at www.sino-platonic.org/stylesheet.doc.
    [Show full text]
  • Eunuchs As a Narrative Device in Greek and Roman Literature
    How the Eunuch Works: Eunuchs as a Narrative Device in Greek and Roman Literature Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Christopher Michael Erlinger, B.A. Graduate Program in Greek and Latin The Ohio State University 2016 Dissertation Committee: Benjamin Acosta-Hughes, Advisor Carolina Lopez-Ruiz, Co-Advisor Anthony Kaldellis Copyright by Christopher Michael Erlinger 2016 Abstract Until now, eunuchs in early Greek and Roman literature have been ignored by classical scholars, but this dissertation rectifies that omission. In the ensuing chapters, eunuchs in literature ranging from the Classical to the early Christian period are subjected to a scholarly analysis, many of them for the first time. This comprehensive analysis reveals that eunuchs’ presence indicates a breakdown in the rules of physiognomy and, consequently, a breakdown of major categories of identity, such as ethnicity or gender. Significantly, this broader pattern manifests itself in a distinct way, within each chronological and geographical period. ii Dedication Pro Cognationibus Amicisque iii Acknowledgements Every faculty member of the Classics Department of the Ohio State University has contributed in some way to this dissertation. During my time at Ohio State University, each has furthered my intellectual growth in their own unique way, and my debt to them is immeasurable. I owe especial thanks to Tom Hawkins and my dissertation committee: Carolina Lopez-Ruiz, Anthony Kaldellis, and Benjamin Acosta-Hughes. iv Vita 2005............................................................ Webb School of California 2009............................................................ B.A. Classics, Northwestern University 2010............................................................ Postbaccalaureate Program, University of California, Los Angeles 2010 to present..........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Unit 14 Alexander's Invasion of the Northwest*
    UNIT 14 ALEXANDER’S INVASION OF THE Janapadas and Mahajanapadas NORTHWEST* Structure 14.0 Objectives 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Sources 14.3 Alexander of Macedonia 14.4 Arrian’s Indike 14.5 Alexander’s Successors and Seleucus Nicator 14.6 Impact of Alexander’s Invasion 14.7 Summary 14.8 Key Words 14.9 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises 14.10 Suggested Readings 14.0 OBJECTIVES In this Unit, you will know about: Alexander’s invasion of the north-western India; The different sources about Alexander and their significance; Alexander’s battle with various principalities of India including Porus; Arrian’s Indike; The impact of Alexander’s invasion on India; and Megasthenes, who was a Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya’s court. 14.1 INTRODUCTION In the previous Unit you learnt about the Janapadas and Mahajanapadas which emerged in northern India in the sixth century BCE. In this unit we will focus on the north-western region of the Indian subcontinent and learn how it became a vibrant seat of activity due to events related to Alexander’s invasion in the fourth century BCE. 14.2 SOURCES The period of Alexander is well attested by a number of sources. At first instance, these sources seem impressive and remarkable. There are full length histories of the reign by Arrian and Curtius Rufus, a formal biography by Plutarch, a whole book of Diodorus Sirculus’ Bibliotheca, and substantial passages in the later books of Strabo’s Geography. However, despite giving an impression of being substantial, their value as primary sources is put to question as they are all late.
    [Show full text]