Subject Area
History; Literacy; Minority & ethnic groups
Description
Following the emergence of the Greek alphabet in 8th century B.C.E, Greece produced literary works which demonstrated contemporary beliefs, customs, and practices. Additionally, pottery during this era began to be more expressive. The use of geometric shapes and imagery from Egypt were later used to create stories and induce emotions in pottery. Following the Archaic period, the Classical era has produced a plethora of literary and artistic material that expands on material from the Archaic era while simultaneously providing commentary on its own period. While not in a consistent manner, an underlying theme within the art and literature of the Archaic and Classical period is race. But can the term ‘race’ be used in the context of antiquity? Scholars such as Frank M. Snowden Jr believe modern notions of race should not be used within the context of antiquity. Others may extend this belief and state that the ancients were ethnocentric rather than racist.
Nonetheless, race was an important feature within ancient Greek society as it was used as a distinction between those who were Greek and non-Greek. The change in the ethnic and racial background of characters such as Princess Andromeda and King Cepheus demonstrate contradictory narratives that explore racism's role and its influence. My current source material demonstrates a gradual whitening of figures such as the Danaids and Andromeda. On the other hand, Heracles presents a portrayal which contrasts his typical presentations. Some mythological figures like Andromeda may be Ethiopian in origin but are depicted as mixed race by one artist or writer and be depicted as white by another. This conflicting attitude, primarily seen in Classical literature and art, demonstrates the rise ethnic and racial prejudice within Ancient Greek society. My undergraduate thesis aims to illuminate how the conflicting depictions of race in figures such as the Danaids, Perseus, Princess Andromeda, and Heracles can represent the relationship between race, racism, and mythology in Ancient Greece. Through the evidence found in the research process, this thesis demonstrates that in place of their African ancestry, the portrayals of the aforementioned figures become increasingly associated with Persia or are Hellenized. Simultaneously, race and ethnicity diverge to accommodate to these depictions creating an increasingly stratified hierarchy which places Black people at the lowest tier.
Publisher
Providence College
Academic Year
2024-2025
Date
Spring 2025
Type
Thesis
Format
Text
Language
English
Start Date
3-22-2025 1:00 PM
Included in
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, Classical Archaeology and Art History Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons
