090109 VO Gender and Crime in Ancient Greek Culture, Religion and Mythology (2010W)

This course will reflect on a range of issues pertinent to the study of ancient Greek gender and violence from a range of methodological perspectives guided by a book that I have just received a contract to co-write on the topic with Dr Fiona McHardy. Competing theories have been generated over recent decades on violence in historical studies and anthropology at a time where there has also been an explosion in gendered approaches to ancient Greece. The course will take a multidisciplinary focus that combines the two areas through an exploration of gendered elements of crime. The course will explore current debates over whether violence is culturally conditioned or biologically determined. It will consider the applicability to the study of Greek history, religion and mythology of the Daly and Wilson approach to violence which suggests that sexual jealousy is at the root of the majority of violent acts including murder.

The course of lectures would cover a range of areas including how to approach ancient evidence from methodological perspectives including psychological, anthropological and criminological, with specific topics to include infanticide, domestic violence, and so-called 'honour' killings The archaeological evidence will be considered, as will the rich mythological sources and the range of oratorical texts relevant to the topic. A strong focus throughout will be on the visual material particularly vase paintings of scenes including the killing of Deiphobos, Ajax's theft of the Palladion, and depictions of erotic pursuit.