New Heroes in Antiquity: From Achilles to Antinoos

by Christopher P. Jones

Overview

Heroes and heroines in antiquity inhabited a space somewhere between gods and humans. In this detailed, yet brilliantly wide-ranging analysis, Christopher Jones starts from literary heroes such as Achilles and moves to the historical record of those exceptional men and women who were worshiped after death. He asks why and how mortals were heroized, and what exactly becoming a hero entailed in terms of religious action and belief. He proves that the growing popularity of heroizing the dead—fallen warriors, family members, magnanimous citizens—represents not a decline from earlier practice but an adaptation to new contexts and modes of thought. The most famous example of this process is Hadrian’s beloved, Antinoos, who can now be located within an ancient tradition of heroizing extraordinary youths who died prematurely. This book, wholly new and beautifully written, rescues the hero from literary metaphor and vividly restores heroism to the reality of ancient life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674035867
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Series:	Revealing Antiquity , #18
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	806,968
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Christopher P. Jones is George Martin Lane Professor of the Classics and of History, Emeritus, at Harvard University.

Table of Contents

• Acknowledgments
• List of Illustrations
• Introduction

1. Poetic Heroes
2. Local Heroes
3. Warriors and Patriots
4. Athletes, Poets, Philosophers
5. Private Heroes
6. Greek Heroes in a Roman World
7. Antinoos
8. Heroes and Saints

• Appendix: Living Heroes?
• Notes
• Index

What People are Saying About This

Once again, Christopher Jones brilliantly illuminates the intricate complicities between religion and politics in the ancient world. With his deft scholarship and graceful style, Jones weaves together archaeology, history, poetry and philosophy, bringing to life a world in which outstanding service, valor, or talent could be rewarded, if not with full immortality, then at least with everlasting honors.

Simon Hornblower

This is an outstandingly interesting and important work about ancient Greek 'heroes,' undoubtedly a fresh and original contribution to the literature. It is beautifully written--a real pleasure to read. I devoured it at one sitting.
— Simon Hornblower, University College of London

Glenn Most

Once again, Christopher Jones brilliantly illuminates the intricate complicities between religion and politics in the ancient world. With his deft scholarship and graceful style, Jones weaves together archaeology, history, poetry and philosophy, bringing to life a world in which outstanding service, valor, or talent could be rewarded, if not with full immortality, then at least with everlasting honors.

— Glenn Most, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa/University of Chicago

Editorial Reviews

The quiet accumulation of data in this short but massively documented study sounds out many registers of ancient heroism—from Odysseus' uncanny libation of blood into a trench for the thirsty ghosts, through the domestic dignity of Attic reliefs, and eventually to Roman flights of fancy about the Elysian Fields, now reassuringly open to all the blessed dead.

Times Literary Supplement - Jane Lightfoot

Once again, Christopher Jones brilliantly illuminates the intricate complicities between religion and politics in the ancient world. With his deft scholarship and graceful style, Jones weaves together archaeology, history, poetry and philosophy, bringing to life a world in which outstanding service, valor, or talent could be rewarded, if not with full immortality, then at least with everlasting honors.

Glenn Most

This is an outstandingly interesting and important work about ancient Greek 'heroes,' undoubtedly a fresh and original contribution to the literature. It is beautifully written—a real pleasure to read. I devoured it at one sitting.

Simon Hornblower

It's an excellent book.

New York Review of Books online - Mary Beard

The quiet accumulation of data in this short but massively documented study sounds out many registers of ancient heroism—from Odysseus' uncanny libation of blood into a trench for the thirsty ghosts, through the domestic dignity of Attic reliefs, and eventually to Roman flights of fancy about the Elysian Fields, now reassuringly open to all the blessed dead.
— Jane Lightfoot

Times Literary Supplement

It's an excellent book.
— Mary Beard

New York Review of Books online