This is Scythia : the function of the Scythian Logos in Herodotus’ Histories

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2012
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Thesis
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en_US
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Abstract
This thesis examines the function of the Scythian Logos within Herodotus’ Histories, expanding upon the ideas of François Hartog. Hartog developed the idea of Scythia as a “mirror,” and then Christopher Pelling expanded upon this idea in order to examine not just Greek strengths, but Greek weaknesses. The idea of the Scythians being presented as a mirror, able to reveal something about Greek character, is combined with the research of Kurt Raaflaub on the development of the concept of freedom. This thesis looks at how Herodotus presents the Scythians within the Histories as both an Other and as a foil for the Greeks. The idea of a foil is then applied to the parallel wars of Scythia versus Persia and Greece versus Persia, in order to understand how the Scythian Logos not only foreshadows Greek war but presents an exemplar of conflict to follow.
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