Tullia Spinedi | Università di Urbino "Carlo Bo" (original) (raw)

Papers by Tullia Spinedi

The act of posing riddles, within the Greek cultural tradition, is usually associated with the co... more The act of posing riddles, within the Greek cultural tradition, is usually associated with the context of the symposium, which is a typical male institution. On the other hand, some ancient authors (Plutarch, in his Quaestiones Conviviales, and Athaeneus, in his Deipnosophistai) provide evidence of riddling practice in female ritual sympotic contexts: this study offers a collection of the ancient sources and some observations about the forms and functions of riddles with-in the context of the cults in which they are framed (the Adonia of Samos and the Agrionia of Chaeronea), to arrive at some general considerations.

RCCM, 2023

Abstract: the personal name ‘Μυῖα’ (‘Myia’, ‘Fly’) seems quite documented in ancient Greek litera... more Abstract: the personal name ‘Μυῖα’ (‘Myia’, ‘Fly’) seems quite documented in ancient Greek literary texts, both as a proper name and as a nickname. This study aims to explore the personalities, proposed by the text tradition, carrying such a name, investigating their role and/or career; then the attribution of such a nickname to the Boeotian poet Corinna is examined, within the tradition of the names of the female poets. On the basis of this preliminary investigation, a hypothesis about the connotation of the name is proposed: after the analysis of occurrences of the insect in literature, the name might reveal a slight musical attitude. An appendix gives reason for other characteristic of the fly in ancient Greek texts, and also proposes some suggestions of the musical trait of the fly in modern poetry.

The PSI x 1174 (PMG 690) preserves the end of a poem and the beginning of another; this study aim... more The PSI x 1174 (PMG 690) preserves the end of a poem and the beginning of another; this study aims to propose an interpretation of the former. After a brief introduction to the papyrological, philological and linguistic features of the papyrus, a new lecture of line five is suggested, and an analysis of every single preserved term is proposed: it appears likely to identify the poem with the episode of the Iphigenia’s sacrifice in Aulis. As a matter of fact, if observed from an intertextual point of view, the words used seem to correspond to the expressions selected by other poets when describing this mythological scene. In conclusion, an organization of the bookroll is supposed, and possible relations with Corinna’s poetry are explored.

Talks by Tullia Spinedi

Mappare significa identificare dei luoghi, ossia associare la produzione poetica delle poetesse l... more Mappare significa identificare dei luoghi, ossia associare la produzione poetica delle poetesse liriche a delle realtà concrete, storicamente esistite e abitate da comunità. Questa operazione prevede un costante dialogo con le fonti archeologiche, epigrafiche, documentarie e storiografiche. Scopo della mappatura è ricercare se, e dove, l'autorialità femminile, in ambito di composizioni poetiche liriche, possa aver avuto spazio d'azione di rilevanza pubblica, attraverso l'analisi delle occasioni performative e della localizzazione (e circolazione) delle saghe mitiche.

The poetry of Corinna, whose chronology is debated, is characterized by a distinctive narrative c... more The poetry of Corinna, whose chronology is debated, is characterized by a distinctive narrative content, and reveals a local, inner point of view, devoted to a regional, 'ethnic' mythology. This means that a 'female' voice appears to be appointed to celebrate local heroes and episodes: Corinna's compositions are not confined to female audiences and themes. Her poetry also shares some interests with local historiographers, engaged in discussion about foundations, etiologies, identity of places: they focus significant places, as the Ogygian gates or the Teumesos promontory in the Theban area. Corinna's mythography pays attention to the eastern side of the region too: her poems preserve references to eastern towns, such as Aulis, Hyria, Tanagra; to eastern heroes, such as Euonymos and Orion; to eastern genealogies and religious activities, (marriages, sacrifices, consultation of oracles...).
The aim of the presentation is to compare Corinna's fragments concerning eastern Boiotia (including Boeotica incerti auctoris, with a few new readings and interpretations that may reveal an interest in traditions concerning Aulis) to local historiographers' sources and material finds, to investigate eastern mythology and ritual practices; this might even enlighten women's involvement in shaping local identity.

A new interpretation for the first poem preserved in PSI X 1174, before understood as an Iliouper... more A new interpretation for the first poem preserved in PSI X 1174, before understood as an Ilioupersis, is suggested: it might be identified with the episode of Iphigenia's sacrifice.

New trends in classics show an increasing interest in local cultures, as independent from the Ath... more New trends in classics show an increasing interest in local cultures, as independent from the Athenocentric perspective (Beck 2020): in particular, ancient Boeotian ‘ethnogenesis’ (Kühr 2006, Larson 2007) received new attention, and local historiography has been recently enlightened as an original production (Tufano 2019). What seems to emerge is that the process of Boeotian identity construction lays on the intentional promotion of an epichoric culture.
This can be observed through the interest in mythical foundations, or in history of religious sites, showed by local authors. In the preserved literary tradition, the use of performativity of language can be identified as a useful instrument to build a common past or to give a peculiar interpretation to some events: etiology seems to be much employed. Hence, the many cases of mythological unica are explainable thanks to the local, inner perspective.
Collins focused on the specific politic intention in Corinna’s narratives, depicting her compositions not as ‘parochial’ (Page 1953) but as regional, in their non-Athenocentric point of view. Therefore, every version of a mythological episode carries its own motivation, related to a specific will. So it is when, in Corinna’s fragments, we read of ancient legendary kings (671 PMG), or of Oedipus as killing the Teumesian Fox (672 PMG).
The aim of the paper is an attempt to collocate Corinna’s production in her regional context, instead of, as usually, in the mere literary tradition, comparing some Boeotian local historiographers’ sources to some Corinna’s texts.

It is common knowledge that personal names, in ancient Greece, often originated from elements of ... more It is common knowledge that personal names, in ancient Greece, often originated from elements of the milieu naturel (rivers, plants, animals…): suffice it to mention the dissemination of the name ‘Μέλισσα’, ‘bee’, widely attested in epigraphic sources (about twenty occurrences in Attica, little less in central Greece; the same amount appears disseminated in the Peloponnese, in the western regions and in Magna Graecia, as the Fraser-Matthews’ Lexicon of Greek Personal names shows). Another female ‘insect’ name is documented, that may seem surprising to our taste: ‘Μυῖα’ (‘Myia’, ‘Fly’) appears in ancient Greek literary texts (for the first time in Luc., Enc. Musc., 10-11, then in other authors such as Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom., 4, 19, 121, Porphiry, VP, 4, Iamblichus, VP, 36, 267, in the Suda lexicon, s.v. Μυῖα, μ 1361, 1362, 1363 and s.v. Κόριννα, κ 2087, 2088, 2089), both as a proper name and as a nickname. This study aims to explore the personalities, proposed by the textual tradition, carrying such a name or nickname (as the Boeotian female poet Corinna), through the investigation of their role and/or career; on the basis of this preliminary examination, the analysis of the occurrences of the fly in literature and of its behaviour seems to suggest an unexpected connotation of the name, that might reveal, among other characteristics, a slight musical attitude.

Athena's rejection of the αὐλός is an Athenian mythical episode connected to the specific local s... more Athena's rejection of the αὐλός is an Athenian mythical episode connected to the specific local sensibility and willingness; other places' legends, indeed, promote Athena's role within the art of αὐλητική, especially in the regions where such a τέχνη was particularly cultivated. The presentation aims to explore some sources related to the perception and the description of Athena's patronage of αὐλητική in 5th century Boeotia.

Panel Chair and Conference Organizer by Tullia Spinedi

The act of posing riddles, within the Greek cultural tradition, is usually associated with the co... more The act of posing riddles, within the Greek cultural tradition, is usually associated with the context of the symposium, which is a typical male institution. On the other hand, some ancient authors (Plutarch, in his Quaestiones Conviviales, and Athaeneus, in his Deipnosophistai) provide evidence of riddling practice in female ritual sympotic contexts: this study offers a collection of the ancient sources and some observations about the forms and functions of riddles with-in the context of the cults in which they are framed (the Adonia of Samos and the Agrionia of Chaeronea), to arrive at some general considerations.

RCCM, 2023

Abstract: the personal name ‘Μυῖα’ (‘Myia’, ‘Fly’) seems quite documented in ancient Greek litera... more Abstract: the personal name ‘Μυῖα’ (‘Myia’, ‘Fly’) seems quite documented in ancient Greek literary texts, both as a proper name and as a nickname. This study aims to explore the personalities, proposed by the text tradition, carrying such a name, investigating their role and/or career; then the attribution of such a nickname to the Boeotian poet Corinna is examined, within the tradition of the names of the female poets. On the basis of this preliminary investigation, a hypothesis about the connotation of the name is proposed: after the analysis of occurrences of the insect in literature, the name might reveal a slight musical attitude. An appendix gives reason for other characteristic of the fly in ancient Greek texts, and also proposes some suggestions of the musical trait of the fly in modern poetry.

The PSI x 1174 (PMG 690) preserves the end of a poem and the beginning of another; this study aim... more The PSI x 1174 (PMG 690) preserves the end of a poem and the beginning of another; this study aims to propose an interpretation of the former. After a brief introduction to the papyrological, philological and linguistic features of the papyrus, a new lecture of line five is suggested, and an analysis of every single preserved term is proposed: it appears likely to identify the poem with the episode of the Iphigenia’s sacrifice in Aulis. As a matter of fact, if observed from an intertextual point of view, the words used seem to correspond to the expressions selected by other poets when describing this mythological scene. In conclusion, an organization of the bookroll is supposed, and possible relations with Corinna’s poetry are explored.

Mappare significa identificare dei luoghi, ossia associare la produzione poetica delle poetesse l... more Mappare significa identificare dei luoghi, ossia associare la produzione poetica delle poetesse liriche a delle realtà concrete, storicamente esistite e abitate da comunità. Questa operazione prevede un costante dialogo con le fonti archeologiche, epigrafiche, documentarie e storiografiche. Scopo della mappatura è ricercare se, e dove, l'autorialità femminile, in ambito di composizioni poetiche liriche, possa aver avuto spazio d'azione di rilevanza pubblica, attraverso l'analisi delle occasioni performative e della localizzazione (e circolazione) delle saghe mitiche.

The poetry of Corinna, whose chronology is debated, is characterized by a distinctive narrative c... more The poetry of Corinna, whose chronology is debated, is characterized by a distinctive narrative content, and reveals a local, inner point of view, devoted to a regional, 'ethnic' mythology. This means that a 'female' voice appears to be appointed to celebrate local heroes and episodes: Corinna's compositions are not confined to female audiences and themes. Her poetry also shares some interests with local historiographers, engaged in discussion about foundations, etiologies, identity of places: they focus significant places, as the Ogygian gates or the Teumesos promontory in the Theban area. Corinna's mythography pays attention to the eastern side of the region too: her poems preserve references to eastern towns, such as Aulis, Hyria, Tanagra; to eastern heroes, such as Euonymos and Orion; to eastern genealogies and religious activities, (marriages, sacrifices, consultation of oracles...).
The aim of the presentation is to compare Corinna's fragments concerning eastern Boiotia (including Boeotica incerti auctoris, with a few new readings and interpretations that may reveal an interest in traditions concerning Aulis) to local historiographers' sources and material finds, to investigate eastern mythology and ritual practices; this might even enlighten women's involvement in shaping local identity.

A new interpretation for the first poem preserved in PSI X 1174, before understood as an Iliouper... more A new interpretation for the first poem preserved in PSI X 1174, before understood as an Ilioupersis, is suggested: it might be identified with the episode of Iphigenia's sacrifice.

New trends in classics show an increasing interest in local cultures, as independent from the Ath... more New trends in classics show an increasing interest in local cultures, as independent from the Athenocentric perspective (Beck 2020): in particular, ancient Boeotian ‘ethnogenesis’ (Kühr 2006, Larson 2007) received new attention, and local historiography has been recently enlightened as an original production (Tufano 2019). What seems to emerge is that the process of Boeotian identity construction lays on the intentional promotion of an epichoric culture.
This can be observed through the interest in mythical foundations, or in history of religious sites, showed by local authors. In the preserved literary tradition, the use of performativity of language can be identified as a useful instrument to build a common past or to give a peculiar interpretation to some events: etiology seems to be much employed. Hence, the many cases of mythological unica are explainable thanks to the local, inner perspective.
Collins focused on the specific politic intention in Corinna’s narratives, depicting her compositions not as ‘parochial’ (Page 1953) but as regional, in their non-Athenocentric point of view. Therefore, every version of a mythological episode carries its own motivation, related to a specific will. So it is when, in Corinna’s fragments, we read of ancient legendary kings (671 PMG), or of Oedipus as killing the Teumesian Fox (672 PMG).
The aim of the paper is an attempt to collocate Corinna’s production in her regional context, instead of, as usually, in the mere literary tradition, comparing some Boeotian local historiographers’ sources to some Corinna’s texts.

It is common knowledge that personal names, in ancient Greece, often originated from elements of ... more It is common knowledge that personal names, in ancient Greece, often originated from elements of the milieu naturel (rivers, plants, animals…): suffice it to mention the dissemination of the name ‘Μέλισσα’, ‘bee’, widely attested in epigraphic sources (about twenty occurrences in Attica, little less in central Greece; the same amount appears disseminated in the Peloponnese, in the western regions and in Magna Graecia, as the Fraser-Matthews’ Lexicon of Greek Personal names shows). Another female ‘insect’ name is documented, that may seem surprising to our taste: ‘Μυῖα’ (‘Myia’, ‘Fly’) appears in ancient Greek literary texts (for the first time in Luc., Enc. Musc., 10-11, then in other authors such as Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom., 4, 19, 121, Porphiry, VP, 4, Iamblichus, VP, 36, 267, in the Suda lexicon, s.v. Μυῖα, μ 1361, 1362, 1363 and s.v. Κόριννα, κ 2087, 2088, 2089), both as a proper name and as a nickname. This study aims to explore the personalities, proposed by the textual tradition, carrying such a name or nickname (as the Boeotian female poet Corinna), through the investigation of their role and/or career; on the basis of this preliminary examination, the analysis of the occurrences of the fly in literature and of its behaviour seems to suggest an unexpected connotation of the name, that might reveal, among other characteristics, a slight musical attitude.

Athena's rejection of the αὐλός is an Athenian mythical episode connected to the specific local s... more Athena's rejection of the αὐλός is an Athenian mythical episode connected to the specific local sensibility and willingness; other places' legends, indeed, promote Athena's role within the art of αὐλητική, especially in the regions where such a τέχνη was particularly cultivated. The presentation aims to explore some sources related to the perception and the description of Athena's patronage of αὐλητική in 5th century Boeotia.