Euripides' Iphigenia in Tauris: The vertical theme in classical tragedy (original) (raw)

2021

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary exploration of the vertical theme, of age-old spatial archetypes and the anthropocentrism of classical architecture, the divine-human interface, plus the role of gender in the dramaturgical corpus of Euripides. Research will continue with the comparative exploration of similar themes in Aeschylus and Sophocles. More particularly, the main contributions of this paper are the following: First, it argues that certain kinds of verticality in Euripides, like columns, statues and temples, are a symbol of power, sacredness and gender, paradoxically both male and female. Second, it pursues the hypothesis that, in Euripides, the Athenian tragedy portrays a fascinating architectonic and artistic diachrony, linking as it does Minoan, Mycenaean, archaic and classical times, especially in regard to the palace, temple and colonnade theme. Euripides appears to have been cognizant of this reverent tradition. Third, it suggests that the spirituality-materiality pairs in this tragedy are only seemingly polarized, and are replicated in architecture and sculpture.

argyro loukaki hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let argyro know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.