Reconstructing Damon Music, Wisdom Teaching, and Politics in Perikles' Athens

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Synopsis

Fifth-century Athenian musical and political theorist Damon was the first to study music's psychological, behavioural, and political effects, profoundly influencing debates on music theory throughout antiquity. Considered by Isokrates to be the most intelligent Athenian of his age, Damon worked alongside Perikles during the most vibrant decades of Athens' democracy. Probably using fourth-century BC sources, Olympiodoros records that 'Damon taught Perikles the songs
through which Perikles harmonized the city'. However, musical and political entanglements caused this teacher-theorist to be ostracized from Athens for ten years, at the height of Perikles' power.

Reconstructing Damon is the first comprehensive study of the most important theorist of music and poetic meter in ancient Athens, detailing his extensive influence, and providing the first systematic collection, translation, and critical examination of all ancient testimonia for him. In doing so, this volume makes an important contribution to a number of key fields, including classical Greek music and music theory, fifth-century philosophy (particularly the sophists), political
history including the growth of democracy, and the life and career of Perikles.

Book details

Author:
Robert W. Wallace
ISBN:
9780191508899
Related ISBNs:
9780199685738
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
Pages:
N/A
Reading age:
Not specified
Includes images:
No
Date of addition:
2022-09-23
Usage restrictions:
Copyright
Copyright date:
2015
Copyright by:
N/A 
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Categories:
History, Nonfiction