Nikolas Hächler

OBSERVATIONS OF THE MARVELLOUS IN STRABO’S GEOGRAPHIKA – THE USE OF THE UNREAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE WORLD IN ANTIQUITY

Introduction

Observations of the marvellous in strabo’s geographika – the use of the unreal for the study of the world in antiquity. Explore Strabo's Geographika: how myths, paradoxes, and ethnography shaped understanding of the ancient world. Gain insight into antique knowledge discourses and diverse peoples.

Abstract

In his cultural geography, Strabo gathered important, useful and amusing information concerning the structure of earth's nature, its regions and the different peoples who inhabit the world. The author was therefore also interested in myths, paradoxographical facts and ethnographic characterisations of strange and extraordinary peoples, so that by analysing the wondrous accounts of his works in this overview, the reader gets a deeper understanding of the formation and handling of antique discourses of knowledge regarding the understanding of the world's composition. By examining Strabo's use of myth, three points have to be considered: (1) Strabo tried to establish a connection between Homer’s epics and his own writings by explaining the poet's stories in an allegorical way. Thus he gathered geographical knowledge from epic writings and joined the ranks of important writers of the Ecumene. (2) Pure mythical stories of literary antecessors – except Homer – were critically reviewed and mostly rejected. (3) Mythic accounts of the cities of the Ecumene were not as much criticized, as seen as a part of their historical identity of the Ecumene. During his studies concerning nature, Strabo encountered also paradoxographical records, which apparently expanded his knowledge of the world and remained wondrous, as long as he was not able to explain them according to the scientific theories of the time. Thus, one can investigate how antique patterns of explanation worked and came into use. Finally, Strabo divided different peoples in three contrasting groups: (1) The inhabitants of the Ecumene appear as civilizing precursors (2) especially against partially hostile high cultures for example the Egyptians, the Indians and the Parthians. (3)They are also bound to conquer barbaric and mythical groups, like the Scythii or Amazones, whose customs seem amazing but also partly repellent.

Review

This paper promises a compelling examination of Strabo’s engagement with the "marvellous" in his *Geographika*, proposing to illuminate antique discourses of knowledge and world understanding. The abstract clearly articulates the central thesis: that by analyzing Strabo’s treatment of myths, paradoxographical facts, and ethnographic characterisations of extraordinary peoples, readers will gain deeper insight into how ancient scholars formulated and managed their understanding of the world's composition. This focus on the "unreal" as a lens for studying ancient epistemology offers a fresh perspective on Strabo's monumental work, moving beyond a purely descriptive approach to his geographical accounts. The proposed analysis is structured around three distinct, yet interconnected, aspects of Strabo's methodology. Firstly, the paper will explore Strabo's sophisticated approach to myth, distinguishing between his allegorical interpretation of Homer to establish geographical knowledge, his critical rejection of pure myths from other literary predecessors, and his acceptance of local myths as integral to a city's historical identity within the Ecumene. Secondly, it aims to investigate how Strabo grappled with paradoxographical records, treating them as wondrous phenomena that expanded his knowledge until they could be explained by contemporary scientific theories, thereby revealing ancient patterns of explanation. Finally, the study will analyze Strabo's tripartite categorization of peoples, distinguishing the civilizing precursors of the Ecumene from hostile high cultures and barbaric, mythical groups, offering insight into ancient cultural hierarchies and imperialistic attitudes. Overall, this research outlines a rigorous and multi-faceted investigation into Strabo's intellectual framework, promising a significant contribution to the fields of ancient geography, history, and the history of science. By systematically dissecting Strabo's nuanced handling of the extraordinary, the paper stands to offer valuable insights into the complex interplay between inherited tradition, empirical observation, and cultural perspectives in ancient knowledge formation. The clarity of the proposed analytical points suggests a well-structured argument that will undoubtedly enrich our understanding of how antiquity navigated the boundaries between the real and the imagined in its quest to comprehend the world.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.