A Day in Hellenist Egypt:
Theocritus’ Idylls and Popular Writing
1 Theocritus (circa 300 – 250 BC)
o Seasoned traveller born in Syracus; later settled in Alexandria
o Popularised Rustic and Lively Style of Story-telling
(ç è Lofty and Heroic as in Epic)
§ Pastoral Poems: Rural; Praise of Nature (è British Romanticism)
§ Idylls (“Little Forms”): Urban; Depiction of Everyday Street life.
· cf. Mass Urban Migration
· Idylls: series 1-30
o Preservation/Reflection of Greek Culture in Hellenist (Colonial) Egypt
1 Idylls 14: [R 96-99]
a casual conversation between two friends, “Aeschines and Thyonichus”
1 Characters: Aeschines, Thyonichus and Cynisca
o All Greeks with Greek Names
o “Hanging out” mostly with the Greeks
1 Theme: Love and Jealousy[1]; Friendship[2]
1 Wealth of Cultural and Socio-Political References[3]:
o Anti-intellectualism: mocking of the philosopher
§ Brainy or Brawny
o Preservation of the Olympian Athletic Culture
o Gendered Virtues
o Political situation and the choice: joining the Army – whose Army?
o [Any other themes you discovered?]
[1] Look for the relevant passages in the text.
[2] Look for the relevant passages in the text.
[3] Look for the relevant passages in the text.