Cassandra and the Poetics of Prophecy in Greek and Latin Literature

This book explores the miscommunications of the prophet Cassandra in Greek and Latin poetry, focusing on the dialogic interactions between her articulation and realization of prophecies in five canonical ancient texts. It shows how confusion and misunderstanding can lead to creative translation and how Cassandra's story of tragic communicative disability becomes an optimistic metaphor for literary canon-formation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This captivating book delves into the intricate web of miscommunications that plagued the prophet Cassandra, condemned to prophesy the truth but tragically never to be understood until it was too late. Through a meticulous exploration of Greek and Latin poetry, the author sheds light on the profound dialogic interactions that unfolded between the articulation and realization of Cassandra's prophecies across five canonical ancient texts, spanning from the works of Aeschylus to Seneca's Agamemnon. Despite the confusion and misunderstandings that plagued these interactions, the book reveals a remarkable display of diverse parties engaged in a creative translation process, seeking to extract meaning from Cassandra's seemingly nonsensical voice. Moreover, as Cassandra's story traverses different literary works, including her appearance in Virgil's Aeneid as the Sibyl, her tale of tragic communicative disability evolves into an inspiring metaphor for the formation of literary canons. By inviting us to reexamine the status and significance of even the most enigmatic female prophets in ancient poetry, this book offers a thought-provoking and enriching perspective on the complexities of communication and the enduring power of storytelling.

ISBN-13: 9781108462990