Landscapes of War in Greek and Roman Literature

This open-access book explores how ancient war landscapes were created, manipulated, and represented in literature. It examines the impact of warfare on the natural world, the distinctions between spaces of war and other landscapes, the encoding of different experiences of war, and the ways in which ancient war landscapes shaped modern experiences and representations of war. The book is divided into four sections, with contributions focusing on modern intersections of war, landscape, and the classical past.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In this expansive open-access volume, literary scholars and ancient historians from around the world delve into the intricate tapestry of the creation, manipulation, and representation of ancient war landscapes in literature. The landscape, a powerful force, holds the potential to ignite armed conflicts, shape their course, and deeply impact the emotional experiences of those involved. Simultaneously, warfare reshapes landscapes, both physically and perceptually, leaving lasting imprints that shape how they are perceived and remembered in the future.

Landscapes of War in Greek and Roman Literature emerges as a groundbreaking exploration, shedding light on Greco-Roman literary responses to this intricate interplay. Drawing upon cutting-edge theories from cognitive psychology, memory studies, ecocriticism, and other fields, the book's individual chapters engage in profound inquiries. They explore how the Greeks and Romans portrayed the aftermath of war on the natural world, discerning the distinctions they made between spaces of conflict and other landscapes. They also unravel the intricate encoding of diverse war experiences within literary representations of the landscape, delving into the connections between memory and the spatial context of warfare. Moreover, the book examines how ancient war landscapes shaped modern perceptions and representations of war, highlighting the enduring echoes of the past in our contemporary understanding of conflict.

Organized into four compelling sections, contributors delve into the multifaceted perspectives of combatants, exploring their perception and emotional connection to war landscapes. They examine the symbiotic relationship between war and the natural environment, shedding light on the ecological consequences and environmental transformations caused by warfare. Symbolic and physical forms of territorial control within a military context are explored, highlighting the strategies employed by ancient societies to assert dominance and assert control over their territories. Additionally, war landscapes are recognized as spaces of memory, where the past and present converge, shaping collective narratives and shaping individual experiences. Several contributions specifically focus on the contemporary intersections of war, landscape, and the classical past, highlighting the ongoing relevance and resonance of ancient warfare in our modern world.

The ebook editions of this book are made freely accessible to all, thanks to a generous CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license granted by bloomsburycollections.com. This open access initiative ensures that the knowledge and insights contained within these pages are accessible to a wide audience, fostering scholarly discourse and promoting a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between war, landscape, and literature.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350157903