Reset in Stone: Memory and Reuse in Ancient Athens

Ancient Athenians reused stone artifacts, architectural blocks, and public statuary to shape communal memory and drive innovative reinterpretations of diverse cases, focusing on agency and offering an alternative to the traditional discourse on spolia.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2021
Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press

Ancient Athenians were renowned for their innovative approach to construction, where they repurposed stone artifacts, architectural blocks, and public statuary to create new buildings and monuments. This practice extended beyond mere practicality, serving as a powerful tool for shaping communal memory during periods of significant social or political transformation. In her groundbreaking work, Sarah Rous introduces the concept of upcycling to describe this meaningful reclamation. By intentionally reusing each individual object for its specific new context, the upcycling approach fosters innovative reinterpretations of diverse cases. These include the incorporation of column drums into fortification walls, the re-cutting of inscriptions, the renovation of monuments, and even the wholesale relocation of buildings. Rous's meticulous investigation, drawing from a wealth of archaeological, literary, and epigraphic evidence spanning over eight centuries of Athenian history, weaves together seemingly disparate instances of building material reuse. Through her focus on agency, she offers an alternative perspective to the traditional discourse on spolia, challenging the notion that such practices were solely driven by necessity or economic constraints. Reset in Stone sheds light on a vital practice that played a crucial role in shaping the physical landscape of ancient Athens, allowing the city to literally build its past into its present.

Weight: 804g
Dimension: 204 x 254 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780299322847