DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?

<p>In a preserved fragment, the historian Sosicrates records a custom which was practiced among the ancient Phaestians in Crete: the boys were trained to tell witty jests from early childhood. The author of this paper proposes the educational purpose of the custom for the boys’ future military...

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Main Author: Anna J. Strataridaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mega Publishing House 2022-09-01
Series:Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology
Online Access:https://jaha.org.ro/index.php/JAHA/article/view/692
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author Anna J. Strataridaki
author_facet Anna J. Strataridaki
author_sort Anna J. Strataridaki
collection DOAJ
description <p>In a preserved fragment, the historian Sosicrates records a custom which was practiced among the ancient Phaestians in Crete: the boys were trained to tell witty jests from early childhood. The author of this paper proposes the educational purpose of the custom for the boys’ future military and social role. The practice is interpreted as a pedagogical measure aimed to control the untamed nature of the young trainees, and to cultivate their cohesiveness as a group. The custom seems to have taken place at the <em>syssitia</em>, where, according to ancient sources, Cretan <em>agōgē</em> was realized. The Phaestian jesting is also examined as a probable precursor for wits spoken in Crete today. </p>
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series Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology
spelling doaj-art-ca201e86193a466ebe628b762e0e47b82025-08-20T02:00:54ZengMega Publishing HouseJournal of Ancient History and Archaeology2360-266X2022-09-019210.14795/j.v9i2.692413DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?Anna J. Strataridaki0University of Crete<p>In a preserved fragment, the historian Sosicrates records a custom which was practiced among the ancient Phaestians in Crete: the boys were trained to tell witty jests from early childhood. The author of this paper proposes the educational purpose of the custom for the boys’ future military and social role. The practice is interpreted as a pedagogical measure aimed to control the untamed nature of the young trainees, and to cultivate their cohesiveness as a group. The custom seems to have taken place at the <em>syssitia</em>, where, according to ancient sources, Cretan <em>agōgē</em> was realized. The Phaestian jesting is also examined as a probable precursor for wits spoken in Crete today. </p>https://jaha.org.ro/index.php/JAHA/article/view/692
spellingShingle Anna J. Strataridaki
DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?
Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology
title DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?
title_full DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?
title_fullStr DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?
title_full_unstemmed DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?
title_short DID BOYS REALLY TELL JOKES IN ANCIENT PHAESTUS?
title_sort did boys really tell jokes in ancient phaestus
url https://jaha.org.ro/index.php/JAHA/article/view/692
work_keys_str_mv AT annajstrataridaki didboysreallytelljokesinancientphaestus