The Legend of Knidia Today

• Authors: Bažant Jan
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper analyses the story about a young lover who left the semen mark on the marble statue of Knidia by Praxiteles. The findings are threefold. First, we show that the literal interpretation of this ancient story began in the seventies of the 20th century, in connection with a feminist re-evaluation of Western cultural tradition. Second, we argue that the ancient story cannot be taken at face value. The story of Knidia’s lover does not provide information either about the appearance and staging of this marble statue, or the way in which actual visitors behaved in its sanctuary at Knidos. Third, we stress that any interpretation of the Tale of Stain must take into account that its original audience was aware that it was a work of art with tremendous sacred power.

Keywords

EN

Aphrodite; Knidia; Praxiteles; feminism

Discipline

• PHILOLOGY_&_LINGUISTICS: PHILOLOGY & LINGUISTICS
• PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Eirene. Studia Graeca et Latina
• Year: 2017
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 77-110

Contributors

author

Bažant Jan

• Centre for Classical Studies at the Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Florenci 3, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic