Life / Afterlife

Abstract

Life / Afterlife: Revolution and Reflection in the Ancient Greek Underworld from Homer to Lucian explores the mechanics, function, and impact of ancient Greek Underworld scenes, a unique and ancient form of embedded storytelling appearing across time and genres. This book approaches Underworld scenes as a special register of language that acts as a narrative space outside of chronological time to reflect on important themes and issues in a frame narrative. This book argues that Underworld scenes use hypertextual poetics to embed authorial commentary by creating networks of texts that act as para-narratives, which provide additional information to engage audiences in the interpretative process of a given work. Life / Afterlife traces the development, evolution, and application of Underworld scenes through the works of such authors as Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Plato, Vergil, and Lucian to show how each used afterlife depictions featuring mythic and historical figures as commentaries to communicate a call to action for their audiences in response to cultural, religious, and political changes in their worlds. Using the network of Underworld scenes, authors could reinforce and challenge traditional religious and cultural beliefs and practices by presenting the long-term, cosmic effect of actions in life on an individual’s postdeath experience beyond the grave. From ancient to modern times, Underworld scenes have helped authors and audiences define the essential qualities of a “good life” for different social, political, and religious groups and their societies.