Homeric Variations on Lament by Briseis

Casey Dué examines the figure of Briseis, the concubine of Achilles in theIliad, as an example of the traditional artistry enabled by a complex and self-contained oral poetic system. Briseis' lament for Patroclus inIliad 19 hints at her role in the larger epic tradition. Dué argues that Briseis' role in theIliad is enormously compressed, both in relation to theIliad and the entire tradition of the epic cycle. Through a close reading of Homeric passages, Homeric Variations on a Lament by Briseis shows how theIliad refers to expanded and alternative traditions about Briseis even while asserting its own version of her story. It seems likely that there were at least two variations on the story of Briseis, because of the two-fold pattern she fulfills in ancient references. In one variation she is a wife whose husband is killed by Achilles in the sack of his city; in another she is an unmarried girl, the daughter of a king, whose father is killed when Achilles captures her town. OurIliad alludes to multiple variations on these two basic themes.

Casey DuZ examines the figure of Briseis, the concubine of Achilles in theIliad, as an example of the traditional artistry enabled by a complex and self-contained oral poetic system. Briseis' lament for Patroclus inIliad 19 hints at her role in the larger epic tradition. DuZ argues that Briseis' role in theIliad is enormously compressed, both in relation to theIliad and the entire tradition of the epic cycle. Through a close reading of Homeric passages, Homeric Variations on a Lament by Briseis shows how theIliad refers to expanded and alternative traditions about Briseis even while asserting its own version of her story.

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Du<'e> (classics, U. of Houston) examines the figure of Briseis, the concubine of Achilles in the , arguing that her role in the is greatly compressed, both in relation to the and the entire tradition of the epic cycle. Her close reading of the text shows how the refers to expanded and alternative traditions about Briseis even while asserting its own version of her story. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Casey Dué is Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of Houston. She holds a B.A. in Classics from Brown University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Classical Philology from Harvard University. Her teaching and research interests include ancient Greek oral traditions, Homeric poetry, Greek tragedy, and textual criticism.