Social Dynamics
Social Dynamics
Chapters 7 discuss the social dynamics of the court society. It is shown how relations at court were structured by the Greek moral complex of philia (ritualised friendship) and xenia (guest-friendship). Ritual, protocol, and the practice of ritualized gift-exchange structured social relations, as well as the developing system of court titles that hierarchized later Hellenistic court societies. Throughout their existence, the Hellenistic courts remained in essence face-to-face societies. This part also contains a section on royal patronage of the arts and sciences, which is understood as part and parcel of the social fabric of the court, court poets like Theokritos and Kallimachos being philoi competing with one another for favour and prestige.
Keywords: Courtiers, Patronage, Social groups, Social identity, Ritualized friendship, Philia
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