HIRUNDOThe McGill Journal of

Classical Studies

Volume Eight

McGill University Montreal, Quebec, Canada

2009-2010

Hirundo is the Latin word for martlet, a mythical bird without legs, always shown in flight, unceasing in its quest for knowledge. The McGill coat-of-arms has three martlets.

HIRUNDOTHE MCGILL JOURNAL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES

Founded 2001

Published once a year by the Classics Students’ Association of McGill

Brahm KleinmanEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sarah Binns, Dionisios Chrissikos, Margherita Devine, James Faulkner, Robert Eisen-berg, Zoe Forest-Cooter, Tzveta Manolova, Catherine McPherson, Jill Simmons, Michèle Smith, Patricia Tao, Graeme Taylor, Constantina Tsitouras, Ioana Tutu, Veronica Wheeler,

David Whiteside, Lauren Wilson, Parrish Wright, Congsi Wu, Hinda Young

EDITORIAL BOARD

Sarah Binns, Jill Simmons, Graeme TaylorLAYOUT EDITORS

Professor Michael P. FrondaACADEMIC ADVISOR

Front and back pictures were taken by Catherine McPherson. The cover photo features the Temple of Vesta in the forum in Rome. The back cover picture features the Arch of Titus in Rome.

Hirundo accepts essay contributions from undergraduate students of McGill University, at least 2,000 words in length, which relate to the ancient Mediterranean world. Hirundo is published once a year and uses a policy of blind review in selecting papers. It is journal policy that the copyright to the contents of each issue belongs to Hirundo. Essays in either French or English should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief at:

hirundo.history@mcgill.ca

No portion of this journal may be printed without the consent of the editorial board.

Table of Contents

Articles

Alexander McAuleyEthnicity, the Polis and the Negotiation of Identity in the Argolid, 500-440 B.C.......……1.Anne RémillardA Herodotean Reading of Solon…………………………………………………….....…11

Catherine McPhersonFact and Fiction: Crassus, Augustus and the Spolia Opima...............................................21

Margherita DevineAristocrats and Assumptions...............................................................................................35

Michèle SmithThe Failure of Alexander’s Conquest and Administration of Bactria-Sogdiana................64

Ioana Cristina TutuThe Motivation of Antigone................................................................................................73

Tzveta ManolovaThe Mytho-Historical Topography of Thebes....................................................................80

Parrish WrightSexuality and Masculinity in Catullus and Plautus............................................................95

Robert EisenbergThe Battle of Adrianople: A Reappraisal..........................................................................108

Paul Ioan VădanThe Evolution of the Study of the Hellenistic Period.......................................................121

Back Matter

David WhitesideEpisodes from the Diary of a Satyr...................................................................................132

An Interview with Margaret Palczynski...........................................................................136

An Afternoon with Donald Baronowski...........................................................................140

Helpful Classical Resources.............................................................................................142

Editor’s Preface:

Another year has passed and the Classics Programme at McGill University continues to grow in exciting ways. As the number of students in Classics and Ancient History grows, so too does the enthusiasm for Hirundo, and I am honoured to introduce this eighth edi-tion. This year’s journal begins with Alexander McAuley, as he examines how Argos inte-grated the other poleis of the Argolid through the artificial invention of common genealo-gies and ethnicity. Next, Anne Rémillard compares the Herodotean account of Solon with Solon’s surviving lyric poetry and notes several similarities between the two. Catherine McPherson reaches new conclusions concerning the old problem of Marcus Licinius Crassus and the Spolia Opima. Margherita Devine then looks for continuity and changes in the Roman aristocrat ideal as expressed in Roman literature of the late Republic and early Principate, and argues that the same values endured despite great changes in Ro-man society. Michèle Smith analyzes Alexander the Great’s administrative and military failures in Bactria-Sogdiana as a case study for Alexander’s overall inability to govern the Persian Empire. Next, Ioana Tutu shows that the motivation of Sophocles’ Antigone is more complex and multifaceted than past scholars have admitted. Tzveta Manolova studies the topography of Thebes and shows that the physical space of the polis often mirrored its structural and political developments. Parrish Wright then compares Plautus and Catullus to assess how they define and deconstruct the ideals of Roman masculin-ity. Robert Eisenberg offers a comprehensive military account and analysis of the Battle of Adrianople in 378 A.D. Finally, Paul Vădan traces the development of scholarship on the often ignored Hellenistic Period and demonstrates how the field may develop in the future.

I would like to thank Professor Michael Fronda, Hirundo’s academic advisor, for his constant support, patience and advice throughout the year. I also want to offer thanks to our patrons and supporters: the Classics Programme, the Department of History, the Department of Philosophy, the Dean of Arts’ Development Fund, the Classics Students’ Association of McGill and the AUS. Without your support, this year’s Hirundo would not have been possible.

Most of all, I want to thank Hirundo’s editorial board and layout editors, who have put so much hard work into this year’s edition of Hirundo. You have my greatest thanks for your energy, enthusiasm, responsibility and for just being generally awesome. You have produced a great journal and made my job all the more rewarding and enjoyable. Brahm Kleinman Editor-in-Chief

Assistance provided by

The Arts Undergraduate Society

The Dean of Arts Development Fund

The McGill Department of Philosophy

The McGill History Department

The McGill Classics Programme

The Classics Students’ Association

Hirundo