Euxenippos at Oropos: Dreaming for Athens

TY - CHAP

T1 - Euxenippos at Oropos

T2 - Dreaming for Athens

AU - Bowden, Hugh

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The chapter explores how divination through dream incubation was involved in the decision-making processes of the Athenian democracy. It focuses on the consultation of Amphiaraos in the mid-fourth century by a delegation including Euxenippos, which we know about from a speech of Isaios. It explores the wider evidence about the practical aspects of dream incubation, and draws on modern studies of dreaming, looking at the practice of recording dreams in writing at the moment of waking, and self-training to improve dreaming and dream recall. The chapter argues that, as in other forms of divination, Athens employed men like Euxenippos as ‘expert dreamers’, who were expected to have dreams when required, and who were supported by other Athenians, who acted as assistants and witnesses of the process. It further argues that divination by dreaming was taken seriously by the democracy, with expert dreamers having potentially great influence on decision-making, and becoming themselves inevitably part of the political process.

AB - The chapter explores how divination through dream incubation was involved in the decision-making processes of the Athenian democracy. It focuses on the consultation of Amphiaraos in the mid-fourth century by a delegation including Euxenippos, which we know about from a speech of Isaios. It explores the wider evidence about the practical aspects of dream incubation, and draws on modern studies of dreaming, looking at the practice of recording dreams in writing at the moment of waking, and self-training to improve dreaming and dream recall. The chapter argues that, as in other forms of divination, Athens employed men like Euxenippos as ‘expert dreamers’, who were expected to have dreams when required, and who were supported by other Athenians, who acted as assistants and witnesses of the process. It further argues that divination by dreaming was taken seriously by the democracy, with expert dreamers having potentially great influence on decision-making, and becoming themselves inevitably part of the political process.

KW - Dream incubation, ancient dreaming, divination, Athens, Euxenippos, Euxenippus, Amphiaraos, Amphiaraus

U2 - 10.1093/oso/9780198844549.001.0001

DO - 10.1093/oso/9780198844549.001.0001

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9780198844549

SP - 68

EP - 86

BT - Ancient Divination and Experience

A2 - Driediger-Murphy, Lindsay

A2 - Eidinow, Esther

PB - Oxford University Press

CY - Oxford

ER -