L'étiologie dans la pensée antique

What did etiology mean to the ancients? A search for causes, an explanation, a history of origins. Greek and Roman authors thus created many sorts of narrations to explain the original meaning and value of various objects, be they institutions, rites, customs, monuments, toponyms, or even arts, such as that of rhetoric. Until now however, modern scholars have concentrated upon etiology in religion and poetry. An up-to-date synthesis of its role and function in ancient thought is lacking.

The present volume assembles the viewpoints of specialists of different genres and fields; it is meant to nourish debate by complementary contributions. Although etiology in religion and poetry maintains pride of place, it is also considered in new areas: historiography, the origin of names and the origins of rhetoric, praise, chorography and sophistic.

Over and above the diversity of the specific themes, there is convergence of method: precise source criticism, and attention to the political, intellectual, religious, and social contexts. The twenty-two studies which make up this volume throw light upon the complexity of the mechanisms of etiology and its essential role in ancient thought.

This volume results from a colloquium organized by the Center for the Analysis of the Religious Rhetorics of Antiquity (CARRA) of the University of Strasbourg, in collaboration with the Center for Ancient Studies of Laval University - Québec.