Liberating Hellenism from the Ottoman Empire: Comte de Marcellus and the Last of the Classics

262 Pages·2010·2.087 MB·English

by  Gonda Van Steen (auth.)

Liberating Hellenism
from the Ottoman Empire
Also by Gonda Van Steen
Venom in Verse: Aristophanes in Modern Greece
Theater of the Condemned: Classical Tragedy on Greek Prison Islands
(forthcoming)
Liberating Hellenism
from the Ottoman Empire
Comte de Marcellus and
the Last of the Classics
Gonda Van Steen
palgrave
macmillan
liberating hellenism from the ottoman empire
Copyright © Gonda Van Steen, 2010.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2010 978-0-230-10023-7
All rights reserved.
First published in 2010 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN® in the United
States—a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New
York, NY 10010
Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of
the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan
Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998,
of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above
companies and has companies and representatives throughout the
world.
Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United
States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.
ISBN 978-1-349-28638-6 ISBN 978-0-230-10650-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9780230106505
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Van Steen, Gonda Aline Hector, 1964 –
Liberating Hellenism from the Ottoman Empire : Comte de
Marcellus and the last of the classics / Gonda Van Steen.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-349-28638-6 (alk. paper)
1. Greece—History—1453-1821. 2. Greece—Intellectual life—
1453–1821. 3. Greece—History—War of Independence, 1821–1829.
4. Marcellus, Marie-Louis-Auguste Demartin du Tyrac, comte de,
1776-1841. 5. Venus de Milo. 6. Aeschylus—Influence. I. Title.
DF801.V36 2010
949.5'05—dc22 2009031755
A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library.
Design by Scribe Inc.
First edition: May 2010
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Cover: The Venus de Milo stored in a packing crate at the Louvre
before the invasion of the German army in 1870.
To Sarah and Vincent Verhasselt
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of Figures viii
Acknowledgments ix
Note on Translations, Text Editions, and Transliterations xi
Map of Greece and the Ottoman Empire in 1801 xii
Introduction: Enter the Intrepid Traveler 1
1 The Venus de Milo: The Abduction from the Imbroglio
and Tales of Turkish Nights 17
2 Rehearsing Revolution: Aeschylus’s Persians on the Eve
of the Greek War of Independence 67
3 Remaking Persian War Heroes 109
4 Epilogue 147
Notes 175
References 217
Index 239
Figures
1.1. Drawing made by Olivier Voutier at the
time of the discovery of the separate parts of the
Venus de Milo (April 1820) 38
2.1. An ancient Greek warrior predicts naval victory
to his modern counterpart 99
3.1. Themistocles (?) calls the modern Greek
fighter to the naval battle of Navarino 117
Acknowledgments
I have incurred many debts on the trail of discovery that has led to this
book. Many colleagues at various institutions have given me much
needed guidance and have prodded me with incisive questions and
valuable suggestions. I thank Richard Armstrong, Anastasia Bako-
gianni, Eusevia Chasape-Christodoulou, Peter Cochran, Stratos Con-
stantinidis, Helen Dendrinou Kolias, Kaiti Diamantakou, Thomas
Gallant, Leigh Gibson, Dimitri Gondicas, Yannis Hamilakis, Nek-
taria Klapaki, Ludmilla Kostova, Peter Mackridge, Nikos Panou, Vic-
tor Papacosma, Walter Puchner, Frank Romer, Maria Stassinopoulou,
and Cynthia White. They have given me constant encouragement to
develop new approaches and themes, and they saw me through some
rough spots with wise advice. David Christenson must be singled out
for giving his time, intelligence, good humor, and gentle support on an
infinite number of occasions. I am grateful also to the Cassas family and
to Robert Wagman and the colleagues who made my recent academic
affiliation with the University of Florida both possible and productive.
My research was supported by the wonderful libraries of Princeton
and the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Stud-
ies at Athens, where I remain indebted to the many librarians and
staff members who graciously provided assistance. Over the years of
writing, I had the opportunity to present my findings to diverse aca-
demic communities, learning much from constructive criticisms prof-
fered by my listeners. I thank audiences at the University of South
Florida, Ohio State University, and the University of Vienna. I greatly
benefited from research leaves sponsored by the IFK (Internation ales
Forschungszentrum Kulturwissenschaften) in Vienna and by the
Fulbright Foundation. I express my deep appreciation of the vibrant
intellectual and professional atmosphere at the Athens Fulbright
Office and at The Athens Centre. I thank Rosemary Donnelly, John
Zervos, and Nina Lorum, who deserve a special place in these words
of acknowledgment. I owe them for their unwavering support and for
creating a home away from home.