Commemorating Classical BattlesBrandon BraunLabel: Oxbow BooksDescription: This is a study of the commemoration of Classical Greek battles approaching monuments and other mnemonic practices as vital elements in the creation and curation of memories. It analyses the diachronic development of battlefield sanctuary and city spaces as evidenced by archaeological remains and ancient literary sources. In addition it explores the experience of the commemorative spaces through the application of theories of space phenomenology and social memory. Following a biographical approach the commemoration of each battle is organised into stages of initial commemoration official monumentalisation memory curation memory lapse and reception. The research has led to several conclusions. While the commemoration of each battle can be divided into stages these stages are not always discrete. There is variation in the types of commemorations within the stages dependent on time surrounding space and the parties involved. Single commemorations can resonate differently with multiple audiences. The processes within the stage of memory curation lead to the subsequent lapse. The final stage of commemoration for each battle begins with the rediscovery of ancient monuments and continues to this day. The battles of Marathon Leuktra and Chaironeia are case studies for three reasons. First they effectively span the period of Classical Greece (Marathon in 490 BCE to Chaironeia in 338 BCE). Secondly these battles had different participants thus allowing a variety of perspectives of both the victorious and the defeated. Lastly these were battles that left lasting impacts in the material and literary record making their commemoration relevant not only in antiquity but also in the modern world.
