Performing Catharsis: Enacting and Ancient Therapy

Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology, Spring 2026 Research Seminar

In this illustrated talk, Professor Peter Meineck describes aspects of his new research on catharsis, which traces the development of the concept in ritual and performance in Greece by investing the usual starting point, Aristotle's famous comments in Poetics. Instead this study, being published by Routledge this summer, traces cathartic rites and performances in mystery cults, philosophical texts, iambic and lyric poetry, Homer and of course, the Athenian theatre and ending with Aristotle. In this way we gain a new understanding of the infamous phrase "through pity and fear [tragedy] elicits catharsis". 

Everyone is welcome!