Peace and Reconciliation in the Classical World

Warfare has long been recognised as central to a proper understanding of the classical world, where, as the philosopher Heraclitus observed, war was ‘both king and father of all’. More recently, however, an approach to the ancient world solely in such terms has been challenged. War was indeed pervasive, and was a prominent theme among poets and historians; but there was also a distinct value placed on peace, which might be understood not only as the absence of war but as an ideal to be imagined, instituted, and even imposed. This volume places peace at the centre of its concerns and explores classical ideas of peace as both an abstract concept the practical methods of conflict resolution.

Warfare has long been central to a proper understanding of ancient Greece and Rome, worlds where war was, as the philosopher Heraclitus observed, ‘both king and father of all’. More recently, however, the understanding of Classical antiquity solely in such terms has been challenged; it is recognised that while war was pervasive, and a key concern in the narratives of ancient historians, a concomitant desire for peace was also constant. This volume places peace in the prime position as a panel of scholars stresses the importance of ‘peace’ as a positive concept in the ancient world (and not just the absence of, or necessarily even related to, war), and considers examples of conflict resolution, conciliation, and concession from Homer to Augustine. Comparing and contrasting theories and practice across different periods and regions, this collection highlights, first, the open and dynamic nature of peace, and then seeks to review a wide variety of initiatives from across the Classical world.