From premodern societies onward, humans have constructed and produced images of ideal masculinity to define the roles available for boys to grow into, and images for adult men to imitate. The figure of Alexander the Great has fascinated people both within and outside academia. As a historical character, military commander, cultural figure and representative of the male gender, Alexander’s popularity is beyond dispute. Almost from the moment of his death Alexander’s deeds have had a paradigmatic aspect: for over 2300 years he has been represented as a paragon of manhood - an example to be followed by other men - and through his myth people have negotiated assumptions about masculinity. This work breaks new ground by considering the ancient and medieval reception of Alexander the Great from a gender studies perspective. It explores the masculine ideals of the Greco-Roman and medieval past through the figure of Alexander the Great, analysing the gendered views of masculinities in those periods and relates them to the ways in which Alexander’s masculinity was presented. It does this by investigating Alexander’s appearance and its relation to definitions of masculinity, the way his childhood and adulthood are presented, his martial performance and skill, proper and improper sexual behaviour, and finally through his emotions and mental attributes. Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great will appeal to students and scholars alike as well as to those more generally interested in the portrayal of masculinity and gender, particularly in relation to Alexander the Great and his image throughout history.

In her pursuit of metaphorical, transhistorical imagery, representing men as predators and women as their victims over the centuries, Cohen (Dartmouth) lays out a vast network of interpretive associations that have neither cultural nor chronological limits. Developing her analysis of three late-fourth-century BCE Macedonian monumental themes--the abduction of Helen, the lion hunt, and war--Cohen puts them into a context of large significance through her creation of an ingenious, erudite, and extended repertory of analogous images, accompanied by well-selected exempla. Her proposed network traces patterns established by anthropological perspectives of masculinity and its association with aggressive violence and by principles of feminist ideology, partly derived from Judith Butler. The book's introduction and many subsequent methodological digressions set out the conceptual lines of her approach, as do paradigmatic chapter headings, e.g., "War as Hunt: Hunt as War?" "Rape as Hunt: Hunt as Rape?" and "Rape as War: War as Rape?" Provocative indeed, her categories of enduring imagery challenge traditional views of ancient art in ways both beneficial and problematic, viz., her remark "Ovid, the premier Freudian thinker of the Roman World." Whether modern conceptions of sexuality and the struggles of contrasting genders pertain to antiquity remains as an acknowledged issue. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through faculty/researchers. Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty. Reviewed by R. Brilliant.

From action movies to video games to sports culture, modern masculinity is intrinsically associated with violent competition. This legacy has its roots in the 19th-century Romantic figure of the Byronic hero--the ideal Victorian male: devoted husband, sexual revolutionary and weaponized servant of the state. His silhouette can be traced through the works of authors like Lord Byron, Jane Austen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Rudyard Kipling and Oscar Wilde. More than a literary genealogy, this history of the Byronic hero and his heirs follows the changes that masculinity has undergone in response to industrial upheaval, the rise of the middle class and the demands of global competition, from the Victorian period through the early 20th century.

The Attic orators, whose works are an invaluable source on the social and political history of Classical Athens, often filled their speeches with charges of conspiracy involving almost every facet of Athenian life. There are allegations of plots against men's lives, property, careers, and reputations as well as charges of conspiracy against the public interest, the government, the management of foreign affairs, and more. Until now, however, this obsession with conspiracy has received little scholarly attention. In order to develop the first full picture of this important feature of Athenian discourse, Joseph Roisman examines the range and nature of the conspiracy charges. He asks why they were so popular, and considers their rhetorical, cultural, and psychological significance. He also investigates the historical likelihood of the scenarios advanced for these plots, and asks what their prevalence suggests about the Athenians and their worldview. He concludes by comparing ancient and modern conspiracy theories. In addition to shedding new light on Athenian history and culture, his study provides an invaluable perspective on the use of conspiracy as a rhetorical ploy.

This thought-provoking book examines the science behind human attractiveness—the ratios, proportions, and other factors that to a large extent dictate what we find "beautiful." It's said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," but recent scientific research suggests that human attractiveness is much more objective than we once thought, deeply rooted in our biology and evolutionary history. For instance, facial symmetry is considered extremely attractive because it indicates good health and nutrition during the formative developmental years. This book explores these insights. Part I of The Biology of Beauty: The Science behind Human Attractiveness takes a closer look at what traits we find the most alluring and why. It discusses why attractiveness is important from an evolutionary standpoint and the advantages (and disadvantages) of being attractive. In addition to exploring these beauty "universals," it examines how beauty ideals can be shaped by factors such as culture, religion, and the media. Part II provides an in-depth analysis of individual features that contribute to attractiveness, offering scientific explanations for our preferences. The book also includes a collection of insightful sidebars that highlight beauty ideals in different parts of the world and at other times in history.

"From premodern societies onward, humans have constructed and produced images of ideal masculinity to define the roles available for boys to grow into, and images for adult men to imitate. The figure of Alexander the Great has fascinated people both within and outside academia. As a historical character, military commander, cultural figure and representative of the male gender, Alexander's popularity is beyond dispute. Almost from the moment of his death Alexander's deeds have had a paradigmatic aspect: for over 2300 years he has been represented as a paragon of manhood - an example to be followed by other men - and through his myth people have negotiated assumptions about masculinity. This work breaks new ground by considering the ancient and medieval reception of Alexander the Great from a gender studies perspective. It explores the masculine ideals of the Greco-Roman and medieval past through the figure of Alexander the Great, analysing the gendered views of masculinities in those periods and relates them to the ways in which Alexander's masculinity was presented. It does this by investigating Alexander's appearance and its relation to definitions of masculinity, the way his childhood and adulthood is presented, his martial performance and skill, proper and improper sexual behaviour, and finally through his emotions and mental attributes. Masculine Ideals and Alexander the Great will appeal to students and scholars alike as well as those more generally interested in the portrayal of masculinity and gender throughout history, particularly in relation to Alexander the Great and his image throughout history"--

Attention Men! Tired of being dismissed and marginalized? Struggling with direction and purpose in your life? Discover the power of embracing traditional masculine roles and re-establishing your rightful place in society! - 🌟 Learn the dangers of cultural Marxism and how it undermines masculinity - 🌟 Uncover the link between feminism and the decline of masculinity - 🌟 Understand the importance of standing up against the feminist agenda - 🌟 Rediscover the value of traditional family values and their societal benefits - 🌟 Gain insights from history on the inevitability of patriarchy - 🌟 Discover the essential role of masculinity in modern society - 🌟 Learn the importance of mastering your emotions and rebuilding your self-esteem - 🌟 Get practical advice on how to re-establish your masculine identity If you want to regain control of your life, reclaim your masculine heritage, and revive society as a whole, then buy this book today!