Overview

A collection of papers that introduces the notion of the technosoma (techno body) into discussions on the representations of the body in classical antiquity. By applying the category of the technosoma to the ‘natural’ body, this volume explicitly narrows down the discussion of the technical and the natural to the physiological body. In doing so, the present collection focuses on body technologies in the specific form of beautification and body enhancement techniques, as well as medical and surgical treatments. The volume elucidates two main points. Firstly, ancient techno bodies show that the categories of gender and sexuality are at the core of the intersection of the natural and the technical, and intersect with notions of race, age, speciesism, class and education, and dis/ability. Secondly, the collection argues that new body technologies have in fact a very ancient history that can help to address the challenges of contemporary technological innovation. To this end, the volume showcases the intersection of ‘natural’ bodies with technology, gender, sexuality and reproduction. On the one hand, techno bodies tend to align with normative ideas about gender, and sexuality. On the other hand, body modification and/or enhancement techniques work hand in hand with economic and political power and knowledge, thus they often produce techno bodies that are shaped according to individual needs, i.e. according to a certain lifestyle. Consequently, techno bodies threaten to alter traditional ideas of masculinity, femininity, male and female sexuality and beauty.

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9781836245223

Table of Contents

Reviews

‘Apetrechado de dois índices, um onomástico e outro de passagens relevantes, este é um utilíssimo volume para o estudante ou especialista que se interessa pela transformação do corpo na Antiguidade (e as implicações morais e sociais que certas metamorfoses implicam) que não prescinde de uma lente atenta ao zeitgeist post-contemporâneo. De qualidade assinalável, não deve ficar esquecido na prateleira ou nas transferências do computador.’ ‘Equipped with two indexes, one onomastic and the other of relevant passages, this is an extremely useful volume for students or specialists interested in the transformation of the body in Antiquity (and the moral and social implications of certain metamorphoses) who cannot do without a lens attentive to the post-contemporary zeitgeist. Of remarkable quality, it should not be forgotten on the shelf or in computer downloads.’ Sílvia Catarina Pereira Diogo, Cadmo - Journal for Ancient History Translated from Portuguese ‘The volume is informative and offers many interesting glimpses of technosomatic boundary blurring in ancient Greek and Roman contexts.’ Colin Webster, Technology and Culture

‘Apetrechado de dois índices, um onomástico e outro de passagens relevantes, este é um utilíssimo volume para o estudante ou especialista que se interessa pela transformação do corpo na Antiguidade (e as implicações morais e sociais que certas metamorfoses implicam) que não prescinde de uma lente atenta ao zeitgeist post-contemporâneo. De qualidade assinalável, não deve ficar esquecido na prateleira ou nas transferências do computador.’ ‘Equipped with two indexes, one onomastic and the other of relevant passages, this is an extremely useful volume for students or specialists interested in the transformation of the body in Antiquity (and the moral and social implications of certain metamorphoses) who cannot do without a lens attentive to the post-contemporary zeitgeist. Of remarkable quality, it should not be forgotten on the shelf or in computer downloads.’ Sílvia Catarina Pereira Diogo, Cadmo - Journal for Ancient History Translated from Portuguese

Author Information

Maria Gerolemou is Lecturer in Greek Language and Culture, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Exeter. Her previous publications include (ed. with G. Kazantzidis) Body and Machine in Classical Antiquity (Cambridge University Press 2023) and (ed with T. Bur and I. Ruffell) Technological Animation in Classical Antiquity (Oxford University Press 2023). Giulia Maria Chesi is Lecturer in Greek Literature, Department of Classics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Her previous publications include (with F. Spiegel) Classical Literature and Posthumanism (Bloomsbury 2020).

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