Un banchetto di figli. Antropofagia nel teatro greco – Maddalena Giovannelli – Stratagemmi 31

Anthropophagy in the Greek Classical Theatre Greek mythology is deep-stained with blood and does not lack in histories of cannibalism. Two, in particular, have become well-established within Western culture: Tereus, Procne and Philomela’s and Atreus, Tereus and Aerope’s. They both revolve around an illicit sexual intercourse, punished with a “monstrous” banquet: one’s sons meat. Aeschilus, Sophocles and even comic playwright Aristophanes introduce this taboo in their plays. And, through myth, they teach us that exceeding certain limits leads to exclusion from mankind.