Wolfmen and amazons: why did the Greeks and Romans demonise their neighbours?
Mar 14, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Dr. Owen Rees, an expert on ancient world history, uncovers how the Greeks and Romans viewed their neighbors through a lens of fear and superiority. He dives into the mythical accounts of Amazons and wolf-men, reflecting their cultural misunderstandings. The conversation explores the complexities of cultural identity at empire frontiers and reveals how these historical perspectives shape modern views on 'us versus them.' Dr. Rees also highlights the rich narratives that challenge traditional historical boundaries.
The exploration of cultural peripheries reveals rich experiences and complex interactions that challenge the dominant narratives of ancient civilizations.
Greek and Roman perceptions of cultural superiority often led to 'othering' marginalized peoples, obscuring the nuanced exchanges that shaped their histories.
Deep dives
The Power of Periphery in Ancient History
Exploring ancient history through the perspective of cultural peripheries reveals valuable insights often overshadowed by the dominant narratives of powerful cities like Athens and Rome. The peripheral areas were not merely passive recipients of civilization; they fostered unique stories and interactions with central powers, highlighting the daily lives of ordinary people. As ancient historians typically focused on elite narratives, a shift to studying lesser-known communities reveals rich experiences and social dynamics, contrasting the political intrigues prevalent in metropolis accounts. This approach emphasizes that the history of empires also includes the responses and adaptations of those on the margins, illuminating a more holistic perspective on the past.
Cultural Superiority and Intermingling
The concept of cultural superiority prevalent among Greek historians, such as Herodotus, often paints a skewed picture of interactions with non-Greek peoples. While ancient Greeks viewed others, like the Scythians, through a lens of disdain, explorations of intermarriage and cultural exchange challenge these simplistic binary categorizations. For instance, despite Greek disdain for 'barbaric' practices, many of these so-called barbarian groups exhibited rich cultural lives that often intertwined with Greek forms, revealing a nuanced tapestry of ancient identities. This perspective underscores that cultural interactions were complex and multifaceted, rather than purely adversarial or hierarchical.
Empires and Their Frontiers
Roman imperial ideology was heavily influenced by its perceptions of what constituted civilization, often leading to the 'othering' of cultures at the fringes of their empire. This was exemplified by structures like Hadrian’s Wall, which served as both a physical boundary and a symbol of Roman power and order against the chaotic wilderness beyond. The Romans' desire to impose order and their fear of barbarism fueled their expansionist narrative, as they sought to 'civilize' areas they conquered. However, such interactions at the borderlands often led to cultural exchanges that defy the one-dimensional views set by central powers, suggesting that empires were shaped as much by their boundaries as by their capitals.
Lessons for Today from Ancient Interactions
The historical interactions among diverse cultures at the edges of empires serve as a valuable lens for understanding contemporary global relationships. Many current conflicts arise from a failure to recognize the interconnectedness of societies, similar to the ancient world's cultural exchanges that flourished in spite of imperial boundaries. Emphasizing collaboration rather than division can foster a more inclusive understanding of our shared heritage, allowing societies to appreciate the influences that have shaped them. These lessons remind us that history can be a bridge for unity rather than a tool for division, encouraging dialogue and integration across cultural lines.
Fearsome Amazons. Men who turned into wolves. Tribes who never grew old. Ancient Greek and Roman sources are packed with extraordinary descriptions of the peoples living beyond their borders. Speaking to Spencer Mizen, Dr Owen Rees explores these classical superpowers' sense of cultural superiority and reveals what we can learn about the ancient world by exploring life on the frontiers of empires.
(Ad) Owen Rees is the author of The Far Edges of the Known World: A New History of the Ancient Past (Bloomsbury, 2025). Buy it now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Far-Edges-Known-World-History/dp/1526653788/?tag=bbchistory045-21&ascsubtag=historyextra-social-histboty.
The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.
