Dr Chrysanthou’s “Speaking Groups in Attic Oratory” accepted for publication in AJP

We are delighted to announce that a new article by the Principal Investigator of the Group Minds in Ancient Narrative project, Dr Chrysantho S. Chrysanthou, has been accepted for publication in the American Journal of Philology, one of the leading international journals in Classical Studies.

The article, which holds the title “Speaking Groups in Attic Oratory”, offers a novel and interdisciplinary exploration of the ancient narrative “we-voice,” bringing together ancient rhetorical theory—especially the concept of prosopopoeia—with contemporary approaches from cognitive narratology. Focusing primarily on Attic oratory, the study sheds light on how collective voices are constructed in ancient texts as speaking, thinking, and acting agents. While these voices are imaginative, they remain grounded in real civic groups, thus bridging representation and social reality.

The article demonstrates how the rhetorical enactment of collective voice transforms deliberation and judgement into shared civic processes, reinforces institutional authority, and enhances persuasive force. By mobilizing collective speakers, orators not only mitigate personal attack but also engage audiences more effectively, activating key Aristotelian modes of persuasion and foregrounding ethical reasoning. A comparative glance at Roman oratory, particularly Cicero, further highlights how differing political cultures shape the representation of collective agency.

This publication exemplifies the project’s commitment to innovative, interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Classics and cognitive theory. It also highlights the continued scholarly impact of our Groupminds team in advancing new directions in the study of ancient literature and thought.