Introduction: Distinctives of Hellenistic Celebrity, Fame, and Infamy

History of celebrity branching out

“…While there are several works aimed at a general audience that have used the term “celebrity” in a provocative manner to narrate the history of fame, including its ancient roots, these often do not significantly add to the established knowledge. However, some scholars, such as Jamie Wood (2012), Rhiannon Ash, Judith Mossman, and Frances B. Titchener (2015), and particularly Riemer Faber (2020), have delved deeper into the subject to offer an important perspective on the functioning of ancient fame beyond literary tropes and representations. Faber's approach explores a number of factors that shaped fame in the ancient world, including the growth of cosmopolitan cities and the role of public assemblies, law courts, and other group events, social status, access to information dissemination, and strategic self‐presentation.…”