Jihad and agonia

Monday, May 30, 2011

Both Christians and Muslims in the 7th-9th CE equated the Arabic word "jihad" with the Syriac "agona", and thus by extension with Greek "agon" and agonia, ideas that are important in Greek plays. Hence the study of Greek tragedy and the "struggle" (jihad) to overcome some challenge. Suddenly Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes are even more appealing. Sigh, I'll just *have* to read them all again :-) This site is useful...Greek Theater and Society.