Torture and Truth

Examining ancient Greek literary, philosophical, and legal texts, Page duBois analyzes how the Athenian torture of slaves emerged from and reinforced the concept of truth being hidden in the body. She discusses the tradition of truth being understood as something generally concealed and hidden, examining ancient ideas of the secret space in both the female body and the Greek temple. She relates this philosophy and practice to Greek views of the "Other" (women and outsiders) and depicts the role of torture in distinguishing slave and free in ancient Athens.