Douglas M. MacDowell

Douglas M. MacDowell FBA FRSE (born March 8, 1931 in London , † January 16, 2010 in Glasgow , full name: Douglas Maurice MacDowell ) was a British classical scholar .

Life

Douglas M. MacDowell's interest in ancient Greece and the theater world arose during his time at Highgate School in London. After serving in the Royal Army Educational Corps from 1949 to 1950 he studied at Balliol College of Oxford University and then worked as a teacher at Allhallows School in Devon and at the Merchant Taylors' School in London.

In 1958 MacDowell moved from school to the University of Manchester . He initially worked as an assistant lecturer ; In 1970 he was appointed Reader in Classics . During this time he emerged through publications on criminal law and rhetoric of the Greeks. In 1971 he followed the call to the University of Glasgow , where he received the Chair of Greek Philology. Here he worked until his retirement (2001).

Douglas M. MacDowell dealt intensively with the literary and inscription evidence from Athens . Through his preoccupation with the Attic speakers ( Andokides , Demosthenes ) and playwrights ( Aristophanes ) he came to in-depth studies of Attic law and judicial practice. He supported these studies with critical editions by various authors.

MacDowell was a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (since 1991) and the British Academy (since 1993). In 1994 he received the title D. Litt. Oxford University.

Fonts (selection)

• Andokides / On the Mysteries . Oxford 1962. Numerous reprints
• Athenian Homicide Law in the Age of the Orators . Manchester 1963. Reprints 1966, 1999
• Aristophanes / Wasps . Oxford 1971. ISBN 0-19-814182-3
• The Law in Classical Athens . London 1978. ISBN 0-500-40037-7 . Reprinted 1986
• Gorgias / Encomium of Helen . Bristol 1982. ISBN 0-86292-053-1
• Spartan Law . Edinburgh 1986. ISBN 0-7073-0470-9
• Demosthenes / Against Meidias (oration 21) . Oxford 1990. ISBN 0-19-814763-5
• Aristophanes and Athens: an Introduction to the Plays . Oxford 1995. ISBN 0-19-872158-7 . Reprinted in 1996
• with Michael Gagarin : Andokides and Antiphon . 1998. ISBN 978-0-292-72809-7 ( Oratory of Classical Greece )
• Demosthenes / On the false embassy (Oration 19) . Oxford 2000. ISBN 0-19-815303-1
• Demosthenes / Speeches 27-38 . 2004. ISBN 0-292-70253-1 ( Oratory of Classical Greece )
• Demosthenes the Orator . Oxford 2009. ISBN 978-0-19-928719-2

literature

• Chris Carey: Douglas Maurice MacDowell, 1931-2010 . In: Proceedings of the British Academy . tape 172 , 2011, p. 233-248 ( thebritishacademy.ac.uk [PDF]).

Web links

• Obituary in the Times of 10 February 2010 (English)
• Obituary in the Herald Scotland February 12, 2010 (English)
• Short biography at the University of Glasgow (English)