Tes(su)ti pesanti : Qualche considerazione sull'agency dei tessuti da Omero, "Iliade" VI, alla commedia nuova

This paper explores the symbolic and agentive role of textiles – particularly the peplos dedicated to Athena – from Homer’s Iliad to New Comedy. Focusing on Iliad VI, it examines how the offering of a peplos by Hecuba to Athena, and the goddess’s refusal, reveals a complex interplay of ritual, perception, and divine-human interaction. The analysis extends to the Panathenaic peplos and its representation on the Parthenon frieze, highlighting the layered perceptual and temporal dimensions between mortals, gods, and the audience. Ultimately, the study argues that textiles can act as active agents in religious and political discourse, capable of expressing dissent and rupturing sacred order.