Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 April 2012
* A version of this paper was presented as the Dorothy Buchan Memorial Lecture at Leicester in October 2009, and an earlier draft was also presented to the Classical Association at Exeter. I would like to thank both audiences for their critical comment and encouragement. I would also like to thank Prof. Elizabeth Carney, Dr David Harvey, Prof. Deborah Lyons, Prof. Daniel Ogden, and Prof. Peter Rhodes for specific comments and help with drafts of this paper, and Prof. Barbara Borg for discussing it with me at various stages.