On the Trace of Mnemosyne and Mneme: Mnemotechnics

Abstract

This article examines the terms of mneymosne and mneme by considering them as a foundational base of mnemotecnics which is used in the Ancient Greek. On the other hand, it shows the place and importance of the technics in the Oral Tradition background of Ancient Greek and it examines how these technics help to remember in an easier way. Such investigation analyses how the term of memory and the terms (such as remembering, recollecting) which have connections with it, is conceptualized, that is how those terms become concepts. Because memory is a necessary “element” in every sphere of life, naturally, any search about it has a wide field of study. In this sense, an analyze about it should determine its borders at first. If not so, it is almost impossible to make a complete and right argumentation about memory. Therefore, this article chooses and detects its area of investigation as Oral Tradition of Ancient Greek, and on the other hand, it aims to reveal how these terms went through the changes after the invention of writing and it shows the effects of this alteration (of course by considering the discussions on mnemotechnics) to the mnemotechnics. At the same time this article analyses the origins of mnemosyne and mneme (on the basis of mnemotechnics) in order to show the field where mnemotechnics were used. Consequently, this article considers the text so-called “Dissoi Logoi or Dialexeis” as a starting-point for understanding mnemotechnics. Because it aims that Cicero’s, Quitilian’s and Aristotle’s approaches of this issue can be clearer if an analyze starts with it. Consequently, it can help to show the essential connection between mneme and mnemosyne, naturally between these and mnemotechnics.