The uses of Greek mythology
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The uses of Greek mythology
（Approaching the ancient world）
Routledge, 1992
- : pbk
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Note
Includes bibliography (p. [178]-188) and indexes
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
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ISBN 9780415061346
Description
"The Uses of Greek Mythology" offers an overview of Greek mythology - what it is like, where it comes from, and where it fits in Greek history and landscape. Ken Dowden outlines the uses Greeks made of myth and the uses to which myth can be put in recovering the richness of their culture. This book begins by considering the nature of Greek myth and goes on to show the diversity of the ways the Greeks used myth. "Greek mythology" becomes a system of texts and ideas and Dowden considers how it was formed and who its creators were. Special emphasis is given to the way the Greeks themselves viewed their mythology and the way they could not quite distinguish it from history. The investigation sheds light on many aspects of Greek history and culture: prehistory, including the supposed Trojan War; ethnic identity and the rival claims of cities; the importance of cult-sites; the language and practices of initiation; the naming of gods, heroes, monsters and legendary kings; the rejection of matriarchy and the establishment of the boundaries of sexual behaviour.
Table of Contents
- Part 1 Attitudes to myth: myth and mythology
- what is myth? a lie?, a Greek world, "Myth", "history" and other terms. Part 2 Greek mythology: Greek mythology, a total system, formation - archaic texts
- myth and art before 500 BC, formation - the Classical Age, formation - Hellenistic and Roman Ages.
- Volume
-
: pbk ISBN 9780415061353
Description
In an innovative sequence of topics, Ken Dowden explores the uses Greeks made of myth and the uses to which we can put myth in recovering the richness of their culture. Most aspects of Greek life and history - including war, religion and sexuality - which are discernable through myth, as well as most modern approaches, are given a context in a book which is designed to be useful, accessible and stimulating.
Table of Contents
- Part 1 Attitudes to myth: myth and mythology
- what is myth? a lie?, a Greek world, "myth", "history" and other terms. Part 2 Greek mythology: Greek mythology, a total system, formation - archaic texts
- myth and art before 500 BC, formation - the Classical Age, formation - Hellenistic and Roman Ages.
by "Nielsen BookData"