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Sather Classical Lectures
Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual
In Structure and History Burkert's theoretical concerns are larger, including both myth and ritual. The precise relation between myth and ritual has been a vexing question for scholars of ancient religions; Burkert places them side by side and links them at a structural level. He thinks ritual is older than myth, because it is a form of behavior found even in animals. Nevertheless, ritual and myth share several important features: Both depend upon basic biological or cultural programs of action and detachment from pragmatic reality. Both serve communication. Because myth and ritual are related in this way, it is possible for them to be found together.
248 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1980
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211 people want to read
About the author
Walter Burkert
42books65followersWalter Burkert was a German scholar of Greek mythology and cult. Professor Emeritus of Classics, University of Zurich, Switzerland, he taught in the UK and the US.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 23, 2020
The first two chapters, The Organization of Myth and The Persistence of Ritual, are great, but after that and overall the feeling I got was that not so much was being said about Greek Mythology and, although dealing with influences from other civilizations, particularly the Near-East and Egyptian ones can be illuminating in understanding Greek Mythology, it seems that these civilizations were shown a bit more interest than the primary subject of the book.
September 9, 2024
Ξεκινάει με λιγότερο ελληνική και περισσότερο θεωρητική γενική μυθολογία και τελετουργία (ή πιο σωστά, με θεωρητικές προσεγγίσεις επ' αυτών, από ορισμούς μέχρι δομικά χαρακτηριστικά), αλλά στα επόμενα κεφάλαια εστιάζει στον ευρύτερο ελλαδικό χώρο με πολύ ενδιαφέροντα παραδείγματα, κάποια από αυτά όχι και τόσο γνωστά. Ακαδημαϊκός λόγος που δεν είναι συναρπαστικός αλλά ούτε και ξηρός, ένα αρκετά ενδιαφέρον ανάγνωσμα.
March 29, 2024
I really appreciated this approach to certain Greek myths. It is not an overview of myths in general but a number of essays that tackle certain questions. Both scholarly and accessible.
October 14, 2017
This book was highly recommended to me, and I can definitely see why! Burkert is dense reading, make no mistake, but that's because he packs so much information into his work. Careful research is partnered by an in-depth explanation of what we know about the way the Greek culture worshipped and worked with their Gods.
Burkert is a consummate linguist. He uses that talent often in explaining how the very words that the Greeks used for their practices are themselves working with worship. But even Burkert can't work with what he doesn't have, and he laments the terrible paucity of learning what people did in everyday life. We simply don't know, outside of the main festivals, what the people did - especially the lower classes. As a modern example, it's as if everyone knew about saying grace before meals and so it was never mentioned in our literature.
It is hard to summarize such a dense book. It sounds like a copout, but I highly recommend anyone interested in the culture read it in full and learn about some of the great festivals and the way the people changed over time. Anything less does it a disservice.
Burkert is a consummate linguist. He uses that talent often in explaining how the very words that the Greeks used for their practices are themselves working with worship. But even Burkert can't work with what he doesn't have, and he laments the terrible paucity of learning what people did in everyday life. We simply don't know, outside of the main festivals, what the people did - especially the lower classes. As a modern example, it's as if everyone knew about saying grace before meals and so it was never mentioned in our literature.
It is hard to summarize such a dense book. It sounds like a copout, but I highly recommend anyone interested in the culture read it in full and learn about some of the great festivals and the way the people changed over time. Anything less does it a disservice.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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