Bremmer - Interpretations of Greek Mythology

Routledge Revivals

Interpretations of Greek Mythology

Interpretations of Greek Mythology, first published in1987, builds on the innovative work of Walter Burkert and the Paris school of Jean-Pierre Vernant, and represents a renewal of interpretation of Greek mythology. The contributors to this volume present a variety of approaches to the Greek myths, all of which eschew a monolithic or exclusively structuralist hermeneutic method. Specifically, the notion that mythology can simply be read as a primitive mode of narrative history is rejected, with emphasis instead being placed on the relationships between mythology and history, ritual and political genealogy.

The essays concentrate on some of the best known characters and themes Oedipus, Orpheus, Narcissus reflecting the complexity and fascination of the Greek imagination. The volume will long remain an indispensable tool for the study of Greek mythology, and it is of great interest to anyone interested in the development of Greek culture and civilisation and the nature of myth.

Interpretations of Greek Mythology

Edited by

Jan Bremmer

First published in 1987

by Croom Helm Ltd

This edition first published in 2014 by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN

and by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

1987 Jan Bremmer

The right of the Editor Jan Bremmer to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Publishers Note

The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.

Disclaimer

The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondence from those they have been unable to contact.

A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 88672272

ISBN 13: 978-0-415-74451-5 (hbk)

ISBN 13: 978-1-315-81300-4 (ebk)

INTERPRETATIONS OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Edited by Jan Bremmer

First published in 1987 by

Croom Helm Ltd

First published in paperback in 1988 by

Routledge

11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Interpretation of Greek mythology.

1. Mythology, Greek

I. Bremmer, Jan

292.13 BL782

ISBN 0415 03451 5

Filmset in Baskerville by

Pat and Anne Murphy, Highcliffe-on-Sea, Dorset

Printed and bound in Great Britain

by Billing & Sons Limited, Worcester.

Contents

Jan Bremmer

Walter Burkert

Jan Bremmer

Richard Buxton

Fritz Graf

Ezio Pellizer

H. S. Versnel

Claude Calame

Robert Parker

Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood

Albert Henrichs

Jan Bremmer

Figures

Table