FORMS OF ASTONISHMENT by Richard Buxton ( 9780198706991 ) - Books & Audio Books at Pickabook.co.uk

Item Details

Title:

FORMS OF ASTONISHMENT
GREEK MYTHS OF METAMORPHOSIS

By:

Richard Buxton

Format:

Paperback

List price:

£39.49

Our price:

£34.55

Discount:

12.5% off

You save:

£4.94

ISBN 10:

0198706995

ISBN 13:

9780198706991

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Publisher:

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

Pub. date:

1 November, 2017

Pages:

304

Description:

An illustrated study of a number of Greek myths about the transformations of humans and gods. Richard Buxton poses the question of how seriously the Greeks took these tales, and in doing so also illuminates issues explored by anthropologists and students of religion.

Synopsis:

In this illustrated study Richard Buxton analyses Greek literary narratives and visual representations of the metamorphosis of humans and gods, as evidenced from Homer to Nonnos. Such tales have become familiar in their Ovidian dress, as in the best-selling translation by Ted Hughes; Buxton explores their Greek antecedents. He investigates such issues as: How do different contexts shape the way in which metamorphosis is narrated? How do the assumptions of commentators about 'strangeness' affect how metamorphosis is interpreted? How far should an interpreter allow 'contextual charity' to render more acceptable a belief such as that in metamorphosis? What are the implications of the notions of 'astonishment' (Greek: thambos) in a range of narratives about transformation? Throughout Forms of Astonishment Buxton draws comparisons between the Greek evidence and data from other religious traditions, ancient and modern; he also introduces comparative material from the sciences, from modern painting and literature, and from the cinema and computer graphics.In investigating metamorphoses of gods Buxton revisits the concept of anthropomorphism, arguing that the fact that Greek divinities were believed to change shape does not undermine the fundamentally humanlike form of Greek divinity. He also examines certain strands of Greek tradition, particularly among the philosophers, which called metamorphosis into question, whether in relation to the gods or to humans. Individual chapters deal with transformations into the landscape and into plants or trees-in the latter case transformation stories are set against a background of cultural beliefs about 'seminal' substances such as blood and tears. Overall, Forms of Astonishment raises issues relevant to an understanding of broad aspects of Greek culture, and illuminates issues explored by anthropologists and students of religion.

Illustrations:

49 in-text illustrations

Publication:

Imprint:

Oxford University Press

Returns:

Returnable

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