Addressing the role which divination played in ancient Greek society, this volume deals with various forms of prophecy and how each was utilised and for what purpose. Chapters bring together key types of divining, such as from birds, celestial phenomena, the entrails of sacrificed animals and dreams. Oracular centres delivered prophetic pronouncements to enquirers, but in addition, there were written collections of oracles in circulation. Many books were available on how to interpret dreams, the birds and entrails, and divination as a religious phenomenon attracted the attention of many writers. Expert diviners were at the heart of Greek prophecy, whether these were Apollo’s priestesses delivering prose or verse answers to questions put to them by consultants, diviners known as manteis, who interpreted entrails and omens, the chresmologoi, who sang the many oracles circulating orally or in writing, or dream interpreters. Divination was utilised not only to foretell the future but also to ensure that the individual or state employing divination acted in accordance with that divinely prescribed future; it was employed by all and had a crucial role to play in what courses of action both states and individuals undertook. Specific attention is paid in this volume not only to the ancient written evidence, but to that of inscriptions and papyri, with emphasis placed on the iconography of Greek divination.

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Ancient Greek divination took many forms: observing the flights of birds, inspecting the entrails of sacrificed animals, analysing dreams, and interpreting omens. Professional diviners assisted the concerned with their worries, but individuals also interpreted anything considered ominous, or even oracles. While states and wealthy individuals mad
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List of Illustrations

Abbreviations

Preface

1. Ancient Greek writings on divination

2. Diviners of epic sagas

3. Diviners in the historical narrative

4. ‘Interpreting omens from birds’

5. Portents and prodigies

6. Sacrificial entrails and battlefield sacrifices

7. Dreams, dice and the dead

8. Oracular centres of Apollo and Zeus

9. The demise of oracular shrines and the transformation of omens

Bibliography

Index

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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780367594985
Publisert
2020-06-30
Utgiver
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Vekt
900 gr
Høyde
234 mm
Bredde
156 mm
Aldersnivå
U, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
462

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

Matthew Dillon is an Associate Professor in Classics and Ancient History at the University of New England, Australia, and the author of books and articles, and co-editor of volumes, on ancient Greek history and society, and particularly Greek religion.