This book investigates the ways that technological, and especially mechanical, strategies were integrated into ancient Greek religion. By analysing a range of evidence, from the tragic use of the deus ex machina to Hellenistic epigrams to ancient mechanical literature, it expands the existing vocabulary of visual modes of ancient epiphany. Moreover, it contributes to the cultural history of the unique category of ancient 'enchantment' technologies by challenging the academic orthodoxy regarding the incompatibility of religion and technology. The evidence for this previously unidentified phenomenon is presented in full, thereby enabling the reader to perceive the shifting matrices of agency between technical objects, mechanical knowledge, gods, and mortals from the fifth century BCE to the second century CE.
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Introduction; Part I. Greek Tragedy and Mechanical Epiphany: 1. Viewing the mēchanē; 2. Visual representations of the gods in tragedy; 3. Theos apo mēchanēs; Part II. Technologies and Ritual Experience; 4. Technical divination and mechanics of sacred space; 5. Dedicated inventions; 6. Pompai and the mechanics of sacred occasion; Part III. Faking the Gods; 7. In the hands of frauds; 8. Theomimesis-theomachy.
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Explores how the agency of technical objects, mechanical knowledge, gods, and mortals interacted in the Greco-Roman world.
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781009331739
Publisert
2025-07-24
Utgiver
Cambridge University Press
Vekt
448 gr
Aldersnivå
UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
322
Forfatter