A remarkable number of Greek myths concern the plight of virgins – slaughtered; sacrificed; hanged; transformed into birds; cows; dear; bears; trees; and punished in Hades. Death and the Maiden; first published in 1989; contextualises this mythology in terms of geography; history and culture; and offers a comprehensive theory firmly grounded in an ubiquitous ritual: pubescent girls’ rites of passage. By means of comparative anthropology; it is argued that many local ceremonies are echoed throughout the whole range of myths; both famous and obscure. Further; Professor Dowden examines boys’ rites; as well as the renewal of entire communities at regular intervals. The first full-length work in English devoted to passage-rites in Greek myth; Death and the Maiden is an important contribution to the exciting developments in the study of the interrelation between myth and ritual: from it an innovative view on the origination of many Greek myths emerges.
#421877 in Books 2012-12-27Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .90 x 7.30l; 1.40 #File Name: 1133935257480 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Needed for college course and it worksBy Tom L.Thanks it works0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Ky Nam NguyenGood book0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The sources it uses are pretty solid; the historical context is pretty helpfulBy ThiagoThe sources it uses are pretty solid; the historical context is pretty helpful. Wish it had more maps; usually have to use a different book altogether to get bearings straight on the locations they are referencing from that time period
