The Orientalizing Revolution: Near Eastern Influence on Greek Culture in the Early Archaic Age

Description

The rich and splendid culture of the ancient Greeks has often been described as emerging like a miracle from a genius of its own, owing practically nothing to its neighbors. Walter Burkert offers a decisive argument against that distorted view, replacing it with a balanced picture of the archaic period “in which, under the influence of the Semitic East, Greek culture began its unique flowering, soon to assume cultural hegemony in the Mediterranean.” Burkert focuses on the “orientalizing” century 750-650 B.c., the period of Assyrian conquest, Phoenician commerce, and Greek exploration of both East and West, when not only eastern skills and images but also the Semitic art of writing were transmitted to Greece. He tracks the migrant craftsmen who brought the Greeks new techniques and designs, the wandering seers and healers teaching magic and medicine, and the important Greek borrowings from Near Eastern poetry and myth. Drawing widely on archaeological, textual, and historical evidence, he demonstrates that eastern models significantly affected Greek literature and religion in the Homeric age. WALTER BURKERT is Professor of Classics at the University of Zurich. His books include 'Greek Religion' and 'Ancient Mystery Cults' (Harvard). The Orientalizing Revolution Contents Illustrations Map The Mediterranean and the Near East in the early archaic period Figure 1. Bronze tympanon from the Idaean cave, Crete Figure 2. North Syrian bronze plaque from horse harness, inscribed Figure 3. Liver models from Mesopotamia and from Piacenza, Italy Figure 4. Babylonian bronze figurine found in the Hera sanctuary at Samos Figure 5. Lamashtu plate from Carchemish Figure 6. Seal impression from Nuzi and bronze shield strap from Olympia Figure 7. Cypriote silver bowl from the Bernardini tomb, Praeneste Figure 8. Orthostate relief from the palace at Guzana-Tell Halaf Preface Introduction 1. "Who are Public Workers" The Migrant Craftsmen Historical Background Oriental Products in Greece Writing and Literature in the Eighth Century The Problem of Loan-Words 2. "A Seer or a Healer" Magic and Medicine from East to West "Craftsmen of the Sacred": Mobility and Family Structure Hepatoscopy Foundation Deposits Purification Spirits of the Dead and Black Magic Substitute Sacrifice Asclepius and Asgelatas Ecstatic Divination Lamashtu, Lamia, and Gorgo 3. 'Or also a Godly Singer" Akkadian and Early Greek Literature From Atrahasis to the "Deception of Zeus" Complaint in Heaven: Ishtar and Aphrodite The Overpopulated Earth Seven against Thebes Common Style and Stance in Oriental and Greek Epic Fables Magic and Cosmogony Conclusion Abbreviations Bibliography Notes Introduction 1. "Who Are Public Workers" Historical Background Oriental Products in Greece Writing and Literature in the Eighth Century The Problem of Loan-Words 2. "A Seer or a Healer" "Craftsmen of the Sacred" Hepatoscopy Foundation Deposits Purification Spirits of the Dead and Black Magic Substitute Sacrifice Asclepius and Asgelatas Ecstatic Divination Lamashtu, Lamia, and Gorgo 3. "Or Also a Godly Singer" From Atrahasis to the "Deception of Zeus" Complaint in Heaven The Overpopulated Earth Seven against Thebes Common Style and Stance in Oriental and Greek Epic Fables Magic and Cosmogony Index of Greek Words General Index Back Cover