Anthropomorphism, Theatre, Epiphany: From Herodotus to Hellenistic Historians
This paper argues that, beginning with the Euripidean deus ex machina, dramatic festivals introduced a new standard into epiphanic rituals and experience. Through the scenic double énonciation, gods are seen by mythical heroes as gods, but by the Athenian spectators as costumed actors and fictive en...
| Published in: | Archiv für Religionsgeschichte |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
[2018]
|
| In: |
Archiv für Religionsgeschichte
|
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Herodotus ca. 485 v. Chr.-424 v. Chr.
/ Euripides ca. 485/480 v. Chr.-406 v.Chr.
/ Deus ex machina
/ Epiphany
/ Ritual
/ Hero
/ God
/ Anthropomorphism
/ Hellenism
/ Historiography
|
| RelBib Classification: | AA Study of religion AG Religious life; material religion BE Greco-Roman religions |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | This paper argues that, beginning with the Euripidean deus ex machina, dramatic festivals introduced a new standard into epiphanic rituals and experience. Through the scenic double énonciation, gods are seen by mythical heroes as gods, but by the Athenian spectators as costumed actors and fictive entities. People could scarcely believe these were real' gods, but would have no doubt been impressed by the scenic machinery. Thus the Homeric theme of a hero's likeness to the gods developed into the Hellenistic theme of the godlike ruler's (or actor's) theatrical success (or deceit). So in the Athenians' Hymn to Demetrius Poliorcetes, a victorious ruler entering a city is welcomed as a better god than the gods themselves. The simultaneous rise in popularity of paradoxical stories and experiences in the Hellenistic period was grounded not in believing, but in disbelieving - a phenomenon associated with antiquarian interests, the self-publicity of religious sanctuaries, or amazed credulity. People were increasingly drawn to real' gods, leading to long pilgrimages and extensive financial outlay (in the mysteries) in order to see them. I investigate this phenomenon by focusing upon fragments of the mimetic' or tragic' Greek historians that survive from this period. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1868-8888 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Archiv für Religionsgeschichte
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1515/arege-2018-0012 |