Myths of the underworld journey Plato, Aristophanes, and the "Orphic" gold tablets

This book was first published in 2004. Plato, Aristophanes and the creators of the 'Orphic' gold tablets employ the traditional tale of a journey to the realm of the dead to redefine, within the mythic narrative, the boundaries of their societies. Rather than being the relics of a faded ri...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Edmonds, Radcliffe G. 1970- (Author)
Format: Electronic Book
Language:English
Subito Delivery Service: Order now.
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2004.
In:Year: 2004
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Greece (Antiquity) / Mythology / Underworld
B Plato 427 BC-347 BC, Phaedo / Underworld (Motif)
B Aristophanes 445 BC-385 BC, Ranae
B Orphicae Lamellae
Further subjects:B Mythology, Greek
B Aristophanes ; Frogs
B Aristophanes Frogs
B Voyages to the otherworld
B Dionysia
B Voyages to the otherworld in literature
B Mythology, Greek, in literature
B Lamellae aureae Orphicae
B Plato Phaedo
B Plato ; Phaedo
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Print version: 9780521834346
Description
Summary:This book was first published in 2004. Plato, Aristophanes and the creators of the 'Orphic' gold tablets employ the traditional tale of a journey to the realm of the dead to redefine, within the mythic narrative, the boundaries of their societies. Rather than being the relics of a faded ritual tradition or the products of Orphic influence, these myths can only reveal their meanings through a close analysis of the specific ways in which each author makes use of the tradition. For these authors, myth is an agonistic discourse, neither a kind of sacred dogma nor a mere literary diversion, but rather a flexible tool that serves the wide variety of uses to which it is put. The traditional tale of the journey to the Underworld in Greek mythology is neither simple nor single, but each telling reveals a perspective on the cosmos, a reflection of the order of this world through the image of the other.
1. Introduction: the start of the journey 2. Roadmaps of de;viance: The 'Orphic' gold tablets 3. Descent into the depths of comedy: The Frogs of Aristophanes 4. The upward path of philosophy: the myth in Plato's Phaedo 5. Conclusions: the end of the road
Item Description:Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015)
ISBN:051149789X
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511497896