Wandering Myths : Transcultural Uses of Myth in the Ancient World

In spite of the growing amount of important new work being carried out on uses of myth in particular ancient contexts, their appeal and reception beyond the framework of one culture have rarely been the primary object of enquiry in contemporary debate. Highlighting the fact that ancient societies were linked by their shared use of mythological narratives, __Wandering Myths__ aims to advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which such tales were disseminated cross-culturally and to investigate how they gained local resonances. In order to assess both wider geographic circulations and to explore specific local features and interpretations, a regional approach is adopted, with a particular focus on Anatolia, the Near East and Italy. Contributions are drawn from a range of disciplines, and cross a wide chronological span, but all are interlinked by their engagement with questions focusing on the factors that guided the processes of reception and steered the facets of local interpretation. The Preface and Epilogue evaluate the material in a synoptic way and frame the challenging questions and views expressed in the Introduction. In spite of the growing amount of important new work being carried out on uses of myth in particular ancient contexts, their appeal and reception beyond the framework of one culture have rarely been the primary object of enquiry in contemporary debate. Wandering Myths edits and interprets the research presented at three workshops and an international conference of the same title that were held in Oxford between January and April 2014. Ancient societies shared and were linked by their understanding of mythological narratives, from the Ancient Near East to Rome and beyond. In order to assess wider geographic circulations and to explore local resonances in their different contexts, a regional approach is adopted, followed by a thematic chapter focusing on specific heroes to further a synthesis of the different areas. All chapters are interlinked by general questions towards an understanding of the factors that guided the processes of reception and steered the facets of local interpretation. The epilogue evaluates the material in a synoptic way and responds to the challenging questions and views expressed in the introduction. Frontmatter......Page 1 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 7 Introduction......Page 33 Kingship in Heaven in Anatolia, Syria and Greece......Page 55 Making Meaning of Myth......Page 75 Myth, Memory and the Past......Page 123 From Mezntie to Mezentius?......Page 145 Pots, Plots, and Performance......Page 175 Distributed Narrative......Page 193 No One is Immortal......Page 219 Attic Sarcophagi......Page 259 Gilgāmeš and Homer: The Missing Link?......Page 313 Myth, Memory, and Mimesis......Page 329 Death on the Nile: The Myth of Osiris and the Utility of History in Diodorus......Page 357 Wandering Hero, Wandering Myths?......Page 375 The Transformations of Achilles on Late Roman Mosaics in the East......Page 405 Epilogue......Page 445 Index......Page 453 Edited By Lucy Audley-miller And Beate Dignas. Research Presented At Three Workshops And An International Conference That Were Held In Oxford Between January And April 2014.--page Xii. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.