Metamorphosis in Greek Myths

Zusatztext evidently rich and productive in interesting interpretations Informationen zum Autor Paul Forbes Irving is a barrister Klappentext The transformation of people into animals! plants! and stones is one of the most common and characteristic themes of Greek mythology! embodying as well some of the most mysterious and fantastic episodes in a mythology that is sometimes considered to be relatively realistic and lacking in fantasy. This book! the first study of these myths in English! analyzes the various ways in which they imagine and explore the experience of changing one's form. Forbes Irving's unusual approach is to look for their meaning not in long-forgotten rituals or historical events! but in their imaginative appeal as stories. Zusammenfassung The transformation of human beings into animals, plants and stones is one of the most characteristic themes of Greek mythology. This study argues that attempts to explain away these myths as relics of long-forgotten rituals ignores their most interesting trait - their appeal as stories. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of abbreviations; Introduction; The sources; Animals; The ritual theory; Animals; Myths and stories; Birds; Plants; Stones; Sex changes; The shapeshifters; Conclusion; Catalogue of transformation stories (Mammals; Birds; Plants; Stones; Minor categories of transformations); Index

Product details

• Authors: Forbes Irving, P. M. C. Forbes Irving, P. M. Forbes-Irving, P. M. C. Forbes Irving, P.m.c.forbes Irving
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.07.1992
• EAN: 9780198140900
• ISBN: 978-0-19-814090-0
• No. of pages: 342
• Series: Oxford Classical Monographs; Oxford Classical Monographs
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Classical linguistics / literary studies; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Folklore & Mythology, Ancient Greece, RELIGION / Ancient, Folklore, myths & legends, Ancient religions & mythologies, Ancient religions and Mythologies, Folklore studies / Study of myth (mythology)