Technologies of the Marvellous in Ancient Greek Religion

Erscheinungsjahr 2025
ISBN: 978-1-009-33168-5
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 300 Seiten, Format (B × H): 145 mm x 222 mm, Gewicht: 538 g

Reihe: Cambridge Classical Studies

This book investigates the ways that technological, and especially mechanical, strategies were integrated into ancient Greek religion. By analysing a range of evidence, from the tragic use of the deus ex machina to Hellenistic epigrams to ancient mechanical literature, it expands the existing vocabulary of visual modes of ancient epiphany. Moreover, it contributes to the cultural history of the unique category of ancient 'enchantment' technologies by challenging the academic orthodoxy regarding the incompatibility of religion and technology. The evidence for this previously unidentified phenomenon is presented in full, thereby enabling the reader to perceive the shifting matrices of agency between technical objects, mechanical knowledge, gods, and mortals from the fifth century BCE to the second century CE.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bur, Tatiana

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction; Part I. Greek Tragedy and Mechanical Epiphany: 1. Viewing the mechane; 2. Visual representations of the gods in tragedy; 3. Theos apo mechanes; Part II. Technologies and Ritual Experience; 4. Technical divination and mechanics of sacred space; 5. Dedicated inventions; 6. Pompai and the mechanics of sacred occasion; Part III. Faking the Gods; 7. In the hands of frauds; 8. Theomimesis-theomachy.

Über Autor(innen)

Bur, Tatiana
TATIANA BUR held the Moses and Mary Finley Research Fellowship at Darwin College, Cambridge before joining the Australian National University as Lecturer in Classics. She is the recipient of the Cambridge University Hare Prize in Classics, and co-editor of Technological Animation in Classical Antiquity (2024).