Themis: A Study of the Social Origins of Greek ReligionDrawing upon a range of disciplines including anthropology, classical studies, archaeology and psychology, Jane Ellen Harrison's seminal 1912 work Themis pieces together the origins of early Greek religion. Known as one of the founders of modern studies in Greek mythology, Harrison has been described by her biographer, Mary Beard, as 'Britain's first female professional 'career academic'. She is renowned as being one of the most intellectual women of her time, and the ideas espoused on Greek rituals and myths in Themis remain influential today. This revolutionary study traces Themis back through history, as a matriarchal tribal goddess. Addressing areas including magic, sacrifice and the origin of the Olympic games, Harrison applies archaeological discoveries to the interpretation of Greek religion. Including a detailed preface and explanatory notes, this revised second edition of 1927 is described by Harrison as 'addressed not so much to the specialist as to the thinker generally'. |
Contents
CHAPTER I | 1 |
to the Kouretes Its importance for the history of religion Analysis | 28 |
Idaean ritual later in character than Diktaean Epimenidea as the new | 50 |
CHAPTER IV | 75 |
6 MedicineBird and MedicineKing | 94 |
sacramental feast Nature of sacrament best understood in the light | 118 |
CHAPTER VI | 124 |
The Dithyramb the Spring Festival and the Hagia Triada | 158 |
funeral theory Relation to HeroWorship Pindars account in first | 212 |
CHAPTER VIII | 260 |
elements are an Agon a Pathos a Messenger a Threnos an Anagnorisis | 341 |
CHAPTER IX | 364 |
Herakles as fertility and yeardaimonas Hertnas Thallophoros | 375 |
Herois Heroines as fertilitydaimones The Bringing up of Semele | 444 |
are honours claimed not functions performed They claim immortalityand | 445 |
CHAPTER XL | 480 |
de passage from sex to sex and age to age symbolized by interchange | 196 |
religion Social structure of the Olympians is patriarchal and of the family | 492 |
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Common terms and phrases
actual Aeschylus Agon altar ancient animal Apollo appears Athens begin bird birth bring bull called carrying ceremonies chapter child clear clearly collective comes connection course cult daimon dance dead death Dionysos discussed Dithyramb divine earth elements evidence fact father feast fertility festival figure follows fruits function Games gives gods Greek hand held Herakles Hermes hero holds holy human Hymn important individual initiation interesting king Kouretes Kouros later light magical means month moon mother myth nature offered Oinomaos Olympian once origin Pelops perhaps Persian personality play present primitive probably Prof race relation religion religious represented rites ritual sacred Salmoneus sanctity says scene season seems seen sense snake social spring stands story suggestion Supra tells things thunder totem tradition tree whole worship young Zeus