Hieros Logos
to Philosophic Mythos:
Text and Authority in the Ancient Greco-Roman World
In the absence of a fixed text, how did certain accounts become authoritative? What effect did the development of writing and fixed, reviewable texts have on traditional authority? What new forms of authoritative discourse arose with the development and spread of writing and books in the ancient Greek world? How has the modern understanding of ancient Greco-Roman culture (e.g., the Orphic "hubbub of books" or the Sibylline books) been skewed by modern bookishness and the Judaeo-Christian idea of Sacred Scripture?
Week I Hieros Logos to Philosophic Mythos: Introduction
Topics:
From Oral Tradition to the Written Text
Mythos to Logos or Logos to Mythos
Hieros Logos or Sacred Scripture
Text and Authority
Case Study: "Orphic" Gold Tablets
Choice of Case Studies
Readings:
Yunis, Introduction: Why Written Texts?
Morgan, Theoretical Issues, Myth & Philosophy, ch.2
Week II Sacred Writings in Greece and Rome
Topics:
Case Studies & Presentations - introduce your text and the issues involved with its textuality
Readings:
Genesis 1-3 and Matt. 26:17-30
Derveni Papyrus - Laks, A Provisional Translation of the Derveni Papyrus
8th
Book of Moses – Betz, PGM XIII
Smith, M., The 8th Book of Moses and How It Grew
Daniel, Two Greek Magical Papyri (text and images of P. Leid. J395)
Homeric
Hymn to Demeter – Foley, text & translation
Oracles
in Athens – Aristophanes on Oracle Mongers
Smith, N., Diviners and Divination in Aristophanic Comedy
Lex Sacra from Selinous
Jameson, Jordan, Kotansky, pp. 3-7, 14-17, 50-60
Sibylline Books – Hansen, trans. excerpt from Phlegon of Tralles; Orlin appendix
Gordon, From Republic to Principate
Week III Transition from Orality to Literacy
Topics:
Questions on Case Studies
Plato on Word and Text
Philosophic Mythos
Readings:
Plato's Phaedrus
Morgan, Plato: myth and the soul, Myth & Philosophy ch. 7
Paper: 4-6 pages comparing your case study with at least two others. How does this text ground its religious authority? How does its written form affect its reception and transmission? How has this text been received - both by its contemporary audience and by modern scholars?
Bibliography
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Betz, Hans Dieter, "PGM XIII," in The
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Daniel, Robert, Two Greek Magical Papyri in the
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Foley, Helene, "Interpretive Essay: Appendix," in The Homeric Hymn
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