1.

Record Nr.

UNISALENTO991002826699707536

Titolo

Societa dell'informazione. - 1993-1999

Pubbl/distr/stampa

L'Aquila, 1993-1999

ISSN

1590-587X

Lingua di pubblicazione

Italiano

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Periodico

2.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910743290003321

Titolo

Greek Incubation Rituals in Classical and Hellenistic Times

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Liège, : Presses universitaires de Liège, 2015

ISBN

2-87562-377-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (282 p.)

Collana

Kernos suppléments

Soggetti

Ancient history

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Sommario/riassunto

This study documents and analyses the structure and function of Greek incubation rituals in Classical and Hellenistic times addressing all relevant and extant literary and epigraphical testimonial concerning the rites and rules surrounding incubation. It shows that previous approaches, which treated incubation as a Chthonian phenomenon, as a rite of passage, or as comparable to initiation in mystery cults are not supported by the available testimonia on these rites. An analysis of the social context of the rites surrounding incubation shows they differed surprisingly little from the rites performed by other worshippers at these sanctuaries. Various ritual factors are explored in order to explain why ordinary, or low-intensity, rites could create a high-



intensity experience for the worshipper. Further, the structure of incubation rituals is examined in the light of the origins and development of the practice in Greece. Contrary to previous theories on the origins of incubation, it is argued that the phenomenon began as an exclusive consultation technique for priests, magistrates and select worshippers and was a natural variant of oracular techniques in Archaic and Early Classical Greece. When incubation became accessible to everyone in Classical society as a part of the cult of Asklepios, rituals for the masses were then created. The ritual did not have one, coherent structure across all the sanctuaries which offered it ; rather, the ritual practice adapted to local customs and factors such as the size of the cult. Some rites for intermediaries were kept, but new motivational factors were added, which resulted in very popular cults.