The ancient oracles : making the gods speak / / Richard Stoneman

• Autore: Stoneman Richard
• Pubblicazione: New Haven, [Connecticut] ; ; London, [England] : , : Yale University Press, , 2011; ©2011
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (xiv, 270 p. ) : ill., maps
• Disciplina: 292.32
• Soggetto topico: Divination - Greece; Oracles, Greek
• Soggetto geografico: Greece Religion
• Classificazione: 11.15
• Note generali: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Front matter -- Contents List -- Illustrations and Maps -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1. Why Did the Greeks Consult Oracles? -- 2. Possession or Policy: The Case of Delphi -- 3. The Riddles of the Pythia -- 4. From Egypt to Dodona -- 5. The Gods, the Heroes and the Dead -- 6. The Oracle Coast: Sibyls and Prophets of Asia Minor -- 7. Dreams and Healing -- 8. Dicing for Destiny -- 9. Foreknowledge, Fate and Philosophy -- 10. Sceptics, Frauds and Fakes -- 11. New Questions for the Oracles: Platonism and Theology -- 12. 'Ecstatic Predictions of Woe': The Sibylline Oracles -- 13. Silencing the Oracles -- 14. Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index
• Sommario/riassunto: For more than a thousand years, Greeks from all walks of life consulted oracles for guidance received directly from the gods. This colorful and wide-ranging survey encompasses the entire history of Greek oracles and focuses fresh attention on philosophical, psychological, and anthropological aspects of oracular consultation. It also examines how Greek oracles' practices were distinctive compared to those of their neighbors, especially in Egypt, Babylon, and Israel. Richard Stoneman weaves a fascinating historical tapestry, taking into account the different kinds of oracles (healers, advisors, prophets, and others), their most important sanctuaries, debates about them among ancient thinkers, and Christian attacks on them. Delving into the reasons behind the oracles' enduring position at the heart of Greek culture, Stoneman offers fresh insights into pagan religious practice and the history of Greek intellectual and spiritual life.
• Titolo autorizzato: The ancient oracles
• ISBN: 0-300-17213-3
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Record Nr.: 9910815706003321
• Lo trovi qui: Univ. Federico II