Omphalos Of Delphi

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Meaning and Being in Myth

Norman Austin has organized his analysis of classical Greek myths around Lacan's dichotomy between (ineffable) Being and the meanings imposed upon Being by culturally determined signifiers. The primary signifiers in myth (the gods), as projections of contradictory meanings, impel human consciousness in contradictory directions: toward heroic self-realization, on the one hand, and into the fear, guilt, and despair resulting from failure, on the other. The gods both reveal and occlude that which they signify--the signified; ultimately, Being itself. Austin includes one chapter on the father's ghost in Shakespeare's Hamlet, and another on Albert Camus's The Stranger, as examples of the power of mythical archetypes to reveal and occlude Being, even when the apparatus of gods has been excluded. Despite their pessimism, ancient myths also affirm that the paradoxes are not insoluble. Austin concludes by outlining the profile of the Universal Self intimated in myth, religion, and philosophy as the joint venture of the world realized in consciousness, consciousness realized in consciousness, and consciousness realized in the world.
Delphi

Author: Michael Scott
language: en
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Release Date: 2014-03-10
A comprehensive narrative history of the ancient world's center, from its founding to its modern rediscovery The oracle and sanctuary of the Greek god Apollo at Delphi were known as the "omphalos"—the "center" or "navel"—of the ancient world for more than 1,000 years. Individuals, city leaders, and kings came from all over the Mediterranean and beyond to consult Delphi's oracular priestess; to set up monuments to the gods; and to take part in competitions. In this richly illustrated account, Michael Scott covers the history and nature of Delphi, from the literary and archaeological evidence surrounding the site, to its rise as a center of worship, to the constant appeal of the oracle despite her cryptic prophecies. He describes how Delphi became a contested sacred site for Greeks and Romans and a storehouse for the treasures of rival city-states and foreign kings. He also examines the eventual decline of the site and how its meaning and importance have continued to be reshaped. A unique window into the center of the ancient world, Delphi will appeal to general readers, tourists, students, and specialists.
A Cognitive Analysis of the Main Apolline Divinatory Practices

This volume takes an innovative interdisciplinary approach to investigating divination procedures at sanctuaries of Apollo in Classical and Hellenistic Greece, merging neuroscience, psychology, and behavioural studies with archaeology. Through a deep analysis of primary sources and the historical and cultural context of these procedures, Frigerio reconstructs the precise schemata of knowledge and cognitive associations pertaining to ancient visitors of the Oracle, highlighting neural inputs they received inside their minds in these specific situations. The author engages with the archaeological record, studying the cognitive input that both seekers and prophets experienced from features of the outside world such as landscape, architecture, and temperature. This innovative methodology allows for a new understanding of divinatory practices and the formulation of new hypotheses. In addition, this study offers a powerful tool for decoding divination and engaging with the archaeological record in future research. A Cognitive Analysis of the Main Apolline Divinatory Practices is a fascinating read for students and scholars working on divination and cognition in ancient Greek religion, as well as in religion in the Classical and Hellenistic periods more broadly.