Divine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practices

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dc.contributor.authorDe Castro, Paulaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-01-10T06:38:17Z
dc.date.available2015-01-10T06:38:17Z
dc.date.issued2009en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes abstract.en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (leaves 125-132).en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation broadly addresses divine childhood, with particular reference to the Homeric hymns. Included in the discussion is an overview of ancient Greek practices involving the subjects of birth, midwifery, timai, kyrioi, theft, parent-child relationships, maturation and the role of female children and women in society. In addition to the Homeric hymns a variety of other sources ranging from Homer to Apollodorus is drawn upon. The methodologies employed to analyse this diverse material are eclectic but a comparative approach has been particularly productive. The comparative nature of this dissertation has allowed special emphasis to be placed on the relation between the human and divine worlds. The anthropomorphic nature of the Greek gods clearly allowed the mortal poets to superimpose their own conventions onto the divine realm. In sum this dissertation considers the way social practices shape myth and are themselves perpetuated and sustained by myth. The tendency exhibited by the ancient Greeks to write about mythological happenings clearly allows them to explore alternative ways of life. These alternatives allowed them to explore in turn the consequences of subverting the norm (as seen in the figure of Pandora). Paradoxically, while playing with these alternative and subversive possibilities, the myths, which we assume were composed by men, succeed in reinforcing these norms (take for example the Odyssey’s Penelope who represents an idealised version of how a woman was supposed to conduct herself).en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDe Castro, P. (2009). <i>Divine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practices</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Classical Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11855en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDe Castro, Paula. <i>"Divine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practices."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Classical Studies, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11855en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDe Castro, P. 2009. Divine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practices. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - De Castro, Paula AB - This dissertation broadly addresses divine childhood, with particular reference to the Homeric hymns. Included in the discussion is an overview of ancient Greek practices involving the subjects of birth, midwifery, timai, kyrioi, theft, parent-child relationships, maturation and the role of female children and women in society. In addition to the Homeric hymns a variety of other sources ranging from Homer to Apollodorus is drawn upon. The methodologies employed to analyse this diverse material are eclectic but a comparative approach has been particularly productive. The comparative nature of this dissertation has allowed special emphasis to be placed on the relation between the human and divine worlds. The anthropomorphic nature of the Greek gods clearly allowed the mortal poets to superimpose their own conventions onto the divine realm. In sum this dissertation considers the way social practices shape myth and are themselves perpetuated and sustained by myth. The tendency exhibited by the ancient Greeks to write about mythological happenings clearly allows them to explore alternative ways of life. These alternatives allowed them to explore in turn the consequences of subverting the norm (as seen in the figure of Pandora). Paradoxically, while playing with these alternative and subversive possibilities, the myths, which we assume were composed by men, succeed in reinforcing these norms (take for example the Odyssey’s Penelope who represents an idealised version of how a woman was supposed to conduct herself). DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 T1 - Divine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practices TI - Divine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practices UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11855 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/11855
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDe Castro P. Divine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practices. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Classical Studies, 2009 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11855en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentClassical Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherClassicsen_ZA
dc.titleDivine childhood : a study of selected Homeric hymns in relation to ancient Greek societal practicesen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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