Grudging Gods : theology and characterization in Herodotus, and interpretation from Plutarch to the present
This thesis is an investigation into Herodotusâ views about the gods and how they relate to human life and history, and particularly how narrative and theology interact. It is divided into four chapters: Chapter one (The History of Herodotean Theology) falls into two parts. In the first I outline the reception of Herodotusâ theological views from antiquity to the present, focusing on the warnersâ statements that âthe divinity is phthonerosâ, the subject of controversy since Plutarch. I explore the role of contemporary rhetorical and religious pressures in forging various interpretative traditions, and trace their evolution over the last five centuries of scholarship. The second part examines the assumptions and approaches of more recent scholarship to the problems that arise in Herodotean theology. Chapter two (Religious Discourses in the Histories) develops our understanding of Herodotusâ theological inconsistencies, which have increasingly come to dominate discussion of Herodotean religion. I make the case that Herodotus uses various theological discourses or registers, which are (literally interpreted) quite incompatible. I explore the influence of narrative style, narratorial persona, and context
Ellis, Boschetti Anthony
Herodotus ; Greek theology ; Plutarch ; Croesus logos ; narrative
Grudging Gods : theology and characterization in Herodotus, and interpretation from Plutarch to the present. This thesis is an investigation into Herodotusâ views about the gods and how they relate to human life and history, and particularly how narrative and theology interact. It is divided into four chapters: Chapter one (The History of Herodotean Theology) falls into two parts. In the first I outline the reception of Herodotusâ theological views from antiquity to the present, focusing on the warnersâ statements that âthe divinity is phthonerosâ, the subject of controversy since Plutarch. I explore the role of contemporary rhetorical and religious pressures in forging various interpretative traditions, and trace their evolution over the last five centuries of scholarship. The second part examines the assumptions and approaches of more recent scholarship to the problems that arise in Herodotean theology. Chapter two (Religious Discourses in the Histories) develops our understanding of Herodotusâ theological inconsistencies, which have increasingly come to dominate discussion of Herodotean religion. I make the case that Herodotus uses various theological discourses or registers, which are (literally interpreted) quite incompatible. I explore the influence of narrative style, narratorial persona, and context
gods theology characterization herodotus interpretation plutarch present investigation herodotus view god relate human_life history particularly narrative theology interact divide_four history herodotean theology fall_two_part first_outline reception herodotus theological view antiquity present focus statement divinity subject controversy since plutarch explore_role contemporary rhetorical religious pressure forge various interpretative tradition trace_evolution scholarship second_part examines assumption approach recent_scholarship problem_arise herodotean theology religious discourses histories develop herodotus theological inconsistency increasingly come dominate discussion herodotean religion make_case herodotus use various_theological discourse register literally interpret quite incompatible explore influence narrative style persona context