Taming the winds in antiquity (1400 B.C.-500 A.D.) : iconography, cult and literature
This thesis undertakes to examine virtually every aspect of the ancient world that was touched upon by the wind, both as a meteorological and elemental force, and as several peripheral deities. The discussion begins with an Introduction to the uses of myth and the reading of iconography within certain social and historical parameters, as these tools form the basis of the main body of the thesis. We then move on to examine the iconography of two of the cardinal Wind-gods, Boreas and Zephyros, and question why the representation of one image changed so radically within one hundred years. We also look at more minor Wind-gods, for example the Etesians, and related deities such as Eos and the Harpies. Following the artistic evidence, we present a brief overview of the Winds in cult and religious practice, for example, in Eastern mystery cults and in death ritual and representation, and we trace the development of the Winds in cult from the Bronze Age through to the dawn of the Christian era. Finally, we bring together a survey of the literary sources to enable us to see how the Winds were perceived by the ancients across a wide variety of fields: mythology, philosophy, science, medicine, farming, shipping, poetry,
Williams, SiaÌn Lesley
Classics
Taming the winds in antiquity (1400 B.C.-500 A.D.) : iconography, cult and literature. This thesis undertakes to examine virtually every aspect of the ancient world that was touched upon by the wind, both as a meteorological and elemental force, and as several peripheral deities. The discussion begins with an Introduction to the uses of myth and the reading of iconography within certain social and historical parameters, as these tools form the basis of the main body of the thesis. We then move on to examine the iconography of two of the cardinal Wind-gods, Boreas and Zephyros, and question why the representation of one image changed so radically within one hundred years. We also look at more minor Wind-gods, for example the Etesians, and related deities such as Eos and the Harpies. Following the artistic evidence, we present a brief overview of the Winds in cult and religious practice, for example, in Eastern mystery cults and in death ritual and representation, and we trace the development of the Winds in cult from the Bronze Age through to the dawn of the Christian era. Finally, we bring together a survey of the literary sources to enable us to see how the Winds were perceived by the ancients across a wide variety of fields: mythology, philosophy, science, medicine, farming, shipping, poetry,
wind antiquity iconography cult literature undertakes examine virtually every_aspect ancient_world touch_upon wind elemental force several peripheral deity discussion begin_introduction use myth read iconography within certain social historical parameter tool form_basis main_body thesis move examine iconography cardinal wind gods question representation image change radically within also_look minor wind gods example related deity following artistic evidence_present brief_overview cult religious_practice example eastern mystery cult death ritual representation trace_development cult bronze_age dawn christian era finally bring_together survey literary_source enable see perceived ancient across_wide variety field mythology philosophy_science medicine farming shipping poetry