Writing and the Origins of Greek Literature |
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| Author:
| Powell, Barry B. |
| ISBN: | 978-0-521-03631-3 |
| Publication Date: | Apr 2007 |
| Publisher: | Cambridge University Press
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| Book Format: | Paperback |
| List Price: | USD $47.99 |
Book Description:
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The purpose of this book is to dispel misunderstanding about the genesis of the Homeric poems and other knotty problems in oral studies, such as the meaning of 'orality,' 'literacy,' 'tradition,' 'memorization,' and 'text.' This book is about the nature and history of writing, how it was used in the Ancient Near East, and especially in Greece, and its relationship to Homer. It suggests that a Semite invented the Greek alphabet, heir to an ancient bilingual Eastern tradition of taking...
More DescriptionThe purpose of this book is to dispel misunderstanding about the genesis of the Homeric poems and other knotty problems in oral studies, such as the meaning of 'orality,' 'literacy,' 'tradition,' 'memorization,' and 'text.' This book is about the nature and history of writing, how it was used in the Ancient Near East, and especially in Greece, and its relationship to Homer. It suggests that a Semite invented the Greek alphabet, heir to an ancient bilingual Eastern tradition of taking down poetry by dictation.