Homo Necans: The Anthropology Of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Ritual And Myth

FIOMO NECANS TheAnthropology of AncientGreek SacrificiqlRitual andMtlth bV WALIER BURKERT Translated by PETERBING UNIVERSITYOF CALIFORNIA PRESS Berkeley LosAngeles London f-. -L .; i1, cr For ReinholdMerlcelbsch Originally published in German by Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin, under the title Homo Necans(1972). University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England @ 1983by The Regents of the University of California Library of CongressCatalogingin PublicationData Burkert, Walter r93rHomo necans. Translationof: Homo necans. Bibliography: p. r. Ritesand ceremonies-Greece. z. Sacrifice. 3. Mythology, Greek. 4. Greece-Religion. I. Title. zgz' .38 77-93423 sr788.a8V3 rg8) rsrwo-5zo-o5875-5 Printed in the United Statesof America 456789 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standardfor llformation Sciences-Permanence of Paperfor Printed Library Materials,ANSI 49.48-r984. xcti rair' Eart rd. puarr1pca, cvueltovrt gduut. gouoL xo.i ragoc Clementof Alexandria et nos servasti_sanguine fuso Mithraic inscription,Santaprisca,Rome Contents Translator'sPreface xi to theEnglishEdition xiii Preface Listof lllustrations xvii lntroduction xix I . SACRIFICE,HUNTING, AND FUNERARYRITUALS r. Sacrificeasan Act of Killing 1 Explanation: PrimitiaeMan as Hunter z. TheEtsolutionary 3. Ritualization 22 4. Myth and Ritual 29 of Ritual Killing J5 5, TheFunctionand Transformation Funerary Ritual 6. 48 7. TheSexualizationof Ritual Killing: Maiden Sacrifice, PhallusCuIt 58 8. FatherGodand GreatGoddess 72 il. WEREWOLVESAROUND THE TRIPOD KETTLE 72 83 r. Lykniaand Lykaion 84 z. Pelopsat Olympia 93 3. Thyestesand Harpagos 1o3 4. Aristaiosand Aktaion 1o9 5. TheDelphicTripod tr6 6. A Glanceat Odysseus t3o m. DISSOLUTION AND NEW YEAR'SFESTIVAL r. FromOx-Slayingto thePanathenaic Festiaal t36 Dipolieia q6 Skira 74) IX a35 Arrhephoria 71'o Panathenaia 754 Excursus: The Troian Horse 1 5 8 2 . Argos and Argeiphontes 16r ) . Agrionia $8 4 . Tereusand the Nightingale a79 5 . Antiope and EPoPeus 185 6 . The Lemnian Women 79o 7. The Return of the DolPhin t96 8 . Fish Adaent 2o4 IV. ANTHESTERIA Translator'sPreface 273 Testimoniaand Dissemination 213 Pithoigia and Choes zt6 3 . Carians or Keres zz6 i SacredMarriage and Lenaia-Vases z3o ?' 5 . Chytroi qnd Aiora 48 6 . Protesilaos 243 7. 2. V. ELEUSIS t. Documentation and Secret 248 z. TheMyth of Koreand Pig-Sacrifice256 3. Myesisand Synthema 265 in the Telesterion274 4. TheSacrifice Deathand Encountering Death:Initiationand 5. Oaercoming Sacrifice zg3 and Bibliography 299 Abbreaiations Indexof Cult Sitesand Festiuals 3o9 248 walter Burkert'sstyle is often suggestiverather than explicit, his descriptionsare vivid (at times almost visionary)rather than dryly academic,and he does not hesitateto use colroquiarismsso as to make a point more forcefully. In the processof translation, such featuresinevitably undergo a certain levelling. I have tried, however, to maintain the drama and drive of ProfessorBurkert'sprose.In the German, Homo Necansis remarkable for being both an exemplary piece of scholarshipand just plain good reading. It is my hope that itiemains so in the.English. Among the many friends and colleagueswho helped me at various stagesin this translation,spe