Description
Book SynopsisWhy did so many ancient communities have not one, but several, foundation myths? This book addresses the phenomenon of plural foundation myths, exploring examples from across classical antiquity. It makes the case for understanding foundation myths not as stand-alone stories, but as elements within a wider discourse of origins.
Trade Review"An outstanding contribution to the study of foundation myths in ancient societies. Mac Sweeney sets out an exciting new paradigm in which they are treated as segments of multilayered foundation discourse; the individual contributors apply this model to a wide range of ancient societies from Italy to Afghanistan, with breathtaking results." * Ian Rutherford, University of Reading *
Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations
Introduction
—Naoíse Mac Sweeney
Chapter 1. Foreign Founders: Greeks and Hebrews
—Irad Malkin
Chapter 2. Oikist and Archegetes in Context: Representing the Foundation of Sicilian Naxos
—Lieve Donnellan
Chapter 3. Who's the Daddy?: Contesting and Constructing Theseus' Paternity in Fifth-Century Athens
—Susanne Turner
Chapter 4. The Founder's Shrine and the Foundation of Ai Khanoum
—Rachel Mairs
Chapter 5. Alexander, Agathos Daimon, and Ptolemy: The Alexandrian Foundation Myth in Dialogue
—Daniel Ogden
Chapter 6. Figuring Rome's Foundation on the Iliac Tablets
—Michael Squire
Chapter 7. Beyond Greece and Rome: Foundation Myths on Tyrian Coinage in the Third Century ad
—Alfred Hirt
Epilogue
—Robin Osborne
List of Contributors
Index
Acknowledgments
