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E-book
Author Louden, Bruce, 1954-

Title Homer's Odyssey and the Near East / Bruce Louden
Published Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2011
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Description 1 online resource (356 pages)
Contents Introduction; 1. Divine councils and apocalyptic myth; 2. Theoxeny: Odyssey 1, 3, 13-22, and Genesis 18-19; 3. Romance: the Odyssey and the myth of Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-47); 4. Helen and Rahab (Joshua 2), Menelaus and Jacob (Genesis 32:22-32); 5. Ogygia and creation myth, Kalypso and Ishtar; 6. Argonautic myth: Odysseus and Nausikaa/Circe, Jason and Medea, Jacob and Rachel (Odyssey 6-8, 10-12, 13.1-187, Genesis 28-33); 7. Odysseus and Jonah: sea-monsters and the fantastic voyage; 8. The combat myth: Polyphemos and Humbaba; 9. Catabasis, consultation, and the vision: Odyssey 11, 1 Samuel 28, Gilgamesh 12, Aeneid 6, and the Book of Revelation; 10. Odyssey 12 and Exodus 32: Odysseus and Moses, the people defy their leader and rebel against God; 11. The suitors and the depiction of impious men in wisdom literature; 12. Odysseus and Jesus: the King returns, unrecognized and abused in his own Kingdom; 13. Contained apocalypse: Odyssey 12, 13, 22 and 24, Exodus 32 (and Genesis 18-19); Conclusion
Summary "The Odyssey's larger plot is composed of a number of distinct genres of myth, all of which are extant in various Near Eastern cultures (Mesopotamian, West Semitic, Egyptian). Unexpectedly, the Near Eastern culture with which the Odyssey has the most parallels is the Old Testament. Consideration of how much of the Odyssey focuses on non-heroic episodes - hosts receiving guests, a king disguised as a beggar, recognition scenes between long-separated family members - reaffirms the Odyssey's parallels with the Bible. In particular the book argues that the Odyssey is in a dialogic relationship with Genesis, which features the same three types of myth that comprise the majority of the Odyssey: theoxeny, romance (Joseph in Egypt), and Argonautic myth (Jacob winning Rachel from Laban). The Odyssey also offers intriguing parallels to the Book of Jonah, and Odysseus' treatment by the suitors offers close parallels to the Gospels' depiction of Christ in Jerusalem"-- Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 330-344) and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Homer. Odyssey.
SUBJECT Homerus ca. v8. Jh. Odyssea gnd
Homerus -- Odyssee. idsbb
Homer; Odysseia. idszbz
Bible. Old Testament -- Extra-canonical parallels
Bible. Old Testament fast
Odyssey (Homer) fast
Altes Testament. idszbz
Subject Mythology in literature.
Greek literature -- Relation to the Old Testament.
Mythology, Greek -- Comparative studies
Mythology, Middle Eastern -- Comparative studies
LITERARY COLLECTIONS -- Ancient, Classical & Medieval.
LITERARY CRITICISM -- Ancient & Classical.
Extra-canonical parallels
Greek literature -- Relation to the Old Testament
Mythology, Greek
Mythology in literature
Mythology, Middle Eastern
Mythos
Altes Testament -- Griechische Literatur.
Griechische Literatur -- Altes Testament.
Griechische Literatur -- Neues Testament.
Myter i litteraturen.
Grekisk mytologi.
Genre/Form Comparative studies
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9780511928208
0511928203
9780511933417
051193341X
9780511779794
0511779798