The Orientalizing Revolution

Near Eastern Influence on Greek Culture in the Early Archaic Age

Walter Burkert

Translated by Margaret Pinder

    Preface

    Introduction

    1. "Who Are Public Workers": The Migrant Craftsmen

    Historical Background

    Oriental Products in Greece

    Writing and Literature in the Eighth Century

    The Problem of Loan-Words

    2. "A Seer or a Healer": Magic and Medicine

    "Craftsmen of the Sacred": Mobility and Family Structure

    Hepatoscopy

    Foundation Deposits

    Purification

    Spirits of the Dead and Black Magic

    Substitute Sacrifice

    Asclepius and Asgelatas

    Ecstatic Divination

    Lamashtu, Lamia, and Gorgo

    3. "Or Also a Godly Singer": Akkadian and Early Greek Literature

    From Atrahasis to the "Deception of Zeus"

    Complaint in Heaven: Ishtar and Aphrodite

    The Overpopulated Earth

    Seven against Thebes

    Common Style and Stance in Oriental and Greek Epic

    Fables

    Magic and Cosmogony

    Conclusion

    Abbreviations

    Bibliography

    Notes

    Index of Greek Words

    General Index

  • Cover: The Orientalizing Revolution
  • A photo of the author

Walter Burkert is Professor Emeritus of Classics, University of Zurich.