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Demythologizing Homer: Investigating Religion In Minoan Crete, Elizabeth Rybarczyk
Demythologizing Homer: Investigating Religion In Minoan Crete, Elizabeth Rybarczyk
Student Research Submissions
The Minoan civilization of Bronze-Age Crete has, until recently, been obscured in mythological uncertainty. As a prehistoric civilization, the available evidence for historic analysis is sparse and ambiguous. This paper evaluates the material evidence for ritual activity to chart the religious developments of Minoan Crete. In the earliest periods of their civilization, the Minoans practiced animism, which reflected their ideals towards survival and cooperation. As their prosperity grew due to technological advancements, a social hierarchy formed. The emerging elite employed religion to justify their claim to power by appropriating religion, which culminated in a dual-monotheistic Knossian theocracy. This lasted until …
From Daimones To Demons: Exorcisms And Cultural Constructions Of The Demonic In Late Antique Egypt, Madeleine Gulbransen
From Daimones To Demons: Exorcisms And Cultural Constructions Of The Demonic In Late Antique Egypt, Madeleine Gulbransen
Student Research Submissions
Christian conceptions of demonic forces and possession in Late Antique Egypt were heavily shaped by pre-existing Greek, Egyptian, and Jewish traditions. The syncretic nature of Christianization facilitated an integration of local traditions with new beliefs. A process of demonization occurred as pre-existing views of daimones from the Underworld were transformed from morally ambiguous beings into inherently evil figures. Demons and exorcism rituals served important anthropological functions as they revealed the underlying social conflicts that arose as Christianity spread and changed earlier traditions. This study focuses on magical texts, amulets, and early Christian literature to analyze the effects of Christianization on …