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The Cult Of The Nymphs: Identity, Ritual, And Womanhood In Ancient Greece, Ivana Genov
The Cult Of The Nymphs: Identity, Ritual, And Womanhood In Ancient Greece, Ivana Genov
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Examining archeological and epigraphic evidence in its historical context, in this thesis I explore the Cult of the Nymphs venerated across ancient Greek poleis. I analyze the nymph’s profound cultural and historical impact that is often overlooked in the study of ancient Greece. Nymphs were female deities thought to embody ecological sites, such as fountains and springs, and became fundamental to polis identity. Their locations were often central to city plans, and their faces, depicted on coinage, became representative of the city itself. In the community, nymphs were integral to rituals for major life events, most often in the lives …
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 …