Jane Ellen Harrison

Reproduction of the original: Ancient Art and Ritual by Jane Ellen Harrison

Mythology by Jane Ellen Harrison is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of Greek mythology. The book delves deep into the origins, meanings, and interpretations of the myths, covering everything from the gods and goddesses to the heroes and monsters. Harrison's writing is engaging and accessible, making it an ideal read for both scholars and casual readers. The book is divided into three parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of Greek mythology. Part one explores the origins of the myths and the role they played in ancient Greek society. Part two delves into the stories of the gods and goddesses, examining their personalities, relationships, and symbols. Part three looks at the heroes and monsters of Greek mythology, including figures such as Hercules, Perseus, and Medusa. Throughout the book, Harrison draws on her extensive knowledge of ancient Greek culture and literature, providing detailed analysis and interpretation of the myths. She also includes numerous illustrations and photographs to help bring the stories to life. Overall, Mythology is a fascinating and informative book that offers a rich and nuanced understanding of Greek mythology. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the subject, whether they are a student, scholar, or simply a lover of myths and legends. This is a new release of the original 1924 edition. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Jane Ellen Harrison (1850–1928) was a pioneer in the academic study of myth in its historical and archaeological context, and was also one of the first women to make a full-time career as an academic. In her introduction to this book (1903), making the point that 'Greek religion' was usually studied using the surviving literary retellings of myths and legends, she states: 'The first preliminary to any scientific understanding of Greek religion is a minute examination of its ritual'. Using the then emerging disciplines of anthropology and ethnology, she demonstrates that the specific mythological tales of the Greeks embody systems of belief or philosophy which are not unique to Greek civilisation but which are widespread among societies both 'primitive' and 'advanced'. Her work was enormously influential not only on subsequent scholars of Greek religion but in the wider fields of literature, anthropology and psychoanalysis.

Drawing upon a range of disciplines including anthropology, classical studies, archaeology and psychology, Jane Ellen Harrison's seminal 1912 work Themis pieces together the origins of early Greek religion. Known as one of the founders of modern studies in Greek mythology, Harrison has been described by her biographer, Mary Beard, as 'Britain's first female professional 'career academic'. She is renowned as being one of the most intellectual women of her time, and the ideas espoused on Greek rituals and myths in Themis remain influential today. This revolutionary study traces Themis back through history, as a matriarchal tribal goddess. Addressing areas including magic, sacrifice and the origin of the Olympic games, Harrison applies archaeological discoveries to the interpretation of Greek religion. Including a detailed preface and explanatory notes, this revised second edition of 1927 is described by Harrison as 'addressed not so much to the specialist as to the thinker generally'.