Epilegomena to the Study of Greek Religion

by Jane Ellen Harrison

An examination of the Greeks from primitive ritual to the Rites of Eleusis. This is a superb piece of material on the Mysteries. In custom wraps with special papers.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

43 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1927

About the author

Jane Ellen Harrison (9 September 1850 – 15 April 1928) was a British classical scholar and linguist. Harrison is one of the founders, with Karl Kerenyi and Walter Burkert, of modern studies in Ancient Greek religion and mythology. She applied 19th century archaeological discoveries to the interpretation of ancient Greek religion in ways that have become standard. She has also been credited with being the first woman to obtain a post in England as a ‘career academic’. Harrison argued for women's suffrage but thought she would never want to vote herself. Ellen Wordsworth Crofts, later second wife of Sir Francis Darwin, was Jane Harrison's best friend from her student days at Newnham, and during the period from 1898 to her death in 1903.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_El...

Reviews

[Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Ellen Harrison was one of the handful of extraordinary Victorian women who obtained a degree, taught and wrote and did field work in her area of expertise. While doing a Master's in Greek Mythology in the early 90's I happened on her from reading Joseph Campbell who cited her work. This book was originally published in 1921 but I managed to track down a few of her books through second hand bookstores. It is not for the faint of heart. This is a very serious scholarly work and although the prejudices and mores of the day color some of the author's thinking it is still an excellent book for anyone who is wishes to go more deeply into ritual and the origins of early Greek religion. The book is written in a classical style relating a particular ritual and then giving a detailed analysis of the origins. The Greek terms are listed throughout and you'll need your lexicon close by if you don't know your Greek alphabet well.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, short and manageable if you are short on time.

[Erik Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came upon Jane Ellen Harrison through the study of Jung and Kerenyi, finding many references to these two books and her Prolegomena in the literature. Thanks to University Books, all of these titles were commonly available in used bookstores. The reading was not a disappointment. Harrison became, with G.R.S. Mead, one of my favorite early writers about ancient religion.

It's been years now, but so far as I can recall Harrison's approach it is to relate the ancient stories, the myths, to what we know of cultic practices.