The Derveni Papyrus Cosmology, Theology and Interpretation [Hardcover]

A comprehensive and systematic reconstruction and analysis of the Derveni Papyrus, found in 1962.This is the first comprehensive study of the Derveni Papyrus. The papyrus, found in 1962 near Thessaloniki among the remains of a funeral pyre, is one of the earliest surviving Greek papyri. It is a document of primary importance for a better understanding of the religious and philosophical developments of the time of Socrates. Here, Gábor Betegh offers the first systematic reconstruction and analysis of the papyrus and discusses its place in the intellectual milieu of the age. The book will appeal strongly to classicists, philosophers and historians of religion.This is the first comprehensive study of the Derveni Papyrus. The papyrus, found in 1962 near Thessaloniki among the remains of a funeral pyre, is one of the earliest surviving Greek papyri. It is a document of primary importance for a better understanding of the religious and philosophical developments of the time of Socrates. Here, Gábor Betegh offers the first systematic reconstruction and analysis of the papyrus and discusses its place in the intellectual milieu of the age. The book will appeal strongly to classicists, philosophers and historians of religion.Gábor Betegh presents the first systematic reconstruction and examination of the Derveni papyrus and analyzes its role in the intellectual milieu of its age. Found in 1962 near Thessaloniki among the remains of a funeral pyre, it is one of the earliest surviving Greek papyri and is a document of primary importance for understanding religious and philosophical developments of the time of Socrates. The book will appeal strongly to classicists, philosophers and historians of religion.Preface; List of abbreviations; Text and translation; 1. The find; 2. The first columns; 3. The reconstruction of the poem; 4. The interpretation of the poem; 5. The cosmic god; 6. Cosmology; 7. Anaxagoras; 8. Diogenes of Apollonia and Archelaus of Athlc"