The Seer in Ancient GreeceThe seer (mantis), an expert in the art of divination, operated in ancient Greek society through a combination of charismatic inspiration and diverse skills ranging from examining the livers of sacrificed animals to spirit possession. Unlike the palm readers and mediums who exist on the fringe of modern society, many seers were highly paid, well respected, educated members of the elite who played an essential role in the conduct of daily life, political decisions, and military campaigns. Armies, for example, never went anywhere without one. This engaging book, the only comprehensive study of this fascinating figure, enters into the socioreligious world of ancient Greece to explore what seers did, why they were so widely employed, and how their craft served as a viable and useful social practice. |
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Agesilaus Alexander Amphiaraus Anab Anabasis Ancient Apollo argues Aristander army Athenian Athens Babylonian battle belief birds Calchas called century B.C. charisma chrēsmologos claims classical client consultation context Creon Croesus cultural Cyrus Delphi Delphic oracles Diodorus Diopeithes divinatory Dodona dream eclipse edited entrails Ephorus Euripides evidence example expedition extispicy famous favorable FGrH fourth century function gods Greece Greek seer Greek society Greek world Herodotus Herodotus's hiera historical Homer Iamidae important ination inscription inspired interpretation king knowledge literary liver magic mantis means Melampus Mopsus Nicias Nonetheless Oedipus omens oracular Oxford Parker passage performed Persian Philochorus Plataea Plato Plut Plutarch portents possession practice prediction priest priestesses Pritchett 1979 prophecy prophetic Pythia religion religious rites ritual role sacrifice sacrificed sacrificial divination scholars seer seer's seercraft signs Silanus social Sophocles sources Spartan sphagia story Teiresias tells texts things Thucydides tion Tisamenus Tolmides tragedy verse victims Xenophon Zeus