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The Craft of Zeus : Myths of Weaving and Fabric (Revealing Antiquity)
The Craft of Zeus Myths of Weaving and Fabric - Revealing Antiquity Author:John Scheid, Jesper Svenbro At the mythical dawn of time, an archaic Zeus stood before a loom to weave a rich mantle, resplendent with Ocean and Earth, for his bride. In this dazzling commentary on Greek and Roman myth and society, weaving emerges as a metaphor as rich with promise and possibility as Zeus's gift. In the symbolism ostensibly begun by Zeus himsel... more »f, John Scheid and Jesper Svenbro trace a pattern used by an entire civilization. The authors use the interlacing of warp and weft—described by Plato in The Statesman—to show the central Classical concept of the union of opposites, as it has unfolded from Greek and Roman rituals through the fabric of human history. "An elegant exploration … This is a constantly challenging and entertaining little book … [It] sheds new light on old texts and explores important areas of ancient mentalities in ways which enliven and stimulate." —Nick Fisher, Times Literary Supplement« less