439:
550:
591:' English translation in 1956. He noted a number of translation errors, and wrote about the book itself: "I find that a work, admittedly containing some good ideas here and there, which has so large a proportion of mere windy rhetoric and so many statements either certainly wrong or very doubtful (I noted about thirty) is but ill suited for the kind of reader the translator has chiefly in view."
501:
until a poet points it out. By being timeless, the gods direct humans away from the personal and towards the essentiality of nature; their temper is always inclined to the general, impersonal and non-sensual. Ancient Greek poets honoured the divine in any eternal image of life, even if it was morally offensive. The gods have requirements, but those exist as living ideals, not moral laws.
466:
signify the distance between gods and humans and thus humanity's limitations. Apollo embodies the divine in self-knowledge, measure and intelligent order, and is associated with the sun, form and masculinity. His twin sister
Artemis is associated with untouched nature, development and femininity; she
500:
is complicated because there is no logical border between human and divine activity. The favour of a god can be won through insight or a talent the god appreciates. When gods reveal themselves, it happens in ways that are outwardly natural, and the work of a god is sometimes not recognized as such
622:
that the book contains much that is objectionable to scholars, but still, Otto's "arguments come from deep
Homeric readings and, if it is easy to find particular points in which he errs, it is less easy to dismiss his larger arguments and descriptions. For classicists and religionists, this book
492:
is limited in the epics, because Homer's gods are sublime entities who manifest their particular spirit in the totality of the world; they are not bound to elements, nor do they represent individual virtues or functions. They unify spirit and nature, which is reflected in Greek sculptures. Their
571:
in two recent books that also reassess Greek religion. Weinreich wrote that the "one-sidedness" of Otto's book is both its strength and weakness, and that it brings up aspects that must be considered by everybody who studies ancient Greece. The philologist
509:, is in Homer's works an impersonal order that limits life. The gods affirm life, allow human greatness and can intervene against avoidable acts, but they have no power over the unavoidable fate of death, and ultimately they always execute Moira's law.
27:
388:, but are present in experiences such as a clever thought, the awakening of enthusiasm and the ignition of courage. According to Otto, the Greek conception of divine power differed from the Asian in that it was not based on
623:
presents a robust, even inspiring, macro-argument for understanding
Homeric religion, and an opportunity briefly to glimpse a past when philologists wrote comfortably at the head of the 'theoretical' disciplines."
475:
is associated with luck, the nocturnal and travel, exhibiting the
Olympian traits but also a connection to the pre-Homeric order of magic. Homer's gods are immortal, ageless, beautiful and tall. They reside in the
253:. He was the main representative of a current in philology that stressed the existential and intuitive in the study of myths, which generated much enthusiasm in German academia in the 1920s and 1930s. It led to an
1051:
618:. This path, which ends in a sublime private religion, is not one which can be taken by everyone, but the work still radiates a powerful force of attraction." In 2016, Carson Bay wrote in
257:
approach to understanding the gods, as opposed to understanding them as products of culture, history or society. Otto's fundamental views on religion were close to those of
458:
belongs to the immediate present and the clarity of action, where she provides level-headedness, quick-wittedness and boldness for men, and skill in handicraft for women.
580:
was placed at the centre of ancient theology, was highly critical in his 1929 review, railing against the mystic approach in Otto's book which he considered delusional.
427:, who retains many pre-Homeric features. The older deities are powerful through magic, whereas Homer's Olympians are powerful because they are connected to the
676:—as not only contributions to the study of Greek religion, but also documentations of the religious studies in Germany during the Weimar era and its demise.
610:(1929) is a challenging attempt to take the Homeric gods seriously as gods, in defiance of 2,500 years of criticism: the gods enjoy an absolute actuality as
1251:
1104:
Mohr, Hubert (2006). "Pagan
Religions and Paganism: The Pre-Christian Religions of Ancient Europe and the Mediterranean Regions, and Their Reception ". In
496:
Homer's religion has a myth of the world as opposed to a myth of the soul: the gods provide depth and significance to humans who are active in the world.
364:, because they use oriental religions as the standard for measurement. Otto writes that the Greek religion should be examined on its own merits. Unlike
438:
1117:
1040:
1067:
296:
258:
1231:
1094:
999:
1226:
1014:
541:
was a success. By 1970 it had been published in six German editions without revisions and translated into multiple languages.
1206:
180:. Its main thesis is that the Greek religion was focused on the profundity of natural experiences, and therefore used less
1236:
1246:
534:
335:
199:
The book has both been praised for its insights and larger arguments and criticized for its approach and errors. Otto's
642:
still read with some regularity. With this and other books, Otto influenced a number of scholars and students, notably
230:
568:
471:
is the goddess of rapture, spring and powerful yearning, and appears in prosperous sea journeys and blooming nature.
392:, but saw the natural world in the light of the divine. This reached its greatest expression in the epic poetry of
242:
238:
577:
991:
660:
493:
connection to the natural world also explains their humanlike form, as humans are the highest natural forms.
1241:
1086:
361:
353:
1023:
Cancik, Hubert (1998). "Die Götter
Griechenlands 1929". In Faber, R.; Reibnitz, B. von; RĂĽpke, J. (eds.).
357:
246:
170:
81:
169:'The Gods of Greece: The Image of the Divine in the Mirror of the Greek Spirit') is a book about
1155:
695:
643:
300:
685:
595:
on the other hand praised it for being "a book about the
Olympians written with religious fervor."
563:
340:
250:
164:
1180:
1105:
477:
443:
331:
277:
223:
1138:
1202:
1196:
1172:
1113:
1090:
1063:
1036:
995:
969:
952:
Bay, Carson (October 2016). "The
Homeric Gods: The Spiritual Significance of Greek Religion".
573:
400:
446:, "a vivid representation of what is loftiest, most eminent, and at the same time brightest".
1164:
1028:
985:
961:
700:
615:
420:
389:
320:
181:
665:
304:
193:
155:
1192:
1009:
981:
690:
603:
592:
558:
526:
308:
276:
and understood his own works as part of an attempt to revitalize Europe. The historian
219:
177:
43:
1220:
1184:
647:
369:
316:
312:
262:
234:
208:
160:
Die Götter
Griechenlands. Das Bild des Göttlichen im Spiegel des griechischen Geistes
655:
549:
273:
269:
1134:
1128:
1032:
588:
525:. The publisher had been responsible for several works by Otto's former teacher
196:
are portrayed as present in the natural world as particular forms of existence.
63:
282:
26:
1168:
1146:
651:
584:
485:
204:
1176:
973:
497:
468:
416:
226:
174:
132:
128:
188:. According to Otto, this reached its greatest expression in the works of
1081:. In Harrison, Stephen; Pelling, Christopher; Stray, Christopher (eds.).
639:
489:
481:
467:
teaches hunters, leads the way on journeys and presides over childbirth.
412:
254:
200:
965:
502:
463:
404:
385:
380:
352:
Otto writes that many people appreciate the lifelikeness and beauty of
185:
506:
472:
459:
455:
432:
424:
408:
365:
1078:
1198:
Ausgewählte
Schriften. Band 2: 1922-1937 (Philologische Schriften)
548:
437:
428:
393:
374:
287:
said the main sources for his interpretation of Greek theology in
189:
522:
451:
1201:(in German). Amsterdam: Verlag B. R. Grüner. pp. 322–324.
882:
880:
1151:
The Homeric Gods: the spiritual significance of Greek religion
1062:(in German). Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. pp. 713–714.
567:
that Otto "looks deeper and further" than Georges MĂ©autis and
654:
and can be seen as a precursor to later ontological turns in
454:
a separate treatment, because all divinity converges in him.
771:
769:
723:
721:
151:
The Homeric Gods: Spiritual Significance of Greek Religion
32:
The Homeric Gods: Spiritual Significance of Greek Religion
1079:"The Battle for the Irrational: Greek Religion 1920-1950"
207:
had an impact on a number of scholars and influenced the
1027:(in German). Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler. pp. 139–163.
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
442:
According to Otto, Homeric religion is expressed in the
411:
as remnants from an older religion, and contrasts these
480:
but are present in the natural world. The presence of
396:, which Otto uses throughout to support his theses.
1149:(June 1956). "Walter F. Otto (trans. Moses Hadas):
646:. The ontological approach had an influence on the
423:. The difference is noticeable in comparisons with
139:
123:
113:
105:
95:
87:
77:
69:
59:
49:
39:
1060:Neue Deutsche Biographie, Bd.: 19, Nauwach - Pagel
553:Martin P. Nilsson thought the book was delusional.
184:than Asian religions, which tend to focus more on
450:Analysing the Homeric gods, Otto does not give
537:, one of Otto's colleagues. Within its genre,
990:. Translated by Raffan, John. Cambridge, MA:
634:is Otto's most famous work and together with
8:
576:, who represented a rivaling approach where
521:was published in 1929 by Friedrich Cohen in
19:
664:describes Otto's two major works from the
25:
18:
1112:. Vol. 3. Leiden and Boston: Brill.
886:
910:
922:
717:
173:, published in 1929 and written by the
775:
727:
748:
7:
898:
871:
859:
847:
835:
823:
811:
799:
787:
760:
1012:(7 August 1954). "Divine in Life".
934:
419:beings with Homer's more humanlike
1252:History books about ancient Greece
954:Reviews in Religion & Theology
620:Reviews in Religion & Theology
297:Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling
259:Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff
14:
222:(1874 – 1958) was a professor of
1110:The Brill Dictionary of Religion
638:his only work that scholars of
557:Upon the original publication,
268:Otto was an anti-establishment
34:(1954 English language edition)
1195:(1973). Wille, GĂĽnther (ed.).
583:The British classical scholar
338:", published in March 1788 in
1:
517:The first German edition of
233:. He belonged to the German
211:study of ancient religions.
1033:10.1007/978-3-476-03719-0_8
16:1929 book by Walter F. Otto
1268:
616:Goethe's sense of the term
1169:10.1017/S0009840X00161517
1083:Rediscovering E. R. Dodds
336:Die Götter Griechenlandes
115:Published in English
24:
1232:German non-fiction books
1127:Otto, Walter F. (1954).
992:Harvard University Press
661:Neue Deutsche Biographie
608:Die Götter Griechenlands
569:Tadeusz Stefan Zieliński
354:ancient Greek sculptures
328:Die Götter Griechenlands
272:, held contact with the
54:Die Götter Griechenlands
1087:Oxford University Press
1050:Cancik, Hubert (1999).
295:(1933) were Nietzsche,
231:University of Frankfurt
1227:1929 non-fiction books
1077:Gagné, Renaud (2019).
554:
447:
171:ancient Greek religion
159:
82:Ancient Greek religion
552:
441:
384:almost never perform
1237:Books about paganism
1156:The Classical Review
696:Orientalizing period
1247:Homeric scholarship
1139:Thames & Hudson
1106:Stuckrad, Kocku von
937:, pp. 573–575.
889:, pp. 322–324.
874:, pp. 263–286.
862:, pp. 231–260.
850:, pp. 169–228.
838:, pp. 127–166.
778:, pp. 139–140.
730:, pp. 713–714.
686:Homeric scholarship
564:Frankfurter Zeitung
513:Publication history
341:Der Teutsche Merkur
330:, is borrowed from
143:371 (first edition)
50:Original title
21:
966:10.1111/rirt.12785
826:, pp. 42–124.
555:
448:
444:Apollon of Olympia
372:, the gods in the
356:, yet will assess
332:Friedrich Schiller
326:The German title,
1119:978-90-04-12431-8
1042:978-3-476-01572-3
802:, pp. 15–39.
751:, pp. 32–35.
650:study of ancient
574:Martin P. Nilsson
168:
147:
146:
106:Publication place
20:The Homeric Gods
1259:
1212:
1188:
1142:
1133:. Translated by
1130:The Homeric Gods
1123:
1100:
1073:
1046:
1019:
1005:
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797:
791:
790:, pp. 1–12.
785:
779:
773:
764:
758:
752:
746:
731:
725:
701:Natural religion
670:The Homeric Gods
632:The Homeric Gods
539:The Homeric Gods
519:The Homeric Gods
399:Otto interprets
390:magical thinking
360:as primitive or
321:Martin Heidegger
307:group involving
289:The Homeric Gods
286:
182:magical thinking
163:
97:Publication date
29:
22:
1267:
1266:
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1193:Weinreich, Otto
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1076:
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1049:
1043:
1022:
1015:Saturday Review
1010:Hamilton, Edith
1008:
1002:
982:Burkert, Walter
980:
951:
947:
942:
941:
933:
929:
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763:, p. 1403.
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682:
666:Weimar Republic
629:
547:
515:
350:
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124:Media type
116:
98:
91:Friedrich Cohen
35:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1265:
1263:
1255:
1254:
1249:
1244:
1242:Theology books
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1234:
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1214:
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1207:
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1143:
1124:
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1101:
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1069:3-428-002-00-8
1068:
1047:
1041:
1025:Antik · Modern
1020:
1006:
1000:
987:Greek Religion
978:
960:(4): 573–575.
948:
946:
943:
940:
939:
927:
915:
903:
901:, p. 162.
891:
887:Weinreich 1973
876:
864:
852:
840:
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816:
804:
792:
780:
765:
753:
732:
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698:
693:
691:Archaic Greece
688:
681:
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644:Károly Kerényi
628:
625:
604:Walter Burkert
600:Greek Religion
593:Edith Hamilton
559:Otto Weinreich
546:
543:
535:Karl Reinhardt
531:Platons Mythen
527:Hermann Usener
514:
511:
358:Greek religion
349:
346:
309:Alfred Schuler
220:Walter F. Otto
216:
213:
178:Walter F. Otto
145:
144:
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44:Walter F. Otto
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30:
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1098:
1096:9780198777366
1092:
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1065:
1061:
1057:
1055:
1048:
1044:
1038:
1034:
1030:
1026:
1021:
1018:. p. 13.
1017:
1016:
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1007:
1003:
1001:0-674-36280-2
997:
993:
989:
988:
983:
979:
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963:
959:
955:
950:
949:
944:
936:
931:
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919:
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913:, p. 13.
912:
911:Hamilton 1954
907:
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883:
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873:
868:
865:
861:
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841:
837:
832:
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820:
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814:, p. 61.
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777:
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679:
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648:structuralist
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637:
633:
626:
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621:
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613:
609:
605:
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586:
581:
579:
575:
570:
566:
565:
561:wrote in the
560:
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421:Olympian gods
418:
414:
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406:
402:
397:
395:
391:
387:
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382:
377:
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371:
370:Old Testament
367:
363:
359:
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347:
345:
343:
342:
337:
333:
329:
324:
322:
318:
317:Ludwig Klages
314:
313:Stefan George
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
284:
279:
275:
271:
266:
264:
263:Leo Frobenius
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
237:tradition of
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209:structuralist
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52:
48:
45:
42:
38:
33:
28:
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1197:
1160:
1154:
1150:
1135:Hadas, Moses
1129:
1109:
1082:
1059:
1053:
1024:
1013:
986:
957:
953:
930:
925:, p. 4.
923:Burkert 1985
918:
906:
894:
867:
855:
843:
831:
819:
807:
795:
783:
756:
673:
669:
659:
656:anthropology
635:
631:
630:
619:
611:
607:
599:
598:In his book
597:
582:
562:
556:
538:
530:
518:
516:
495:
449:
398:
379:
373:
362:naturalistic
351:
339:
327:
325:
292:
288:
274:George-Kreis
270:conservative
267:
235:philhellenic
218:
203:approach to
198:
192:, where the
150:
149:
148:
53:
31:
1147:Rose, H. J.
776:Cancik 1998
728:Cancik 1999
612:Urphänomene
589:Moses Hadas
291:(1929) and
281: [
278:Hubert Mohr
255:ontological
239:Winckelmann
201:ontological
175:philologist
64:Moses Hadas
1221:Categories
1208:9060320328
1163:(2): 162.
1137:. London:
1085:. Oxford:
1056:Friedrich"
749:Gagné 2019
707:References
652:polytheism
585:H. J. Rose
533:(1927) by
529:, and for
486:Hephaestus
215:Background
205:polytheism
194:Greek gods
60:Translator
1185:162350974
1177:0009-840X
974:1467-9418
899:Rose 1956
872:Otto 1954
860:Otto 1954
848:Otto 1954
836:Otto 1954
824:Otto 1954
812:Otto 1954
800:Otto 1954
788:Otto 1954
761:Mohr 2006
712:Citations
587:reviewed
545:Reception
498:Free will
469:Aphrodite
417:grotesque
334:'s poem "
251:Nietzsche
247:Hölderlin
227:philology
224:classical
133:Paperback
129:Hardcover
88:Publisher
984:(1985).
935:Bay 2016
680:See also
674:Dionysus
640:classics
636:Dionysus
606:wrote: "
602:(1977),
490:Dionysus
482:Poseidon
413:chthonic
386:miracles
378:and the
305:neopagan
293:Dionysus
186:miracles
70:Language
1108:(ed.).
1052:"Otto,
945:Sources
464:Artemis
409:Gorgons
405:Erinyes
381:Odyssey
368:in the
348:Summary
301:Cosmics
229:at the
167:
127:Print (
109:Germany
78:Subject
1205:
1183:
1175:
1116:
1093:
1066:
1054:Walter
1039:
998:
972:
658:. The
627:Legacy
478:aether
473:Hermes
460:Apollo
456:Athena
433:nature
425:Hesiod
401:Titans
366:Yahweh
299:, the
243:Goethe
156:German
73:German
40:Author
1181:S2CID
507:Moira
505:, or
429:being
394:Homer
375:Iliad
319:—and
285:]
190:Homer
140:Pages
1203:ISBN
1173:ISSN
1114:ISBN
1091:ISBN
1064:ISBN
1037:ISBN
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