Title: Promise-giving and treaty-making
First published: 1992
Description: This book challenges the current view of the Homeric epics, according to which they reflect only the institutions and ideas of their own time, telling us nothing about the Mycenaean Age preceding it. Using a comparative analysis of evidence from the Near East and the Homeric corpus, Peter Karavites comes to the bold conclusion that the epics actually contain much that harks back to the Mycenaean Age, and that the two eras may not be completely discontinuous after all.

Most contemporary scholars maintain that the mighty Mycenaean period was almost completely separated from the Dark Ages and that virtually no evidence of the former remains, with the exception of the archeological finds and the meager testimony of the Linear B tablets. However, the Near Eastern evidence about treaties and other forms of promising suggests that the Iliad and Odyssey may indeed provide historical pictures of the Mycenaean times featured in their narratives.
Subjects: Civilization, Mycenaean, in literature, Epic poetry, Greek, Greek Epic poetry, History, Knowledge, Middle East in literature, Mycenaean influences, Treaties in literature, Mycenaean Civilization, Homer, Influence (Literary, artistic,etc.), Criticism and interpretation, Political and social views, Cultural studies, Novels, other prose & writers, Poetry & poets: classical, early & medieval, Literary Criticism, Ancient State, Treaties And Alliances, Architecture, Ancient (Classical) Greek, History: World, Ancient Greece, Ancient World, Ancient and Classical, Interior Design - General, In literature, Knowledge and learning, Law, Diplomacy
People: Homer
LC classification: PA4037 .K37 1992