{"product_id":"forms-of-astonishment-richard-buxton-9780199245499","title":"Forms of Astonishment: Greek Myths of Metamorphosis","description":"In this illustrated study, Richard Buxton analyzes Greek literary narratives and visual representations of the metamorphosis of humans and gods, as evidenced from Homer to Nonnos. Such tales have become familiar in their Ovidian dress, as in the best-selling translation by Ted Hughes; Buxton explores their Greek antecedents. He investigates such issues as: how do different contexts shape the way in which metamorphosis is narrated? How do the assumptions of commentators about \"strangeness\" affect how metamorphosis is interpreted? How far should an interpreter allow \"contextual charity\" to render more acceptable a belief such as that in metamorphosis? What are the implications of the notions of 'astonishment' (Greek: \u003cem\u003ethambos\u003c\/em\u003e) in a range of narratives about transformation? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThroughout \u003cem\u003eForms of Astonishment\u003c\/em\u003e Buxton draws comparisons between the Greek evidence and data from other religious traditions, ancient and modern; he also introduces comparative material from the sciences, from modern painting and literature, and from the cinema and computer graphics. In investigating metamorphoses of gods Buxton revisits the concept of anthropomorphism, arguing that the fact that Greek divinities were believed to change shape does \u003cem\u003enot\u003c\/em\u003e undermine the fundamentally humanlike form of Greek divinity. He also examines certain strands of Greek tradition, particularly among the philosophers, which called metamorphosis into question, whether in relation to the gods or to humans. Individual chapters deal with transformations into the landscape and into plants or trees--in the latter case transformation stories are set against a background of cultural beliefs about \"seminal\" substances such as blood and tears. Overall, \u003cem\u003eForms of Astonishment\u003c\/em\u003e raises issues relevant to an understanding of broad aspects of Greek culture, and illuminates issues explored by anthropologists and students of religion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Richard Buxton\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0199245495\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780199245499\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/21\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.60w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/02\/2009 pg. 16\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/01\/2010","brand":"Richard Buxton","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44054702817535,"sku":"9780199245499","price":170.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_0a0f688f-4ffc-4fe5-bb34-7ccae2da450d.jpg?v=1685031494","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/forms-of-astonishment-richard-buxton-9780199245499","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}