{"product_id":"the-gods-themselves-shawn-d-ramsey-9781643366500","title":"The Gods Themselves: Rhetoric and Myth in Sumer, Egypt, and Greece Before 355 Bce","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIlluminates the geographic and cultural diversity of ancient rhetoric\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Gods Themselves\u003c\/i\u003e examines\u003ci\u003eThe Gods Themselves \u003c\/i\u003eexamines ancient myth as a source of rhetorical precept and a tool of human persuasion. In this provocative work, Shawn D. Ramsey extends the history of rhetoric to 2650 BCE through archaeological, epigraphical, and textual sources from Mediterranean and Near Eastern myths. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn his examination of \"rhetorical myths\"--the stories we tell ourselves about the stories we tell ourselves--Ramsey presents rhetoric as the knowledge of principles that guide speech and writing. These narratives show rhetoric to be an abstract field of knowledge with ontological significance. \u003ci\u003eThe Gods Themselves \u003c\/i\u003ehighlights myths that teach rhetorical theory or praxis, such as those featuring Sumerian goddess Nisaba and Egyptian deities Seshat and Thoth, figures who personify rhetorical concepts of archival knowledge and discourse creation. Ramsey analyzes how these early myths influenced writings by the Greek thinkers Prodicus, Isocrates, and Plato. Underscoring myth's role in shaping rhetorical culture, this synchronic history bridges ancient traditions and their lasting influence on rhetorical theory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Shawn D. Ramsey\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1643366505\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781643366500\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of South Carolina Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/11\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback","brand":"Shawn D. Ramsey","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48742979928319,"sku":"9781643366500","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-gods-themselves-shawn-d-ramsey-9781643366500","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}