Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / Morris Silver -- Acknowledgments / Morris Silver -- Abbreviations / Morris Silver -- Transcriptions and Phonetics / Morris Silver -- Introduction / Morris Silver -- Chapter 1 Money In Myth I: Head as Capital/Coin / Morris Silver -- Chapter 2 Money in Myth II: Stones, Loaves, Beehives and other Themes / Morris Silver -- Chapter 3 Agents in Myth I: Semele and Youths / Morris Silver -- Chapter 4 Agents in Myth II: Twins / Morris Silver -- Chapter 5 Agents in Myth III: The Multidimensional Figure of Herakles / Morris Silver -- Chapter 6 Circulating Merchants in Myth: The One-Eyed, The Lame and The Satan / Morris Silver -- Chapter 7 Dogs as Merchants and Commercial Agents / Morris Silver -- Chapter 8 Virgin Priestesses as Treasurers I: Background / Morris Silver -- Chapter 9 Virgin Priestesses as Treasurers II: Studies / Morris Silver -- Chapter 10 Cultic Participation in The Economy: Three Mythic Themes with Variations / Morris Silver -- Chapter 11 Conflict Between Gods and Economic Organization I: Athena Versus Poseidon / Morris Silver -- Chapter 12 Conflict Between Gods and Economic Organization II: Apollo Versus Hermes / Morris Silver -- Retrospect / Morris Silver -- Appendix 1 Windows and Lattices (Nets) in Greek Cult / Morris Silver -- Appendix 2 Gate-Post Twins in Israel and Mesopotamia / Morris Silver -- Bibliography / Morris Silver -- Index of References / Morris Silver -- Index of Subjects / Morris Silver -- Index of Authors / Morris Silver.

The primary objective of this study is to decipher the 'codes' or polysemous signs of many prominent myths of the Graeco-Roman and Near Eastern worlds and thereby to expose their hidden economic meaning. The study is highlighted by analyses of the following themes: Birth of Athena from Zeus' Head, Perseus and the Gorgon, and Gilgamesh in the Cedar Forest; Oedipus of Thebes and the biblical myth of the Five Golden Tumors; Semele the daughter of Kadmos; Heroic Twins; Labors of Herakles; Cain, Janus, and the Rainbow; Dogs as Merchants and Male Prostitutes; Virgin Priestesses in Treasuries; Danae and the Birth of Perseus and the biblical myth of the 'House of Rahab'; Circuiting Gods; Contest Between Athena and Poseidon for Supremacy in Athens; and Hermes versus Apollo, David and his Lyre at King Saul's Court, and Gilgamesh the Infernal Musician. A striking result of these studies is the extent to which ancient myths are saturated by economic content, especially commercial idioms and the standardized gestures required of contractors. It becomes quite clear that the ancients were far more aware of and interested in the economy than many contemporary scholars give them credit for.

English

Description based on print version record.