Riddles, oracles, and dreams in ancient culture the labyrinth of the word Simone Beta

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Beta, Simone, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Oracles, Greek.

Dreams--Greece--History--To 1500.

Dreams.

Riddles, Greek--History and criticism.

Riddles, Greek.

Dreams--History.

Greece.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Oxford University Press USA, 2026.

Oxford New York, NY Oxford University Press [2026]

Summary:

A man walks alone along a road carved into the side of a mountain. His name is Oedipus. Where is he going? He is on his way to confront a monster, the Sphinx, who poses a riddle to all who pass. Those who fail to solve it will die; whoever solves it will become king of Thebes. This is how one of the most famous stories of ancient mythology begins: the contest between Oedipus and the Sphinx, destined to end with the monster's defeat and death. The riddle of the Sphinx is well known, but it is not the only one in the long history of ancient culture. The Greeks and Romans loved riddles, and many famous figures found themselves grappling with questions to be solved, including Homer, who, according to legend, died on the shores of a Greek island after failing to solve one. This text explores the complex mechanisms of the riddle, highlighting its connections to life and death, marriage and birth, plays and games, the symposium, and literature

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on August 11, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version :

ISBN:

9780191991066

0191991066

9780198881711

0198881711

OCLC:

1604678952

Publisher Number:

CIPO000418669

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license