Shamanism in Classical Scholarship: Where are We Now?
October 24, 2016 J. Bremmer 6 citations
The idea of shamanism has attracted influential classical scholars, but this interest was limited to those studying anthropology and connections beyond the Mediterranean. This contribution reexamines key figures—Diels, Meuli, Dodds, Burkert—to trace the historiographical development and note problems their solutions raise. It starts with when the shaman became visible in Western Europe, examining the basis from which classical scholars worked and how the concept entered classical scholarship. Recent dissertations clarify the milieu of Western acquaintance with shamanism. The analysis covers Ginzburg's article, classical scholars since the late 19th century, Aristeas of Proconnesus, and concludes with the current status quaestionis.