ARTEMIDORUS AT THE DREAM GATES: MYTH, THEORY, AND THE RESTORATION OF LIMINALITY

Ancient conceptualization of dreams is based on a duality that splits the oneiric field into two hierarchically ordered modalities. The opposition between these dream categories finds its clearest expression in Artemidorus' Oneirocritica, in the distinction between oneiros and enhypnion. This a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of philology Vol. 137; no. 2; pp. 189 - 218
Main Author Kenaan, Vered Lev
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Baltimore Johns Hopkins UNIVERSITY PRESS 01.07.2016
Johns Hopkins University Press
Subjects
Ambiguity
Classification
Concept formation
Dreams
Greek language
Logic
Terminology
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Summary:Ancient conceptualization of dreams is based on a duality that splits the oneiric field into two hierarchically ordered modalities. The opposition between these dream categories finds its clearest expression in Artemidorus' Oneirocritica, in the distinction between oneiros and enhypnion. This article critically examines Artemidorus' dualistic terminology. Uncovering the Oneirocritica's internal inconsistencies, the article aims to show how Artemidorus' systematization of dreams attempts to resolve an ambiguity that was essential to the Greek experience. As a case study, I examine three Homeric dreams in such a way as to restore the ambiguity suppressed by Artemidorus' logic.
ISSN:0002-9475
1086-3168
1086-3168
DOI:10.1353/ajp.2016.0018