BOOK REVIEW

NAME : HINDOL NANDY

ROLL NUMBER : 001800601025

HONOURS PAPER : 3.2

PROFFESSOR : KAUSHIK ROY

YEAR : SECOND(UG II)

‘The Sociology of Religious Man’

Book Review of Myth and Society in Ancient Greece

Written by Jean-Pierre Vernant
Translated by Janet Lloyd
Published by Zone Books, New York( 1990)

Anthropologist and historian Jean-Pierre Vernant’s works,

analysis and observations of Ancient Greece hint at how
he views this archaic period somewhat in a different light
than other scholars; and that vision of his is quite evident
in the book Myth and Society in Ancient Greece. In this
particular book, Vernant tries to follow a strucuralist
approach in equating and correlating a striking interactive
relation between Greek myths( that is, religion) and the
societal dynamics which were prevalent at that particular
point of time.
“ Seeking for methods of interpretation and techniques of
decipherment that will make sense out of what may at
first glance appear as no more than a jumble of grotesque
tales”
The objective of the entire book is transparently portrayed
in this one line. Moreover, as Diane C. Donovan from the
Midwest Book Review rightly comments that this book of
Vernant’s is no “causal opinion piece”. Vernant refers to
research from ancient texts, forms concepts of Marxist
class struggles, city-state interactions and social reforms
from the twin influences of myth and history, and
examines the structure of Greek religion and myths as it
pertained to historic event. The perspectives that are
floated in the text and the conclusions that are drawn truly
makes Vernant’s work a fascinating and penetrating study
of classical antiquity.

Critical analysis and the arguments potrayed…

Vernant in his book, follows a relatively simple approach.

In the initial parts of the book, he tries to paint a picture of
the classical Greek society, somewhat through the eyes of
the Marxist lens. He discusses about the slave mode of
production and its crystallization during the heydey of the
Greeks, explains how politics and the pattern of city-state
warfare changed with the coming of the ‘polis’ structure
in Greece and finally traces the changes in marital
patterns as the civilization ‘progressed’. This initial
portion of the book is commendably well organized, with
a writing style that is largely varied and understandable,
lacking even a negligible amount of dullness.
The entire discussion traces a distinct pattern as to how
the city-state polity in Ancient Greece gave way to
concrete private property holdings( vis-à-vis a
gradual crytallization of the slave mode of
production) on the one hand and the breakdown of
‘centralized’ warfare, where war was ‘reserved’ for a
special military class( highly supervised by the state)
into the notion of a warrior as ‘private possessions’.
Thus, Vernant here readily throws light on the
transformation of a hierarchy-ridden ‘chariot’ class of
warriors into a more egalitarian warfare with greater
involvement as the structure of warfare became more
aggressive and direct with the coming of the hoplite
reforms.
From the next section onwards, Jean-Pierre delves into
his main thesis titled The Society of the Gods, where
he explores numerous facets of actual Greek myths,
referring to Homer now and then. How these myths
potray the actual society, how these myths shape the
 concept of divine for even the commonest man and
most importantly how these myths help consolidate
and integrate the political and civic scenario with
reference to the archaic period.
This entire discussion is so well expressed in the book,
where the sources and validations range from the
classics of Homer and Hesiod to the works of modern
scholars like Garnet, Claude Mousse, M.I. Kinley,
Pierre Leveque, etc. Thus it covers a wide spectrum.
Although the pattern of Vernant’s writing may
involve an abundance of examples and concrete
references, at some parts of the book it seems to be
too complicated. For example, in the section The
Myth of Prometheus in Hesoid, constant parallels are
drawn between the Zeus of Homer and the
Prometheus of Hesoid, thus this decision of Vernant
to devote an entire section to this discussion,
eventhough, never irrelevent ties too many knots to a
free-flowing argument, and in many ways serves as a
major digression.
Keeping in mind these digressions that Jean-Pierre makes,
the most vital question that is bound to arise is, has
the author been able to substantiate his argument at
 the end of the book? The simple answer to this
question is yes. It is true that the organization of the
book has not been ‘linear’ in its strict sense, but its
portrayl is infallible. This aspect is best expressed in
the following manner in the book :
“How should we conclude an inquiry that is both so long
and at the same time so summary? I hope that, in
conclusion, I may simply be allowed to stress once
more the complexity of a religion such as that of the
Greeks. The system itself is complex, as are the
relations between it and social life; and at the very
heart of the ·religious experience there is a polarity
and tension, an awareness of the contradictions that
exist in man, in the universe, and in the divine world.
There is no doubt that this religious concept of a
world that is at once harmonious and rent by
conflict”

Towards a conclusion...

“ The sociology of religious man”, this particular phrase

which Vernant uses sums up instantly the objective of the
entire book. After critically reading the book, it is evident
that he has fulfilled his objcetive; and this fulfillment
alone makes this work worthwhile. The correlation,
similarity and parallels that are drawn between the society
of man and that of the Hellenistic gods( myths) is so
succcinct( in almost all sections) and convincing that it
compells you to think differently and view the
significance of myths more clearly.
In conclusion, Myth and Society in Ancient Greece is no
doubt a praise worthy work, but we need to patiently wait
before connoting this book adjectives like ‘outstanding’
and ‘stalwart’, eventhough it is a very vital reading for
students and fellow academicians and scholars pursuing
social sciences. This book is a key element towards
changing the notion people have about myths, that is, they
are unrealistic and fabulous tales with no significance
whatsoever with actual human life.