What's in a name? Using the example of a famous monster from Greek myth, this book challenges the dominant view that a mythical symbol denotes a single, clear-cut 'figure' and proposes instead to define the name 'Scylla' as a combination of three concepts - sea, dog and woman - whose articulation changes over time. While archaic and classical Greek versions usually emphasize the metaphorical coherence of Scylla's components, the name is increasingly treated as a well-defined but also paradoxical construct from the late fourth century BCE onward. Proceeding through detailed analyses of Greek and Roman texts and images, Professor Hopman shows how the same name can variously express anxieties about the sea, dogs, aggressive women and shy maidens, thus offering an empirical response to the semiotic puzzle raised by non-referential proper names.

This book uses the example of a famous sea-monster from Greek myth to offer a new way of understanding mythical symbols.

About the Author
Marianne Govers Hopman is Assistant Professor of Classics and Comparative Literary Studies at Northwestern University, Illinois.

Reviews
'The first book length study of Scylla and Hopman does a real service through her meticulous collation of material.' The Times Literary Supplement



Book Information
ISBN 9781107026766
Author Marianne Govers Hopman
Format Hardback
Page Count 317
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 640g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 157mm * 20mm