Product Description

Gábor Betegh presents the first systematic reconstruction and examination of the Derveni papyrus and analyzes its role in the intellectual milieu of its age. Found in 1962 near Thessaloniki among the remains of a funeral pyre, it is one of the earliest surviving Greek papyri and is a document of primary importance for understanding religious and philosophical developments of the time of Socrates. The book will appeal strongly to classicists, philosophers and historians of religion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1118899 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 456 pages

Review
'Gabor Betegh has done a brilliant job. His book provides his readers with a Greek text and an intelligent translation that does not hesitate to go its own way ... Thanks to Betegh's careful and thorough book, an important text has finally become much more accessible ...' Times Literary Supplement 'This is the first book-length study of this text since 1997... Betegh has made a major contribution to understanding both the thought of the Derveni author and the Orphic poem.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review 'This is a remarkable book ... the debate Betegh's book stimulates as well as the answers he has given will inevitably lead to greater understanding of this puzzling text.' Rhizai 'The Derveni Papyrus is a rich text and ... there is no doubt that it will continue to prove controversial and hard to understand. But Betegh has given us a commentary that matches the text's richness.' The Heythrop Journal '... his work contributes greatly to unravelling its difficulties.' Common Knowledge

Review
"With valuable indexes and bibliography, Betegh's study is the definitive account of DP currently available. Essential."
-Choice

"Betegh has made a major contribution to understanding both the thought of the Derveni author and the Orphic poem which [the Derveni author] interprets; his reconstruction of the Orphic theogony and of the author's physical system should command wide assent."
-Richard Janko, University of Michigan, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"The author, his editor, Cambridge University Press, and all involved in the production of this book are to be commended."
-Thomas M. Banchich, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, The Classical Review

About the Author
Gábor Betegh is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Central European University, Budapest.