The Craft of Zeus: Myths of Weaving and Fabric

Revealing Antiquity

by John Scheid

The fundamental gesture of weaving in The Craft of Zeus is the interlacing of warp and woof described by Plato in The Statesman ―an interweaving signifying the union of opposites. From rituals symbolizing―even fabricating―the cohesion of society to those proposed by oracles as a means of propitiating fortune; from the erotic and marital significance of weaving and the woven robe to the use of weaving as a figure for language and the fabric of the text, this lively and lucid book defines the logic of one of the central concepts in Greek and Roman thought―a concept that has persisted, woof and warp crossing again and again, as the fabric of human history has unfolded.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1994

Reviews

[Boronia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a modern day weaver, a lover of classic mythology and a fan of philosophy I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A knowledge of classical mythology is a plus but not essential. A knowledge of ancient greek and latin would have been an advantage but again not essential. My only problem was with the translation of "la trame" into "woof". I checked in the dictionary for the word "woof", all I found was the sound of the dog's bark. It may be an old term for "weft". In todays english, be it Australia, America or England, weavers work with a warp and a weft. If anyone out there can enlighten me as to where "woof" comes from, please do.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting work, and Svenbro shines here. I like Habinek's work on the Lusus Troiae better.