Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-333) and index.
Contents:
The political image of Babylon in antiquity -- Political Babylon in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages -- Political Babylon from the great schism to the present -- The medieval genealogy of Babylonian degeneracy: the cursed race -- The post-medieval genealogy of Babylonian degeneracy and the cursed race archetype -- City of ruins -- Babylon and the coordinates of romance.
Summary:
"Babylon under Western Eyes examines the mythic legacy of ancient Babylon, the Near Eastern city which has served western culture as a metaphor for power, luxury, and exotic magnificence for more than two thousand years. Sifting through the many references to Babylon in biblical, classical, medieval, and modern texts, Andrew Scheil uses Babylon's remarkable literary ubiquity as the foundation for a thorough analysis of the dynamics of adaptation and allusion in western literature. Touching on everything from Old English poetry to the contemporary apocalyptic fiction of the "Left Behind" series, Scheil outlines how medieval Christian society and its cultural successors have adopted Babylon as a political metaphor, a degenerate archetype, and a place associated with the sublime."-- Provided by publisher. "Combining remarkable erudition with a clear and accessible style, Babylon under Western Eyes is the first comprehensive examination of Babylon's significance within the pantheon of western literature and a testimonial to the continuing influence of biblical, classical, and medieval paradigms in modern culture."-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.