Ancient Art and Ritual

Ancient Art and Ritual, by British classical scholar and linguist, Jane Ellen Harrison, was originally published in 1913. The work is a scholarly look at how man has dealt with rituals throughout history in order mark new life, changes in season, or rites of passage. Whether they were dance or song, in an attempt to propitiate the gods, in order that they show mercy, healing, or abundance. Harrison demonstrates how these ancient rituals evolved into art forms like chorus, dance, sculpture, and drama. Harrison also focuses on the emotional transference, and high mental expenditure of art forms, believing that when man is in times of trouble, the art work becomes deeply expressive and participatory similar to ritual behaviour.