Semele and Demeter - Close Out

I thank you, particularly John and Sabine, for your enlightening comments. However I think we're in danger of just going around in circles here. I am not very well read in Aegean archaeology or Comparative Mythology, so it is hard for me to argue the points you raise, or judge their validity.

I came to this period of history through reading into the history of the Greek language.

Leonard Palmer's History of Greek left me completely in mid-air as to how and when the Greek language was introduced into Greece. Every possible entry point seems to present insuperable difficulties. The chapter ends frustratingly by saying that the uncertainties in the absolute chronology do not affect our overall picture of the Indo-Europeanisation of Greece.

But it does. Because there is one solution that could resolve all of his perceived difficulties, and perhaps more if thoroughly researched. This is not a new solution, but has been known for over 2000 years, and only discredited, not disproved, in the 19^th century. I am referring of course to the traditions that the Greeks were colonised by Egyptians and Phoenicians.

If true, this would change everything - our perception of the Greeks as virile conquerors of civilised chthonic native cultures; perhaps our wider perception of the Indo-European migrations, as migrations rather than invasions by chariot-riding warriors; the view of Europe as culturally unique and somehow more capable of dynamic change and progress. Even if such views are considered outmoded amongst the correspondents of this intellectual discussion group, I can assure you that such views, and more extreme versions, are very much still current out on the street.

I turned my back on Indo-European studies for quite some time because it was so intimately bound up with the intellectual movement that led to the ultimate abomination.

So perhaps it is time for linguists and historians of Greece to look again at the evidence, objectively this time.

Regards

Dennis