![]() 2 The related question of whether a god, through the use of a byname, in fact becomes a “new” and separate divinity, or whether on the contrary a collection of all epithets given to a certain god rather creates his or her unified identity, is likewise a vexed one. ![]() When invoked through a double name, was it the choice of god, say Hermes, or the epithet, say, Agoraios, which mattered the most? Opinions cover the whole spectrum: Brulé argues that in theory, a god without an epithet is but “un artefact du langage” and not a true recipient of cult, whereas Pirenne-Delforge, without denying the importance of epithets, stresses the priority of the divine names, i.e., over-arching divine identities. There is for example no agreement among scholars as to which component of an epithet-clad god took precedence during interaction with the gods through prayer and sacrifice. Thus, many fundamental questions are still contested issues. 181-182.ĢThere is agreement among scholars that the use of epithets is a vital component of Greek polytheism and that, in spite of this, it is a surprisingly little studied phenomenon. 175, with references to a classic study of Vernant ( J.-P. ![]() Pirenne-Delforge, L’Aphrodite grecque, Liège, 1994 V.
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