| My dissertation is a study of the narrative pattern of reciprocity in the major Homeric Hymns to Demeter, Aphrodite, Apollo and Hermes. I argue that the structure of the Hymns emerges out of a progression of the narrative from strife to reconciliation, and I claim that the gods are celebrated for their ability successfully to perform reciprocity and reconcile with their opponents. By employing Marshall Sahlins' theoretical framework, I map out the different types of exchange and I trace the narrative development from negative to positive and balanced (quid pro quo) reciprocity, which is the precondition for the gods' reappraised status. The study of reciprocity reveals a consistent, systematic structure of the Hymns and sheds light on the value of reciprocity in the religious and social realms of Archaic Greece. |
