Intellectuals of the Ancient World (Part 2)

The paper considers social role and influence of the “wise” people in the archaic societies. It analyzes various types of power and power structures ranging from simple forms of organization, such as family and community, to the complex potestary systems, including secret societies and “state analogues”. The main attention is paid to relations between the power and the cult, as well as to the role of the “ritual experts”, who possess “secret knowledge” in maintaining and strengthening power relations. The paper shows that intellectual activity in the ancient world was closely connected with the religious and magical practices that formed the basis of social and political life. It concludes that ritual experts were the closest to intellectuals in their social status.

EDN FRKICT

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