Searching for Persephone. Transmedial, comparative and digitally supported approximations to a polymorphous figure of the underworld in Greco-Roman sources

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Among the essential achievements of the TPL to come out of the research unit (RU) 2064 STRATA phase 1 is the foundation of the theoretical framework for the study of myths as the study of Erzählstoffe, and the development of methods for a) the analysis of the smallest action-bearing units (hylemes) that will lead to the reconstruction of the mythical Erzählstoffe and b) the analysis of the stratifications within these Erzählstoffe.The chosen subject for exemplary analyses were stratifications in myths about transitions between spheres, and these included Odysseus' journey to Hades (where a ritual-related religious background has been found to constitute a separate stratum), various Stoff strata in myths of "heavenly journeys" (Etana, Alexander) and in the myth of the heavenly Palladium falling down to earth. Additionally we were able to reconstruct versions of transitions between spheres in the underworld by examining the so-called Orphic Gold Tablets. These findings, which have among other things brought to light positive objects, powers, and regions in the underworld, will have to be explored further in phase 2.TP KM has the following primary aims: a) examine transitions between spheres performed by Kore-Persephone, the extent of her authority, and the regions of her authority, as represented in versions of the myth of her abduction to the underworld by Hades in Greek and Roman sources, b) come to a detailed and comprehensive characterization of the complex, polystratic figure of Kore-Persephone that also addresses the question of the identity behind this figure, or figures, and their historical and functional contextualization, c) reconstruction of mythical Stoff variants not only from texts but also from images (with B. Bäbler and K. Lorenz, TP KA) and performative acts (with A. Zgoll: TP AM), and comparisons of different versions of myths and of the specific characteristics of their medial manifestations, d) continue the development of methods based on the hyleme concept and stratification analysis, toward a transmedial, comparative study of myths, e) creation of digital tools for complex transmedial, comparative studies of myths in cooperation with C. Sporleder (TP DH), which will account for different degrees of compression, concretion, and determination of mythical Erzählstoffe, f) design and construction of a Living Handbook of Mythology in cooperation with Göttingen State and University Library and Universitätsverlag Göttingen, which will synthesize the RU results from phase 1 and 2.The project occupies an interface position within the RU 2064 STRATA, as its stated goals of a trans-disciplinary and complex methodology for transmedial, comparative analyses of mythical Stoffe and their strata can only be realized in direct collaboration with RU members and associates from the areas/fields of classical archaeology and philology, Assyriology, and the Digital Humanities.