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Why are ancient literary works often attributed to people who did not actually write them?

2007-07-17 09:49:59 · 9 answers · asked by Jenny A 1 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

for example bible

2007-07-17 09:59:29 · update #1

9 answers

Because of the respect that had been attached to that person's name. It's notorious that many of the letters of "Paul" (e.g.) were not actually written by Paul, and disputable whether any of the gospels were written by the apostles whose names they bear. But the apostles were the rock stars of their day, and the constructors of the Christian religion appropriated their names to lend to their own writings the requisite air of authenticity and authority.

2007-07-17 09:55:29 · answer #1 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 0 0

Because nobody knows who wrote them, they just make a guess. Of course some are not attributed at all, like Beowulf.

2007-07-17 09:53:38 · answer #2 · answered by Rat 7 · 0 0

The Nag Hamadi are probably the most important, though the Talmud would definitely give them a run for their money. The Bible didn't come about until the 4th century with the first council of Nicea.

2016-05-20 16:59:57 · answer #3 · answered by luella 3 · 0 0

Good question, Jenny. I believe it was to give the work more credence and a larger audience. They were probably written by scribes, whose work was always attributed to others.

2007-07-17 09:56:45 · answer #4 · answered by Shawn B 7 · 0 0

If you mean those who found them receive credit?

Well because the original author is no where to be found and is not likely to come back for comment any time soon.

2007-07-17 09:53:23 · answer #5 · answered by gotagetaweigh 4 · 0 0

Are you speaking of the Bible, or things like the Odessey, or historical text like Josephus.

2007-07-17 09:54:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

this was perfectly normal, and common. i think that it had to do with the economics, and lifestyles then - that is, a writer wasn't likely to be a celebrity ever. they wanted the work to be read, and so they put a name on it (or readers decided who had 'wrote' it) that was already known.

2007-07-17 09:55:06 · answer #7 · answered by Daniel F 6 · 0 0

because history is written by the victor....orthose who have the most money

i bet you $5 that bush is going to go down as a great president (contrary to the reality of the situation)

face on coins even...

2007-07-17 09:52:57 · answer #8 · answered by johnny.zondo 6 · 5 0

Sometimes in order to give the text credibility that it wouldn't have otherwise had.

2007-07-17 09:58:18 · answer #9 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 0 0

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