La trama normativa del sacrificio a Pilo: themis, hora e moira in Hom. Od. III 31 ss.

In the history of scholarship, themis has often been interpreted in an abstract manner, either as an instrument of a «cosmic ordering wisdom», an expression of a «primitive theo-physical order» or as an oral legislative form with aristocratic roots. In light of these previous interpretations, the aim of this paper is to investigate the concrete functionality of themis and the associated semantic-conceptual framework within the context of the Pylian sacrifice scene. Beyond an abstract idealization of these notions, the re-reading of the episode in the Odyssey will highlight the existence of a system deeply embedded in the actual ritual practice, which is revealed through the gestures and actions of the characters involved in the scene. At the same time, the divine forces acting within the narrative framework of this episode will be explored: in activating these notions, the Greek audience would have been expected to perceive, albeit subtly, the influence of gods actively engaged within the mortal communities.