"Lost Names" unearths the stories of forgotten deities, erased rulers, and vanished figures, revealing how power dynamics and ideological agendas actively shape our collective memory. The book explores historical erasure, a process where figures and narratives are deliberately suppressed or distorted. One intriguing aspect examined is "damnatio memoriae," the official condemnation of rulers, demonstrating how political motivations can rewrite history. Another focus is the disappearance of individuals challenging societal norms, illustrating how prevailing social pressures can erase legacies.
The book approaches this lost history in three parts, beginning with a theoretical framework drawn from social memory studies, religious studies, and political science. It then presents case studies using archaeological evidence, textual analysis, and comparative mythology. Finally, it examines the implications of this recovered knowledge for contemporary issues like cultural appropriation and historical revisionism.
By reconstructing obscured narratives, "Lost Names" provides a nuanced understanding of how forgotten deities and erased rulers impact our understanding of the past and cultural evolution.
