Ancient Greek Religion - (Blackwell Ancient Religions) 3rd Edition by Jon D Mikalson & Andrej Petrovic & Ivana Petrovic (Paperback)

About the Book

"This book is intended to serve as a first introduction to the fascinating subject of ancient Greek religion. It will be, I hope, a place to begin but certainly not to end. The study of Greek religion is wondrously complex, involving hundreds of deities of several different types who were worshiped over a period of nearly two thousand years in hundreds of ancient Greek city-states. The deities, their myths and rituals, and even the beliefs about them varied, in greater or smaller degrees, from city to city and from century to century. The complexity of Greek religion is understandably daunting for those first approaching it, and I attempt here to make the subject more intelligible initially by a variety of strategies. First, I limit my descriptions largely to Greek religion as it was practiced in the Classical period, from about 500 to 323 b.c.e. I do not attempt to describe the developments over many preceding centuries that led to its form at this time, and I devote only Chapter VIII to distinctive features of religion in the Hellenistic period (323-30 b.c.e.). Secondly, I center much of the discussion on Athens because the evidence - literary, artistic, archaeological, and epigraphical - is many, many times more abundant for Athens than for any other one Greek city-state and this allows us to see better the coherency of the Greek religious system. But even a full account of religion in classical Athens would require several volumes, and for this introduction I have chosen to direct attention first to some basic concepts, then to a select group of deities and cults which, each in its own way, represent important aspects of Greek religious life, then to the religion as practiced in the context of the family, the village, and the city-state, and, finally, to the religious life of the individual. For each deity, ritual, belief, and myth I have attempted to concentrate on what seems to me essential for the purpose at hand, leaving aside many of the questions and uncertainties, variant ancient accounts, and details that accompany many of these topics. Also, we intend to give a general account, and to virtually any general statement about Greek religion some exceptions may be found. In addition, readers should be forewarned that many of the statements made on every page have been challenged at one time or another by one modern scholar or another. And, finally, this book is largely descriptive, based on the ancient evidence that survives, and it limits discussion of modern theoretical interpretations of these complex subjects. Over the last hundred and fifty years a number of theoretical systems to explain major elements of Greek religion have come and sometimes gone. These theoretical approaches hold great interest in themselves, but one needs to know what the Greeks themselves did and said about their religion before one can adequately apply or evaluate the various theoretical systems to explain it all. On that principle we have placed last in this third edition chapters on the sources for (X) and the scholarship on (XI) Greek Religion. The books and essays suggested in Further Reading at the end of each chapter will begin to open up for readers the full complexity of these subjects, but we need a place for those interested in the subject to begin, and I hope that this book offers that"--

Book Synopsis

Provides undergraduate students with a vibrant account of the religious world of ancient Greece, now in its third edition

Ancient Greek Religion offers a detailed yet accessible introduction to the beliefs, myths, rituals, and deities of Greek religion. Author Jon D. Mikalson provides a vivid depiction of Greek religious practice in Athens, Delphi, and Olympia during the Classical period and in select other cities during the Hellenistic period. This reader-friendly textbook explains basic concepts of Greek polytheism, describes major deities and cults, and discusses various aspects of Greek religious life in the context of the city-state, the village, the family, and the individual.

The revised third edition features new contributions by Andrej and Ivana Petrovic. It has two new chapters: one highlighting Roman, Christian, and modern scholars' approaches to Greek religion and one identifying the types of sources used to understand and reconstruct ancient Greek religion. This edition also expands discussion of magic and personal practices and includes an updated and expanded bibliography for each chapter. This popular textbook:

• Offers thorough coverage of major Greek gods, heroes, myths, and cults
• Presents translations of ancient texts to promote reflection and discussion
• Features a glossary of recurring Greek terms and a wealth of high-quality color maps, images, figures, and illustrations
• Describes Greek religious practice from the perspectives of different worshippers, such as priests, slaves, family members, and public officials
• Discusses various interpretations of the gods and the afterlife, the nature of piety and impiety, and the larger social and political context of ancient Greece

Ancient Greek Religion, Third Edition, remains the ideal introductory textbook for undergraduate courses including Greek Civilization, Greek Religion, Greek and Roman Religion, Ancient Religions, and Greek History. It is also an excellent source of reference for graduate students, instructors, and scholars studying religious life in Classical Greece.

From the Back Cover

Ancient Greek Religion presents a vivid account of the beliefs and major deities of Greece during the Classical period. Incorporating a wealth of literary, artistic, archaeological, and epigraphical sources, this student-friendly textbook describes Greek religious life in the context of the city-state, the village, the family, and the individual. Exploring Greek polytheism from the perspectives of different worshippers, readers develop a well-rounded understanding of gods and heroes, rituals and practices, cults and myths, concepts of piety and the afterlife, and more.

Now in its third edition, Ancient Greek Religion includes brand-new chapters describing modern approaches to the study of ancient Greek religion and the sources used by scholars to understand and reconstruct this religion. A new section exploring private practices and magic in ancient Greece is joined by an expanded bibliography, additional further readings, a glossary of Greek terms, and numerous maps and illustrations.

Covering Classical Athens as well as cults at Delphi and Olympia and several Hellenistic cults elsewhere, Ancient Greek Religion is the perfect textbook for introductory courses on Greek religion as well as courses in ancient religions, Greek and Roman religion, and Greek history and civilization.

About the Author

JON D. MIKALSON is William R. Kenan Jr. Professor Emeritus of Classics at the University of Virginia. Previously, he was Whitehead Professor at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece. His books include Athenian Popular Religion, Honor Thy Gods: Popular Religion in Greek Tragedy, Religion in Hellenistic Athens, and Herodotus and Religion in the Persian Wars.