Religions of the Ancient Greeks

by Simon Price

Overview

This is a book about the religious life of the Greeks from archaic times to the fifth century AD, looked at in the context of a variety of different cities and periods. Simon Price examines local practices and concepts in the light of general Greek ideas, relating them to such issues as gender roles, political life, and the trial of Socrates. He lays emphasis on the reactions to Greek religions of ancient thinkers—Greek, Roman and Christian. The evidence drawn on is of all kinds: literary, inscriptional and archaeological.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521382014
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/28/1999
Series:	Key Themes in Ancient History
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.29(h) x 0.91(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Gods, myths and festivals; 3. Religious places; 4. Authority, control and crisis; 5. Girls and boys, women and men; 6. Elective cults; 7. Greek thinkers; 8. Reactions to Greek religions.

Editorial Reviews

"Price has admirably filled the long-standing need for a concise and up-to-date critical survey of the place of religious practice in Greek society....an exceptionally useful and stimulating book." Choice

"This book offers much diverse material for courses on Greek religion, a diversity greater than any comparable resource." Phoenix

"Not abstract and self-contained systems of religion or myths, but local practices and ideas of Greek religious life from the eigth century BC to the fifth century AD are what interest Price..." Reference & Research Book News

"[a] striking accomplishment." Journal of Religion

From the Publisher