Religions of the Ancient Greeks

This is a book about the religious life of the Greeks from the eighth century BC to the fifth century AD, looked at in the context of a variety of different cities and periods. Simon Price does not describe some abstract and self-contained system of religion or myths but examines local practices and ideas in the light of general Greek ideas, relating them for example, to gender roles and to cultural and political life (including Attic tragedy and the trial of Socrates). He also lays emphasis on the reactions to Greek religions of ancient thinkers - Greek, Roman, Jewish and Christian. The evidence drawn on is of all kinds: literary texts, which are translated throughout; inscriptions, including an appendix of newly translated Greek inscriptions; and archaeology, which is highlighted in the numerous illustrations.

• Simon Price is one of the co-authors of Beard, North and Price: Religions of Rome vols. 1 and 2 (1998) • Looks at religious life and practices in their strict historical context • Covers the archaic and classical period but also looks seriously at the Roman period and the interaction with Christianity

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.