The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion (Oxford Handbooks)

This handbook offers both students and teachers of ancient Greek religion a comprehensive overview of the current state of scholarship in the subject, from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods. It not only presents key information, but also explores the ways in which such information is gathered and the different approaches that have shaped the area. In doing so, the volume provides a crucial research and orientation tool for students of the ancient world, and also makes a vital contribution to the key debates surrounding the conceptualization of ancient Greek religion. The handbook's initial chapters lay out the key dimensions of ancient Greek religion, approaches to evidence, and the representations of myths. The following chapters discuss the continuities and differences between religious practices in different cultures, including Egypt, the Near East, the Black Sea, and Bactria and India. The range of contributions emphasizes the diversity of relationships between mortals and the supernatural - in all their manifestations, across, between, and beyond ancient Greek cultures - and draws attention to religious activities as dynamic, highlighting how they changed over time, place, and context. This Handbook Offers A Comprehensive Overview Of Scholarship In Ancient Greek Religion, From The Archaic To The Hellenistic Periods. It Presents Not Only Key Information, But Also Explores The Ways In Which Such Information Is Gathered And The Different Approaches That Have Shaped The Area. In Doing So, The Volume Provides A Crucial Research And Orientation Tool For Students Of The Ancient World, And Also Makes A Vital Contribution To The Key Debates Surrounding The Conceptualization Of Ancient Greek Religion. The Handbook's Initial Chapters Lay Out The Key Dimensions Of Ancient Greek Religion, Approaches To Evidence, And The Representations Of Myths. The Following Chapters Discuss The Continuities And Differences Between Religious Practices In Different Cultures, Including Egypt, The Near East, The Black Sea, And Bactria And India. The Range Of Contributions Emphasizes The Diversity Of Relationships Between Mortals And The Supernatural - In All Their Manifestations, Across, Between, And Beyond Ancient Greek Cultures - And Draws Attention To Religious Activities As Dynamic, Highlighting How They Changed Over Time, Place, And Context. Part 1. What Is Ancient Greek Religion?: 1. Robin Osborne: Unity Vs. Diversity? -- 2. Tom Harrison: Belief Vs. Practice? -- 3. Emily Kearns: Old Vs. New? -- 4. Vinciane Pirenne Delforge And Gabriella Pironti: Many Vs. One?. -- Part 2. Types Of Evidence: 5. Milette Gaifman: Visual Evidence -- 6. Hannah Willey: Literary Evidence: Prose -- 7. Renaud Gagne: Literary Evidence: Poetry -- 8. Claire Taylor: Epigraphic Evidence -- 9. Caitlin E. Barrett: Material Evidence -- 10. David Martinez: Papyrology. -- Part 3. Myths? Contexts And Representations: 11. Richard Martin: Epic -- 12. Tanja Scheer: Art And Imagery -- 13. Claude Calame: Drama -- 14. Robert Fowler: History -- 15. Rick Benitez And Harold Tarrant: Philosophy. -- Part 4. Where?: 16. Mike Scott: Temples And Sanctuaries -- 17. Matt Dillon: Households, Families, And Women -- 18. Kostas Vlassopoulos: Religion In Communities -- 19. Christy Constantakopoulou: Regional Religious Groups, Amphictionies, And Other Leagues. -- Part 5: How?: 20. Mike Flower: Religious Expertise -- 21. Ralph Anderson: New Gods -- 22. Hugh Bowden: Impiety -- 23. Andrej Petrovic: 'sacred Law'. -- Part 6. Who?: 24. Susan Deacy: Gods: Olympian Or Chthonian -- 25. Carolina López-ruiz: Gods: Origins -- 26. Gunnel Ekroth: Heroes: Living Or Dead? -- 27. Emanuel Voutiras: Dead Or Alive? -- 28. Giulia Sfameni Gasparro: Daimonic Power -- 29. Ivana Petrovic: Deification: Gods Or Men?. Part 7: What?: 30. Henk Versnel: Prayer And Curse -- 31. Fred Naiden: Sacrifice -- 32. Sarah Iles Johnston: Oracles And Divination -- 33. Verity Platt: Epiphany -- 34. Fritz Graf: Healing. -- Part 8. When?: 35. Sarah Hitch: From Birth To Death: Life-changing Rituals -- 36. Jan-matheiu Carbon: Ritual Cycles: Calendars And Festivals -- 37. Radcliffe Edmonds Iii: Imagining The After-life. -- Part 9. Beyond?: 38. Gillian Shepherd: Magna Graecia (south Italy And Sicily) -- 39. Maya Muratov: The Northern Black Sea: The Case Of The Bosporan Kingdom -- 40. Jan Bremmer: The Ancient Near East -- 41. Kathrin Kleibl: Greco-egyptian Religion -- 42. Rachael Mairs: Bactria And India -- 43. Lisa Raphals: China And Greece: Comparisons And Insights Edited By Esther Eidinow And Julia Kindt. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Cover The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion Copyright Contents List of Figures Abbreviations and Conventions Notes on Contributors Introduction Part I What Is Ancient Greek Religion? 1 Unity vs. Diversity 2 Belief vs. Practice 3 Old vs. New 4 Many vs. One Part II Types of Evidence 5 Visual Evidence 6 Literary Evidence—Prose 7 Literary Evidence—Poetry 8 Epigraphic Evidence 9 Material Evidence 10 Papyrology Part III Myths? Contexts and Representations 11 Epic 12 Art and Imagery 13 Drama 14 History 15 Philosophy Part IV Where? 16 Temples and Sanctuaries 17 Households, Families, and Women 18 Religion in Communities 19 Regional Religious Groups, Amphictionies, and Other Leagues Part V How? 20 Religious Expertise 21 New Gods 22 Impiety 23 ‘Sacred Law’ Part VI Who? 24 Gods—Olympian or Chthonian? 25 Gods—Origins 26 Heroes—Living or Dead? 27 Dead or Alive? 28 Daimonic Power 29 Deification—Gods or Men? Part VII What? 30 Prayer and Curse 31 Sacrifice 32 Oracles and Divination 33 Epiphany 34 Healing Part VIII When? 35 From Birth to Death: Life-Change Rituals 36 Ritual Cycles: Calendars and Festivals 37 Imagining the Afterlife Part IX Beyond? 38 Magna Graecia (South Italy and Sicily) 39 The Northern Black Sea: The Case of the Bosporan Kingdom 40 The Ancient Near East 41 Greco-Egyptian Religion 42 Bactria and India 43 China and Greece: Comparisons and Insights General Index Index of Passages