In this book Walter Burkert, the most eminent living historian of
ancient Greek religion, has produced the standard work for our time
on that subject. First published in German in 1977, it has now been
translated into English with the assistance of the author himself.
A clearly structured and readable survey for students and scholars,
it will be welcomed as the best modern account of any polytheistic
religious system.
Burkert draws on archaeological discoveries, insights from other
disciplines, and inscriptions in Linear B to reconstruct the
practices and beliefs of the Minoan-Mycenaean age. The major part
of his book is devoted to the archaic and classical epochs. He
describes the various rituals of sacrifice and libation and
explains Greek beliefs about purification. He investigates the
inspiration behind the great temples at Olympia, Delphi, Delos, and
the Acropolis - discussing the priesthood, sanctuary, and oracles.
Considerable attention is given to the individual gods, the
position of the heroes, and beliefs about the afterlife. The
different festivals are used to illuminate the place of religion in
the society of the city-state. The mystery cults, at Eleusis and
among the followers of Bacchus and Orpheus, are also set in that
context. The book concludes with an assessment of the great
classical philosophers' attitudes to religion.
Insofar as possible, Burkert lets the evidence -- from
literature and legend, vase paintings and archaeology -- speak for
itself; he elucidates the controversies surrounding its
interpretation without glossing over the enigmas that remain.
Throughout, the notes (updated for the English-language edition)
afford a wealth of further referencesas the text builds up its
coherent picture of what is known of the religion of ancient
Greece.
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