There is something of a paradox concerning our access to ancient Greek religion. We have much more evidence, yet at the same time too little. The materials related to it surpass an individual's ability to assimilate them: so many footnotes in so many literary texts over more than a millennium, so many direct or indirect references in so many epigraphic texts from various regions of the Greek world, an impressive abundance of physical remains. But the truly revealing evidence often does not accumulate enough to create a vivid sense of the religious realities of a particular time and place. Among a vast archipelago of obscure islands of information, only a few are large enough to be inhabited.

In the book "On Greek Religion," Robert Parker offers a challenging and large-scale entry into the world of ancient Greek religion, focusing particularly on the interpretative challenge of studying a religious system that in many cases remains hopelessly foreign from the twenty-first-century perspective. As one of the leading authorities in the field of ancient Greek religion, Parker poses fundamental methodological questions regarding the study of this extensive subject.

In seven thematic chapters, Parker focuses on key topics of Greek religion: the cognitive basis of Greek religion, the relationship between ritual and belief, theories of sacrifice, the nature of gods and heroes, the significance of rites, festivals, and celebrations, and the absence of religious authority. Covering the archaic, classical, and Hellenistic periods, it draws from many disciplines, both within and beyond classical studies. Five appendices are also included, in which Parker applies his innovative methodological approach to specific cases, such as the acceptance of new gods and the consultation of oracles. "On Greek Religion" will provoke discussions for its bold challenge to educational norms and for offering new starting points for future research.

Pages: 328, Dimensions: 15.5x15.5cm