Table of Contents

Introduction
I
1: Ancestral Gods, Ancestral Tombs: The Household and Beyond
2: `Those with whom I sacrifice'
3: Places of Cult: Athens and the Demes
4: International Religion
5: Who prays for Athens? Religion in Civic Life
6: `Those who make a profession out of rites': Unlicensed Religion, and Magic
7: Religion in the Theatre
II
8: Festivals and their Celebrants
9: Things Done at Festivals
10: The Festival Year
11: Parthenoi in Ritual
12: The Panathenaea
13: Women's Festivals: Thesmophoria and Adonia
14: The Anthesteria and other Dionysiac Rites
15: Eleusinian Festivals
16: Festivals, Rituals, Myths: Reprise
17: Gods at Work I: Protecting the City
18: Gods at Work II: The Growth of Plants and Men
Epilogue

About the Author

Robert Parker is Wykeham Professor of Ancient History in the University of Oxford, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

Reviews

...[this book] points the way to future developments in the study of both Athenian and Greek religion...an important contribution which certainly deserves its 2005 Criticos Award. Julia L. Shear, Journal of Hellenic Studies No other book takes such a holistic approach to Greek religious practice and experience, or deals with the acute historical and theoretical complexities in such a jargon-free and attractive manner. Peter Jones, Sunday Telegraph ...one of the best books I have read on ancient religion and one of the most useful. London Review of Books, Vol. 29 Parker's lively style makes this substantial and detailed book highly readable. John Taylor, The Anglo-Hellenic Review, Vol. 35 ...of considerable interest to anyone who teaches Greek religion at any level since [Parker] writes with great clarity and maintains a focus on the main issues...this comprehensive survey of a city's religious activities would be a valuable addition to your library. Journal of Classics Teaching, Issue 12