Religion and the Greeks

by Robert Garland

No area
of Greek life was wholly untouched by religion, and a basic knowledge of
this aspect of life is essential to anyone seeking a proper understanding of
the classical world. In this engaging survey Robert Garland brings out the
unique quality of Greek religion - its practical and worldly approach to
man's relationship with the divine -
and shows how religious ritual was integral to the daily routine of both
public and private life.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Dr. Robert S.J. Garland is the Roy D. and Margaret B. Wooster Professor of the Classics at Colgate University. He earned his B.A. in Classics from Manchester University, his M.A. in Classics from McMaster University, and his Ph.D. in Ancient History from University College London.

A former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of the George Grote Ancient History Prize, Professor Garland has educated students and audiences at a variety of levels. In addition to teaching classics at Colgate University, he has taught English and Drama to secondary school students and lectured at universities throughout Britain as well as the British School of Archaeology in Athens.

Professor Garland is the author of numerous articles in both academic and popular journals and books capturing details of all aspects of ancient Greek and Roman life, including The Greek Way of Life: From Conception to Old Age; Introducing New Gods: The Politics of Athenian Religion; and Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks. His expertise has been featured in The History Channel's "Last Stand of the 300," and he has repeatedly served as a consultant for educational film companies.

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of Ancient Greek perceptions of and approaches to religion in just over 100 pages. It was exactly as detailed as I required without being overloading, and sets the reader up well for further study in a more specific area of Greek religion. The occasional piece of wry wit made for enjoyable reading of what can sometimes be quite grim subject matter.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nifty little resource on ancient Greek religion (as opposed to mythology).