Böcker av Jon D. Mikalson

The foundational writings of Isocrates, newly translated and placed in historical context.

Ancient Greek Religion provides an introduction to the fundamental beliefs, practices, and major deities of Greek religion. While the focus is on Athens in the Classical Period, the book also includes discussion of major panhellenic cults at Delphi and Olympia.

Jon Mikalson uses the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides to explore popular religious beliefs and practices of Athenians in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. and examines how these playwrights portrayed, manipulated, and otherwise represented popular religion in their plays.

Drawing from various sources, Mikalson traces the religious cults and beliefs of Athenians from the battle of Chaeroneia in 338 BC to the devastation of Athens by Sulla in 86 BC, demonstrating that traditional religion played a central role in Athenian private, social and political life.