This volume explores three trials conducted in Athens in the fourth century BCE; the defendants were all women charged with undertaking ritual activities, but much of the evidence remains a mystery. The author reveals how these trials provide a vivid glimpse of the socio-political environment of Athens during the early-mid fourth century BCE.
This handbook offers a comprehensive overview of scholarship in ancient Greek religion, from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods. It presents not only key information, but also explores the ways in which such information is gathered and the different approaches that have shaped the area. In doing so, the volume provides a crucial research and orientation tool for students of the ancient world, and also makes a vital contribution to the key debates surrounding the conceptualization of ancient Greek religion. The handbook's initial chapters lay out the key dimensions of ancient Greek religion, approaches to evidence, and the representations of myths. The following chapters discuss the continuities and differences between religious practices in different cultures, including Egypt, the Near East, the Black Sea, and Bactria and India. The range of contributions emphasizes the diversity of relationships between mortals and the supernatural - in all their manifestations, across, between, and beyond ancient Greek cultures - and draws attention to religious activities as dynamic, highlighting how they changed over time, place, and context
Focusing on three trials of women accused of ritual activities in fourth-century BCE Athens, this volume uncovers the enigmatic evidence surrounding their cases. It offers an insightful examination of the socio-political landscape of the time, highlighting the complexities of gender and ritual in ancient society. Through these trials, the author presents a unique perspective on the dynamics of power and the role of women in Athenian culture.
Exploring the oracle tablets from Dodona and various binding-curse tablets, this study delves into the hopes and anxieties of everyday individuals in ancient Greece. It uncovers how these artifacts provide insight into the methods people employed to navigate risk and uncertainty in their lives, shedding light on their beliefs and social practices.