Religion and the Polis

Catalog description

This class is designed to introduce students to the study of Greek religion with particular attention to the notion of polis religion, a recent model used to understand the function and structure of Greek religion. In this class we will look at the major institutions of Greek religion, notably sacrifice, festivals, and processions, but will also examine the importance of sanctuaries and temples in the heart of the city, on the edges of its territory and in the countryside. We will also examine religion as a system of belief and action, and will consider the intersection of local, state and international religious institutions.