The Cults of the Greek States
Lewis Richard Farnell’s five-volume The Cults of the Greek States, first
published between 1896 and 1909, disentangles classical Greek mythology
and religion, since the latter had often been overlooked by nineteenthcentury
English scholars. Farnell describes the cults of the most significant
Greek gods in order to establish their zones of influence, and outlines the
personality, monuments, and ideal types associated with each deity. He also
resolutely avoids the question of divine origins and focuses instead on the
culture surrounding each cult, a position which initially drew some criticism,
but which allowed him more space to analyse the religious practices
themselves. Written to facilitate a comparative approach to Greek gods, his
work is still regularly cited today for its impressive collection of data about
the worship of the most popular deities.
Volume 1 covers the Aniconic age, the Iconic age, and the cults of Cronos, Zeus, Hera and Athena. MsSVig
Lewis Richard Farnell’s five-volume The Cults of the Greek States, first
published between 1896 and 1909, disentangles classical Greek mythology
and religion, since the latter had often been overlooked by nineteenthcentury
English scholars. Farnell describes the cults of the most significant
Greek gods in order to establish their zones of influence, and outlines the
personality, monuments, and ideal types associated with each deity. He also
resolutely avoids the question of divine origins and focuses instead on the
culture surrounding each cult, a position which initially drew some criticism,
but which allowed him more space to analyse the religious practices
themselves. Written to facilitate a comparative approach to Greek gods, his
work is still regularly cited today for its impressive collection of data about
the worship of the most popular deities.
Volume 1 covers the Aniconic age, the Iconic age, and the cults of Cronos, Zeus, Hera and Athena. MsSVig