Religion and Society in Middle Bronze Age Greece

This book argues that religious beliefs played a significant role in the social changes that occurred in Middle Helladic Greece.

Helène Whittaker (Author)

9781107049871, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 May 2014

300 pages, 14 b/w illus. 7 maps 4 tables
26.1 x 18.4 x 2.3 cm, 0.84 kg

'Whittaker's volume on Middle Bronze Age religion is a very welcome contribution to the field on two counts: it will serve as a valuable corrective to outdated views of [Middle Helladic] culture, and it will provide a foundation for our growing understanding of Helladic religion and its development.' Susan Lupack, European Journal of Archaeology

The Middle Helladic period has received little attention, partially because of scholars' view of it as merely the prelude to the Mycenaean period and partially because of the dearth of archaeological evidence from the period. In this book, Helène Whittaker demonstrates that Middle Helladic Greece is far more interesting than its material culture might at first suggest. Whittaker comprehensively reviews and discusses the archaeological evidence for religion on the Greek mainland, focusing on the relationship between religious expression and ideology. The book argues that religious beliefs and rituals played a significant role in the social changes that were occurring at the time. The arguments and conclusions of this book will be relevant beyond the Greek Bronze Age and will contribute to the general archaeological debate on prehistoric religion.

1. Introduction
2. The formation of the Middle Helladic period
3. Religion and society in the Middle Helladic period
4. The transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age
5. Religion and society in the Late Helladic period
Conclusions.

Subject Areas: History of religion [HRAX], Prehistoric archaeology [HDDA], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]