The Cults of the Greek States

Facilitating a comparative approach to the cults of Greek gods, Farnell's five-volume work (1896–1909) is still regularly consulted.

Lewis Richard Farnell (Author)

9781108015455, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 July 2010

476 pages, 35 b/w illus.
21.6 x 2.7 x 14 cm, 0.6 kg

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 nineteenth-century 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 3 focuses on the cults of Ge, Demeter, Hades, and Rhea.

1. Ge
2. Demeter and Kore-Persephone
3. Cult-monuments of Demeter-Kore
4. Ideal types of Demeter-Kore
5. Cults of Hades-Plouton
6. Cults of the Mother of the Gods and Rhea-Cybele.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]