Greek Polytheism: A Historical Subject : Inaugural lecture delivered at the Collège de France on Thursday 7 December 2017

Abstract

Greek polytheism was not a simple collection of juxtaposed gods and goddesses, but a complex interplay between deities at different levels – local, regional and panhellenic. Significant evidence – combining literary, epigraphic, archaeological and iconographic sources – has profoundly renewed the study of Greek polytheism and made it a relevant subject to understand ancient societies from both a historical and anthropological perspective. Greek religion is deeply embedded in unexpected areas and bringing it to the fore helps to enrich our understanding of the ancient Greek world.