Lecture Topics (tbc)

Term 1

Week 1: Introduction - General Module Information and introduction; The problem of approaching Greek Religion (PG/ME)

Week 2: Sources for Greek Religion; The Origins of Greek Religion (PG)

Week 3: The World is full of gods - Ancient Greek Polytheism and CSR (PG)

Week 4: Consulting the gods (1) - Oracles and Divination (ME)

Week 5: Consulting the gods (2) - The Heroes and the Dead (ME)

Week 6: Reading week (no lecture)

Week 7: Spheres of religion – Individual, Household, Polis, regional and PanHellenic religion (ME)

Week 8: Greek Sanctuaries (1) - The experience of scared spaces (ME)

Week 9: Greek Sanctuaries (2) - Oracles and Athletes (ME)

Week 10: Religious experts - Priests and other religious Personnel; Myth and Religion (ME)

 

Term 2

Week 1: Influencing the gods (1) - Sacrifice and Dedications (PG)

Week 2: Influencing the gods (2) - Magic, curses, oaths, prayer (PG)

Week 3: Religion and the realities of life (1) – Pollution (PG)

Week 4: Religion and the realities of life (2) - Birth, marriage, and maturation (PG)

Week 5: Religion and the realities of life (3) – Health (healing sanctuaries) and Death (PG)

Week 6: Reading Week [no lecture]

Week 7: Festivals (1) – Festivals – Panathenaia etc. (PG)

Week 8: Festivals (2) - Women’s festivals (PG)

Week 9: Mystery Cults - Mysteries of Eleusis; Kabeiroi at Thebes; Orphism, and Pythagorism (PG)

Week 10: Religious change and Religious diversity/atheism - Did the Greeks really believe this stuff? (PG)

 

Term 3

Week 1: Review of Evidence for Greek religion

Week 2: Revision

Week 3: Revision