The culture of ancient Greece was thronged with personifications. In poetry and the visual arts, personified figures of what might seem abstractions claim our attention. The Greeks, in Dr Johnson's phrase, 'shock the mind by ascribing effects to non-entity'. This study examines the logic, the psychology and the practice of Greeks who worshipped these personifications with temples and sacrifices, and beseeched them with hymn and prayers. Dr Stafford conducts case-studies of deified 'abstractions', such as Peitho (Persuasion), Eirene (Peace) and Hygieia (Health). She also considers general questions of Greek psychology, such as why so many of these figures were female. Modern scholars have asked, "Did the Greeks believe their own myths?" This study contributes to the debate, by exploring widespread and creative popular theology in the historical period.

This study examines the logic, the psychology and the practice of Greeks who worshipped personified and deified 'abstractions', such as Peitho (Persuasion), Eirene (Peace) and Hygieia (Health).

About the Author
Emma Stafford is the author of numerous papers on Greek mythology and iconography, and is currently preparing a source book on Greek religion.


Book Information
ISBN 9781914535291
Author Emma Stafford
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Classical Press of Wales
Publisher Classical Press of Wales