Students will examine the intersection of Greek mythology and cult rituals which defined religious worship in ancient Greece. Several key themes/questions will be explored. Such as, how did the majority of ancient Greeks understand and culturally interpret a variety of natural phenomena? How did polis ritual activities differ from domestic ones? What was the purpose of personal prayer and animal sacrifice? By examining the complex interactions of a variety of sacred spaces; shrines, temples, and oracular sites, students will examine the phenomenological nature of ancient religious practices. Through class lectures supported group discussions, students will evaluate current anthropological theories of why people devised, supported and promoted religious worship in ancient Greece.
Open to students 16 years of age and older.