Civic Rites: Democracy and Religion in Ancient Athens (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780520262027)

Civic Rites explores the religious origins of Western democracy by examining the government of fifth-century BCE Athens in the larger context of ancient Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. Deftly combining history, politics, and religion to weave together stories of democracy's first leaders and critics, Nancy Evans gives readers a contemporary's perspective on Athenian society. She vividly depicts the physical environment and the ancestral rituals that nourished the people of the earliest democratic state, demonstrating how religious concerns were embedded in Athenian governmental processes. The book's lucid portrayals of the best-known Athenian festivals-honoring Athena, Demeter, and Dionysus-offer a balanced view of Athenian ritual and illustrate the range of such customs in fifth-century Athens.

Author: Nancy Evans
ISBN-10: 0520262026
ISBN-13: 9780520262027
Publisher: University of California Press
Language: English
Published: 05/03/2010
Pages: 296
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.10w x 0.90d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 05/01/2011