Landscapes, Gender, and Ritual Space: The Ancient Greek ExperienceThe division of land and consolidation of territory that created the Greek polis also divided sacred from productive space, sharpened distinctions between purity and pollution, and created a ritual system premised on gender difference. Regional sanctuaries ameliorated competition between city-states, publicized the results of competitive rituals for males, and encouraged judicial alternatives to violence. Female ritual efforts, focused on reproduction and the health of the family, are less visible, but, as this provocative study shows, no less significant. Taking a fresh look at the epigraphical evidence for Greek ritual practice in the context of recent studies of landscape and political organization, Susan Guettel Cole illuminates the profoundly gendered nature of Greek cult practice and explains the connections between female rituals and the integrity of the community. In a rich integration of ancient sources and current theory, Cole brings together the complex evidence for Greek ritual practice. She discusses relevant medical and philosophical theories about the female body; considers Greek ideas about purity, pollution, and ritual purification; and examines the cult of Artemis in detail. Her nuanced study demonstrates the social contribution of women's rituals to the sustenance of the polis and the identity of its people. |
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Contents
| 7 | |
2 RITUAL SPACE | 30 |
3 INVENTING THE CENTER | 66 |
4 THE RITUAL BODY | 92 |
5 THE PLAGUE OF INFERTILITY | 146 |
6 LANDSCAPES OF ARTEMIS | 178 |
7 DOMESTICATING ARTEMIS | 198 |
Glossary of Greek Terms | 231 |
| 239 | |
| 267 | |
Other editions - View all
Landscapes, Gender, and Ritual Space: The Ancient Greek Experience Susan Guettel Cole Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
activity agricultural akropolis Apollo Artemis associated assumes Athenian Athens Attic authority birth blood body border boundaries Brauron building called century childbirth claims collective concern connection considered created cult daughter death dedications defined Delphi Demeter describes discussion distinction divine early earth emphasized evidence examples explained father female festival first girls goddess gods Greek hands Hippocratic human important included indicates individual inscription land landscape located LSAM major male marked marriage meaning mother mountains natural normally oath offered original Paus performed period Plut points polis political pollution population priest priestess procedures protected prytaneion pure purification purity recognized regulations represented reproductive responsibility rites ritual rivers sacred sacrifice sanctuary served sexual similar space springs status stone successful temple territory tion town traditional wall woman women young Zeus
Bibliographic information
| Title | Landscapes, Gender, and Ritual Space: The Ancient Greek Experience |
| Author | Susan Guettel Cole |
| Publisher | University of California Press, 2004 |
| ISBN | 0520929322, 9780520929326 |
| Length | 312 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Ancient / General Religion / Antiquities & Archaeology |
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