Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion: Death and Reciprocity - Paperback

by Ellie Mackin Roberts (Author)

This volume presents a case for how and why people in archaic and classical Greece worshipped Underworld gods.

These gods are often portrayed as malevolent and transgressive, giving an impression that ancient worshippers derived little or no benefit from developing ongoing relationships with them. In this book, the first book-length study that focuses on Underworld gods as an integral part of the religious landscape of the period, Mackin Roberts challenges this view and shows that Underworld gods are, in many cases, approached and 'befriended' in the same way as any other kind of god.

Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion provides a fascinating insight into the worship of these deities, and will be of interest to anyone working on ancient Greek religion and cult.

Author Biography

Ellie Mackin Roberts is a Research Associate at the Institute of Classical Studies (School of Advanced Studies, University of London). Her PhD was awarded from King's College London, and she has also previously taught at the University of Leicester and Royal Holloway, University of London.