About the book
In Honor Thy Gods Jon Mikalson uses the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides to explore popular religious beliefs and practices of Athenians in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. and examines how these playwrights portrayed, manipulated, and otherwise represented popular religion in their plays. He discusses the central role of honor in ancient Athenian piety and shows that the values of popular piety are not only reflected but also reaffirmed in tragedies.
Mikalson begins by examining what tragic characters and choruses have to say about the nature of the gods and their intervention in human affairs. Then, by tracing the fortunes of diverse characters — among them Creon and Antigone, Ajax and Odysseus, Hippolytus, Pentheus, and even Athens and Troy — he shows that in tragedy those who violate or challenge contemporary popular religious beliefs suffer, while those who support these beliefs are rewarded.
The beliefs considered in Mikalson’s analysis include Athenians' views on matters regarding asylum, the roles of guests and hosts, oaths, the various forms of divination, health and healing, sacrifice, pollution, the religious responsibilities of parents, children, and citizens, homicide, the dead, and the afterlife. After summarizing the vairous forms of piety and impiety related to these beliefs found in the tragedies, Mikalson isolates “honoring the gods” as the fundamental concept of Greek piety. He concludes by describing the different relationships of the three tragedians to the religion of their time and their audience, arguing that the tragedies of Euripides most consistently support the values of popular religion.
Editions of Honor Thy Gods
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807820056
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807843482
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469617183
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890865076
Read an Excerpt
In Honor Thy Gods Jon Mikalson uses the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides to explore popular religious beliefs and practices of Athenians in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. and examines how these playwrights portrayed, manipulated, and otherwise represented popular religion in their plays. He discusses the central role of honor in ancient Athenian piety and shows that the values of popular piety are not only reflected but also reaffirmed in tragedies.
Mikalson begins by examining what tragic characters and choruses have to say about the nature of the gods and their intervention in human affairs. Then, by tracing the fortunes of diverse characters — among them Creon and Antigone, Ajax and Odysseus, Hippolytus, Pentheus, and even Athens and Troy — he shows that in tragedy those who violate or challenge contemporary popular religious beliefs suffer, while those who support these beliefs are rewarded.
The beliefs considered in Mikalson’s analysis include Athenians' views on matters regarding asylum, the roles of guests and hosts, oaths, the various forms of divination, health and healing, sacrifice, pollution, the religious responsibilities of parents, children, and citizens, homicide, the dead, and the afterlife. After summarizing the vairous forms of piety and impiety related to these beliefs found in the tragedies, Mikalson isolates “honoring the gods” as the fundamental concept of Greek piety. He concludes by describing the different relationships of the three tragedians to the religion of their time and their audience, arguing that the tragedies of Euripides most consistently support the values of popular religion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Honor Thy Gods about?
In Honor Thy Gods Jon Mikalson uses the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides to explore popular religious beliefs and practices of Athenians in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. and examines how these playwrights portrayed, manipulated, and otherwise represented popular religion in their plays. He discusses the central role of honor in ancient Athenian piety and shows that the values of popular piety are not only reflected but also reaffirmed in tragedies.
Mikalson begins by examining what tragic characters and choruses have to say about the nature of the gods and their intervention in human affairs. Then, by tracing the fortunes of diverse characters — among them Creon and Antigone, Ajax and Odysseus, Hippolytus, Pentheus, and even Athens and Troy — he shows that in tragedy those who violate or challenge contemporary popular religious beliefs suffer, while those who support these beliefs are rewarded.
The beliefs considered in Mikalson’s analysis include Athenians' views on matters regarding asylum, the roles of guests and hosts, oaths, the various forms of divination, health and healing, sacrifice, pollution, the religious responsibilities of parents, children, and citizens, homicide, the dead, and the afterlife. After summarizing the vairous forms of piety and impiety related to these beliefs found in the tragedies, Mikalson isolates “honoring the gods” as the fundamental concept of Greek piety. He concludes by describing the different relationships of the three tragedians to the religion of their time and their audience, arguing that the tragedies of Euripides most consistently support the values of popular religion.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Honor Thy Gods?
History and Archaeology > History > Ancient history
Where can I read a sample of Honor Thy Gods?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807820056
How long is Honor Thy Gods and how many pages does it have?
Honor Thy Gods has 376 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Honor Thy Gods?
Jon D. Mikalson
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Honor Thy Gods is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807820056) and paperback(ISBN 9780807843482) and ebook(ISBN 9781469617183) and pdf(ISBN 9798890865076)
Where can I buy Honor Thy Gods online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Honor Thy Gods from below
Where can I buy Honor Thy Gods?