This module, while offering an in-depth discussion of Greek religion and religious phenomena in the Hellenistic period, focuses upon the shaping of the religious landscapes of Greek poleis outside of the civic framework. We will be looking at individually organised religious groups such as religious associations, foundations of new cults by individuals on a ‘private’ level and ritual activities that were organised by individuals for their own purposes. At its heart, the course explores the possibility of ‘individual’ and ‘personal’ every-day religion in the Hellenistic period, developed in addition to the cults and rituals offered by Greek poleis.

Religious associations were voluntary groups of worshippers that gathered to worship a specific deity of their choice both of local gods as well as gods more recently introduced to the Aegean. Activities of religious associations are recorded mainly from the end of the fourth century BCE, a period in which many Greek poleis experienced an influx of immigration from all over the Mediterranean and beyond. During this time, one can observe an increase of ‘new’ rituals, deities, and religious traditions in the epigraphic evidence. Leading questions will be to what extent the occurrence of religious associations and the introduction of ‘new’ deities reflects political and social changes in the Hellenistic period and/or other phenomena such as for example cross-cultural exchange. Cross-cultural exchange could manifest itself in the experience of different religious systems such as Judaism or different divine entities such as the ‘Egyptian’ deities Isis and Osiris/Serapis.

The course is split in two parts, with the first half offering theoretical and methodological approaches to Greek religion (weeks 1-2) and the socio-cultural elements of religious associations: here, we will discuss administrative dimensions of religious associations and other ‘private’ cult foundations and shrines, their place within the religious landscape of a city, and the social dynamics reflected by the individuals involved with them (weeks 3-5). The last five sessions are dedicated to more personal dimensions. We will consider the religious motivations behind founding and participating in such groups and cults. By engaging with the activities practised at gatherings, such as mysteries, banquets, musical and theatrical performances, we will try to reconstruct the lived experience an individual’s religious life could take in Hellenistic Greece.