The higher aspects of Greek religion. Lectures delivered at Oxford and in London in April and May

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THE HIBBERT LECTURES
SECOND SERIES
1911

THE HIBBERT LECTURES
SECOND SERIES
THE HIGHER ASPECTS
OF
GREEK RELIGION
LECTURES
DELIVERED AT OXFORD AND IN LONDON
IN APRIL AND MAY igii
BY
L. R. FARNELL, D.Litt.
WILDE LECTURER IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
LONDON
WILLIAMS AND NORGATE
HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C.
14
1912

CONTENTS
Lecture I
GENERAL FEATURES AND ORIGINS OF GREEK
RELIGION
Greek religion mainly a social-political system, 1. In its earliest
period a "theistic" creed, that is^ a worship of personal individual
deities, ethical personalities rather than mere nature forces, 2.
Anthrqgomorphismitspredominantbias, 2-3. Yetpreservingmany
primitivefeaturesof"animism" or"animatism," 3-5. Its progress
gradual without violent break with its distant past, 5-6. The ele-
ment of magic fused with the religion but not predominant, 6-7.
Hellenism and Hellenicreligion a blend of two ethnic strains, one
North-Aryan, the other Mediterranean, mainly Minoan-Mycenaean,
7-9. Criteria by whichwe candistinguishthe various influences of
these two, 9-16. The value of Homeric evidence, 18-20. Sum-
mary ofresults, 21-24.
Lecture II
THE RELIGIOUS BOND AND MORALITY OF
THE FAMILY
The earliest type of family in Hellenic society patrilinear, 25-27.
Earliest religious phenomena the cult of the hearth and of Zeus
the God of the household, 27-30. Marriage a religious ceremony,
consecrated to Zeus and Hera, in some sense a sacrament or '
mystery, 30-32. Its connection with the agricultural life, 32-34.
Dedication of the bride to the tutelary hero or divinity, 34-35.
.
HIGHER ASPECTS OF GREEK RELIGION
vi
Marriage a social-religious duty, 35-36. The ethics of the family,
36-37. Adultery and certain sexual offences a social-religious
wrong; but no moral exaltation ofvirginity, 38-43. Family-purity
maintained bythe Erinyes but mainlybythe higher deities, 39-41.
The high sense of family duty the master-work of Greek religion,
43-45. Philosophic ethics reflecting popular cult, 45-47.
Lecture III
FAMILY MORALITY (CONTINUED): TRIBAL AND
CIVIC RELIGION
Sanctity ofthe father, 48-50. The power and moral effects of the
Curse, 50-53. Influence of family-religion on the position of the
slave, religious method of manumission, 54-56. The family a unit
of the clan or tribe, 58. The genos and phratria, even the local
organisation of the deme, based on the idea of kinship and on the
cults ofthe deities ofkinship and ancestral heroes, 58-61. Object
ofthisreligionto preserve civicpurityofblood, 62. Greekreligion
in relation to the Polls, 63-64. The Greek State sometimes of
religious origin, 64-65. Thecityregardedas a singlefamily, hence
the domestic character ofmany civic cults, 65-68^ The high Gods
politicalpowers, especiallyZeus,Apollo, andAthena,68-69. Greek
religion unique in respect of its political character, 69-71. The
State-deity sometimes the physical ancestor, 71-72.
Lectuee IV
INFLUENCE OF THE CIVIC SYSTEM OF RELIGION
UPON RELIGIOUS THOUGHT, MORALITY AND LAW
Worship confined to citizens, the religious tone genial rather than
profoundly reverential, 73-74. Importance ofthe idea of kinship
with the deity, 75-76. Clan morality implies collective responsi-
bilityandvicarioushumansacrifice, 76-78. Religiousaspectofcivic
duties, courage, patriotism, 78-83. The alien invader a pollution
to the temples, 83-84. Religious origins of the laws concerning
homicide, 84-91