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Greeks and Romans: The Religions Without Professional Priests

In: The Political Economy of Indo-European Polytheism

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  • Mario Ferrero

    (University of Eastern Piedmont)

Abstract

This chapter first examines Greek religion from MycenaeanMycenaeans to Hellenistic times. A vast and growing pantheonPantheon features gods with overlapping jurisdictionsOverlap, of gods’ jurisdictions who are jealousGods/goddessesjealous of one another and are placated with offerings. Priests are non-professional, part-timePriesthood/priestpart-time, temporaryPriesthood/priesttemporary officials of the civic cults, specializedGods/goddessesspecialized to a particular templeTemple and subordinated to the polis. Then the Roman religion from the earliest times to the end of the republic is addressed. Here too the pantheonPantheon is vast and growing in size, only partly converging with the Greek one; jurisdictional overlapOverlap, of gods’ jurisdictions abounds and is controlled by a cult regulated by the state. Priests are usually for life but again part-timePriesthood/priestpart-time and non-professional. In both religions, no one makes a living from priestly service.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Ferrero, 2022. "Greeks and Romans: The Religions Without Professional Priests," Contributions to Economics, in: The Political Economy of Indo-European Polytheism, chapter 0, pages 19-40, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:conchp:978-3-030-97943-0_2
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-97943-0_2
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