Publisher's Synopsis
The eight volumes provide authoritative and in-depth information on ancient cults and rituals. Illustrated articles in English, French, Italian, and German address such topics as processions, sacrifices, libation, dedications, purification, consecration/foundation rites, heroization and apotheosis, banquet, dance, music, rites related to cult images, divination, prayer, asylum, oaths, malediction, profanation, magic, cult places, personnel, and instruments, stages and circumstances of life, work, hunting, travel, festivals and contests, private/public space, polarities in religious life, and religious interrelations between the classical world and neighboring civilizations. The final installment, this thematic index covers the complete set and complements, rather than replaces, the earlier volume of abbreviations and index, which indexes the first five volumes.