Readership: Scholars and students of Greek and Latin literature, ancient history, classical civilization.
Bruno Currie, Fellow and Tutor in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature, Oriel College, Oxford University
"valuable and challenging book" - Kathryn Morgan, Hermathena
"In this stimulating first book, Bruno Currie presents a well-defined, well-informed and not uncontroversial study." - Deborah Boedeker, Journal of Hellenic Studies
"...any study, which questions traditional scholarly notions of what went on in Greek religion, is refreshing...Currie's study has certainly opened up new ways of thinking about both the purpose and the institution of hero-cults, which will hopefully stimulate yet further work on Greek heroes." - Gunnel Ekroth, Kernos
1: Introduction I. Some Themes in Hero Cult: Homer and Pindar 2: Views of Death 3: Mortality and Immortality 4: Hero Cult 5: Uses of the word `heros' 6: Immortality in renown: Kleos II. Heroization in the Fifth Century BC 7: Heroization of the War Dead 8: Heroization of Athletes 9: Theios aner: Religious Attitudes to the Living in the Fifth Century III. Five Odes of Pindar 10: Isthmian 7: Pankration victor and the war dead 11: Pythian 5: The king and his royal forebears 12: Pythian 2: Locrian saviour and Cyprian hero 13: Nemean 7: Boy pentathlete and Delphian hero 14: Pythian 3: Fire and immortality 15: Epilogue
