ABSTRACT
This book focuses on the ancient Greeks’ relationship with the many supernatural beings of their pantheon(s). These gods, goddesses, heroes, heroines, and assorted daimones (a neutral word for deity that does not carry the negative connotations of English “demon”) were acknowledged and honored by the Greeks in myriad ways. “Cult” comes from the same Latin root as “cultivate,” which is fitting because ancient worship was predicated less on faith or belief (which was normally taken for granted) than on concrete actions such as sacrifice, votive offerings, and festivals, repeated as one might repeatedly water a garden in order to encourage its growth. Some gods were favorably disposed toward mortals; others were neutral or even hostile. All had to be cultivated according to age-old customs.
