ABSTRACT
From a cognitive perspective, the robust anthropomorphism of the Greek gods is an extreme manifestation of a property all religions have in common. These and other findings give insight into the related phenomena of Greek cult statues and epiphanies. The essential element in anthropomorphism, however, is not physical but mental resemblance. From “What is a god?” we move to the question of how intuitive thought shapes attempts to communicate with the gods. Divination is often considered one of the more irrational aspects of Greek religion. A cognitive model of divination reveals how normal processes of thought give rise to this common human behavior. From a broader perspective, Sperber’s theory of symbolic thought shows how “irrational” religious claims arise through fully rational processes. Finally, we consider how Sperber’s thought applies to the complex question of the relationship between myth and ritual. The illustrative essays deal with epiphanies of the goddess Athena, the nature of divination at Dodona, and the relationship between myth and ritual in cults of Adonis.
