This is a book about the religious life of the Greeks from archaic times to the fifth century AD, looked at in the context of a variety of different cities and periods. Simon Price examines local practices and ideas in the light of general Greek ideas, relating them to gender roles, for example, political life, Attic tragedy and the trial of Socrates. He lays emphasis on the reactions to Greek religions of ancient thinkers - Greek, Roman and Christian. The evidence drawn on is of all kinds: literary, inscriptional and archaeological.

1. Introduction; 2. Gods, myths and festivals; 3. Religious places; 4. Authority, control and crisis; 5. Girls and boys, women and men; 6. Elective cults; 7. Greek thinkers; 8. Reactions to Greek religions.