Sources

Greek Religion

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "Greek Religion." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/greek-religion.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). Greek Religion. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/greek-religion

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-greek-religion,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {Greek Religion},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/greek-religion},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Walter Burkert's survey works from the archaeological and epigraphic record of Greek cult practice, sanctuary sites, dedications and ritual calendars, alongside the literary sources, rather than reconstructing Greek religion from myth and literature alone, which is what makes it a study of practice rather than of story. That grounding in physical and documentary evidence of actual cult activity is its real basis, not any claim about its publisher. This record has not independently traced a documented history of scholarly revision to its specific claims, though it has remained the standard reference for decades, which is itself evidence that later specialists have kept building on it rather than replacing it outright. It is a strong source for established facts about how Greek religion was actually practiced in antiquity. Its focus is historical cult practice, not later reception of Greek religion in art and literature or modern Hellenic reconstructionist practice, either of which needs its own separate source.

Facts

Assessment

Reliability Tier

A foundational scholarly survey of ancient Greek religion from a university press, the standard academic reference for Greek cult and belief as historically practiced rather than for later or modern reconstruction.

Notes

Walter Burkert's foundational scholarly survey of ancient Greek religion: gods, myth, ritual, sanctuary and cult practice from the archaic through classical periods. The standard academic reference for Greek religion as historically practiced. Use for established facts about Greek cult and belief, not for later reception or modern Hellenic reconstruction.

Citation

Author

Walter Burkert

Publisher

Harvard University Press

Publication Year

1985

URL

https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674362819

Source Type

academic monograph

Claims Backed By This Source (1,007 claims)

This source backs 1,007 claims across the atlas. As facts: 679 well-attested, 21 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 110 holds, 19 connected. Plus 178 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Deities, 380 claims: 249 well-attested, 12 scholarly debate, 31 holds, 88 general references.
Articles, 175 claims: 135 well-attested, 18 connected, 22 general references.
Practices, 52 claims: 43 well-attested, 4 holds, 5 general references.
Rituals, 52 claims: 33 well-attested, 3 scholarly debate, 11 holds, 5 general references.
Sacred Sites, 40 claims: 28 well-attested, 6 holds, 6 general references.
Doctrines, 37 claims: 23 well-attested, 4 scholarly debate, 4 holds, 6 general references.
Realms, 29 claims: 22 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 3 holds, 3 general references.
Religions, 27 claims: 23 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 holds, 2 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 25 claims: 14 well-attested, 8 holds, 3 general references.
Mythical Creatures, 23 claims: 11 well-attested, 7 holds, 5 general references.
Religious Symbols, 23 claims: 16 well-attested, 5 holds, 2 general references.
Historical Figures, 19 claims: 12 well-attested, 4 holds, 3 general references.
Cultures, 18 claims: 5 well-attested, 12 holds, 1 general references.
Cities, 10 claims: 4 well-attested, 3 holds, 3 general references.
Religious Events, 10 claims: 5 well-attested, 4 holds, 1 general references.
Open Questions, 9 claims: 7 well-attested, 1 connected, 1 general references.
Subcategories, 9 claims: 7 well-attested, 2 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Sources, 8 claims: 8 well-attested.
Myths & Sacred Narratives, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 2 general references.
Sacred Architecture, 6 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 5 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 general references.
Calendars, 5 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 general references.
Figures, 5 claims: 1 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 general references.
Hymns & Liturgical Texts, 5 claims: 1 holds, 4 general references.
Religious Dress & Vestments, 5 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 general references.
Animals & Totems, 4 claims: 2 well-attested, 2 general references.
Bodies of Water, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
Languages, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Organizations, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Other Writings, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Plants, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Religious Offices, 1 claims: 1 general references.