The division of land and the consolidation of territory that created the Greek polis also divided sacred from productive space, sharpened distinctions between purity and pollution, and created a ritual system premised on gender difference. Regional sanctuaries ameliorated competition between city-states, publicized the results of competitive rituals for males, and encouraged judicial alternatives to violence. Female ritual efforts, focused on the reproduction and the health of the family, are less visible, but, as this study shows, no less significant. Taking a fresh look at the epigraphical e ... More

The division of land and the consolidation of territory that created the Greek polis also divided sacred from productive space, sharpened distinctions between purity and pollution, and created a ritual system premised on gender difference. Regional sanctuaries ameliorated competition between city-states, publicized the results of competitive rituals for males, and encouraged judicial alternatives to violence. Female ritual efforts, focused on the reproduction and the health of the family, are less visible, but, as this study shows, no less significant. Taking a fresh look at the epigraphical evidence for Greek ritual practice in the context of studies of landscape and political organization, the book illuminates the profoundly gendered nature of Greek cult practice and explains the connections between female rituals and the integrity of the community. In an integration of ancient sources and current theory, the book brings together complex evidence for Greek ritual practice. The book discusses relevant medical and philosophical theories about the female body; considers Greek ideas about purity, pollution, and ritual purification; and examines the cult of Artemis in detail. This nuanced study demonstrates the social contribution of women's rituals to the sustenance of the polis and the identity of its people.