Anthropomorphism

About the lecture

In this module, we think about the anthropomorphism of the Greek gods, i.e. the fact they were thought of (and depicted) as having human or humanoid form. We begin by thinking about some of the implications of this belief, focusing in particular on epiphanies as well as a few closer encounters between gods and men – both iatric and erotic. Finally, we think about the few cases where the gods were depicted as having a non-humanoid form, focusing in particular on the gods Pan and Achelous.

About the lecturer

Dr Emma Aston is Associate Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Reading. She has a longstanding interest in Greek religion, especially the depiction of deities in part-animal form, which was the subject of her 2011 book Mixanthrôpoi: Animal-Human Hybrid Deities in Greek Religion. She is currently working on a book on the culture and identity of Thessaly from the 7th to the 2nd century BC. She is also editing an unpublished monograph by the late scholar of Greek religion and myth, Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood.