Like frogs around a pond: Maritime Religion and Seafaring Gods of Ancient Greek Culture

February 2014March 2018
ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

Maritime religion is an important but overlooked factor in ancient Greek culture. Cults of seafaring gods throughout classical antiquity included rituals of embarkation, prayers at sea and offerings for a safe arrival, all of which contributed to establishing and maintaining a collective Greek cultural identity around the Mediterranean Sea. This project aims to assemble both textual and archaeological evidence for ancient Greek maritime religion; to explore the significance of cults of seafaring gods for ancient Greek ethnic identity, migration and colonisation; and to contextualise ancient Greek maritime religion with comparable modern customs.

Project members

Dr Amelia Brown

Senior Lecturer in Greek History and Language and Director R.D. Milns Antiquities Museum