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Inspired by a critical reconsideration of current monolithic approaches to the study of Greek religion, this book argues that ancient Greeks displayed a disquieting capacity to validate two (or more) dissonant, if not contradictory, representations of the divine world in a complementary rather than mutually exclusive manner. From this perspective the six chapters explore problems inherent in: order vs. variety/chaos in polytheism, arbitrariness vs. justice in theodicy, the peaceful co-existence of mono- and polytheistic theologies, human traits in divine imagery, divine omnipotence vs. limitation of power, and ruler cult. Based on an intimate knowledge of ancient realia and literary testimonia the book stands out for its extensive application of relevant perceptions drawn from cultural anthropology, theology, cognitive science, psychology, and linguistics.

Henk S. Versnel, Ph.D. (1970) in Classics (Leiden), is Emeritus Professor in Ancient History (University Leiden). He has published extensively on Greek and Roman myth, ritual, magic and religion, including two volumes on "Inconsistencies in Greek and Roman Religion" (Brill, 1990 and 1993).

Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter One Many Gods: Complications of Polytheism
1. Order versus Chaos
2. Ingredients for Chaos
3. Creating Order: Taking Place
4. Conclusions
Chapter Two The Gods: Divine Justice or Divine Arbitrariness?
1. Introduction
2. Homer
3. Herodotus
4. Saving the Author
5. Solon Again
6. Once More: Chaos or Order?
7. Putting to the Test: Hesiod
8. Envoy
Chapter Three One God: Three Greek Experiments in Oneness
1. Introduction
2. One and Many: the God(s) of Xenophanes
3. One is Many: the Gods, the God, and the Divine
4. “One is the God”
5. Conclusion
Chapter Four A God: Why is Hermes Hungry?
1. Hungry Hermes and Greedy Interpreters
2. Hermes: The Human God in the Hymn
3. Hermes: The Eternal Dupe in the Fable
4. Hermes: The Present God in Visual Art
5. Hungry Hermes: the Sacrificial Meal
6. Conclusion
Chapter Five God: The Question of Divine Omnipotence
1. God: Self and Other
2. God: Powerful or All-Powerful?
3. Miracles in Double Perspective: the Case of Asklepios
4. God: Powerful and All-Powerful
5. Conclusions
Chapter Six Playing (the) God: Did (the) Greeks Believe in the Divinity of their Rulers?
1. Men into Gods
2. Modern Perplexities
3. The Construction of a God
4. Did (the) Greeks Believe in the Divinity of their
Rulers?
5. Ritual Play: Sincere Hypocrisy
6. Birds Into Gods: Comic Theopoetics
7. Making a God: A Multiple Perspective Approach
Epilogue
Appendices
I. Grouping the Gods
II. Unity or Diversity—One God or Many? A Modern Debate
III. Drive Towards Coherence in Two Herodotus-Studies
IV. Did the Greeks Believe in their Gods?
Bibliography
Indices
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