Religion in Ancient Greece

Religion in Ancient Greece

Author: Filip Holm May 10, 2026 Duration: 1:15:39

Explore the fascinating world of religion in Ancient Greece, from the powerful Olympian gods like Zeus, Athena, and Apollo to sacred rituals, temples, myths, and festivals that shaped daily Greek life.


Find me and my music here:

https://linktr.ee/filipholm


Support Let's Talk Religion on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/letstalkreligion

Or through a one-time donation:

https://paypal.me/talkreligiondonate



Sources/Recommended Reading:


Bowden, Hugh (2010). "Mystery cults in the Ancient World". Thames and Hudson Ltd.


Burkert, William (1987). "Greek Religion: Archaic and Classical". Wiley-Blackwell.


Burkert, Walter (1988). "Ancient Mystery Cults". Harvard University Press.


Chulp, Radek (2016). "Proclus: An Introduction". Cambridge University Press.


Cooper, John M. et. al (translated by) (1997). "Plato: Complete Works". Hackett Publishing.


Dodds, E.R. (2004). "The Greeks & The Irrational". University of California Press.


Eidinow, Esther & Julia Kindt (ed.) (2017). "The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion". Oxford University Press.


Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press. (This is the translation of the Enneads I have been using in this episode).


Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press.


Gregory, John (ed.) (1998). "The Neoplatonists: a reader". Routledge.



Huffman, Carl A. (ed.) (2017). "A History of Pythagoreanism". Cambridge University Press.


Iamblichus "On the Mysteries". Tranlsated by Emma C. Clarke, John M. Dillon & Jackson P. Hershell. Writings from the Graeco-Roman World. Society of Biblical Literature.


Inwood, Brad (ed.) (2003). "The Cambridge Companion to the Stoics". Cambridge University Press.


Kirk, G.S., J.E. Raven & M. Schofield (1983). "The Presocratic Philosophers". Second Edition. Cambridge University Press.


Parker, Robert C.T. (2011). "On Greek Religion". Cornell University Press.


Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press.


Shaw, Gregory (2014). "Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus". Angelico Press/Sophia Perennis.


Ustinova, Yulia (2017). "Divine Mania: Alterations of Consciousness in Ancient Greece". Routledge.


Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company.


Zhmud, Leonid (2012). "Pythagoras and the Early Pythagoreans". Translated by Kevin Windle & Rosh Ireland. OUP Oxford.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Hosted by Filip Holm, Let's Talk Religion is a deep, accessible exploration of belief systems that have shaped human history and continue to define cultures. This isn't about preaching or debate; it's a thoughtful journey grounded in academic rigor and genuine curiosity. Each episode serves as a guided conversation, peeling back the layers of major world religions and lesser-known spiritual paths to examine their core tenets, historical development, and cultural impact. You'll hear detailed profiles of pivotal figures, from foundational prophets and philosophers to mystical poets and reformers, all placed within their rich historical context. The goal is to build a foundation of understanding, moving beyond headlines and stereotypes to appreciate the complex narratives and lived experiences within each tradition. By approaching religion as a multifaceted subject worthy of serious study, this podcast creates a space for listeners to reflect on the profound questions and diverse answers humanity has offered. Tune in for a consistently enlightening experience that treats religious thought with the depth and nuance it deserves, making each topic resonate with both intellectual and personal significance. This is a podcast for anyone who wants to listen and learn, to find connections and contrasts in the stories we tell about the divine, the sacred, and our place in the world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Let's Talk Religion
Podcast Episodes
The House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma) in Baghdad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:50
The House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Hikma) is one of the most mythologized institutions in history, but what do the actual medieval sources say? In this video, we separate legend from evidence, tracing what the House of Wisdom…
Women in the Life and Thought of Ibn Arabi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:41
The great Sufi mystic Ibn Arabi was taught by a woman. In Part 2 of our series on Sufi women in history, we explore the female saints, teachers, and muses who shaped the thought of Islam's greatest mystical philosopher.F…
John Scotus Eriugena & The Division of Nature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:49
John Scotus Eriugena was one of the most radical thinkers of the early Middle Ages — a philosopher who fused eastern and western Christian theology with Neoplatonism to create a vision of God, nature, and creation centur…
The Talmud Explained (w. Zevi Slavin) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:52
In this episode, Zevi and I explore what the Talmud is, what it is not, and the role it plays in the Jewish religion.Find me and my music here:https://linktr.ee/filipholmSupport Let's Talk Religion on Patreon: https://ww…
Porphyry On The Cave of the Nymphs in Homer's Odyssey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:47
In this episode we explore one of the most fascinating texts in the history of Western esotericism: Porphyry's Commentary on the Cave of the Nymphs. Written in the 3rd century, this short but remarkable work interprets a…
The History of "Hare Krishna" (Gaudiya Vaishnavism) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:28
The Hare Krishna movement didn't start with chanting monks in airports, it began over 500 years ago with a Bengali mystic named Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This video traces the full history of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, from its ro…
Rabi'a - Mystic, Saint, and the Mother of Sufi Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:09
Who was Rabi'a al-Adawiyya? Explore the life, teachings, and spiritual legacy of one of history’s most influential mystics. From divine love to radical devotion, this video examines how Rabi'a transformed Islamic spiritu…
The Lost Suras of the Quran? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:21
Did the Quran once contain additional suras that are no longer part of the standard text? In this video, we explore reports about the codex of Ubayy ibn Ka'b and examine claims about “lost” or excluded suras during the U…
Mazdak & Mazdakism - Ancient Persian Communism? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:36
Who was Mazdak, and did he really preach a form of “ancient communism”? In this video, we explore Mazdakism—a radical movement in Sasanian Persia that challenged wealth, power, and social inequality over 1,500 years ago.…
Atlantis of the Sands - The Legend of the Lost City of Arabia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:33
Was the legendary “Atlantis of the Sands” real? In this video, we explore the mystery of Iram of the Pillars, the lost city often linked to the ancient people of ʿĀd mentioned in the Qurʾān. We explore whether it was ori…