Methodological remarks on studying prehistoric Greek religion

• Main Author: Petra Pakkanen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Donner Institute 1999-02-01
• Series: Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis
• Subjects: Methodology; Archaeology; Greece > History; Hermeneutics; Prehistoric peoples
• Online Access: https://journal.fi/scripta/article/view/67273

This paper presents a methodological approach to the study of Greek religion of the period which lacks written documents, i.e. prehistory. The assumptions and interpretations of religion of that time have to be based on archaeological material. How do we define religion and cultic activity on the basis of primary archaeological material from this period, and which are the methodological tools for this difficult task? By asking questions on the nature and definition of religion and culture scholars of religion have provided us with some methodological apparatus to approach religion of the past in general, but there are models developed by archaeologists as well. Critical combination of these methodological tools leads to the best possible result. Archaeology studies the material culture of the past. History of religion studies the spiritual culture of the past. In the background the two have important theoretical and even philosophical speculations since they both deal with meanings (of things or practices) and with interpretation.