Infancy and Childhood in Ancient Greek Religion

Harvard HDS

As in all ancient societies, infants and children in ancient Greece were both uniquely vulnerable to early death and valuable as social beings. Children represented the future of family, polis, military, economy, and the worship of the gods. The survival of the culture depended on their religious protection and social incorporation. What do we know of ancient Greek ritual responses to this stage of life? What special roles did children play in cult? What space was created for children’s toys,…