Religion and Art in Ancient Greece

"Religion and Art in Ancient Greece" by Ernest Arthur Gardner is a book that explores the deep connection between religion and art in ancient Greece, especially sculpture. It looks at how the Greek gods influenced art and daily life and how artistic ideas and religious beliefs changed over time. The book starts by explaining that while many studies focus on early rituals, they might miss the importance of how the Olympian gods were shown in Greek worship and art. Gardner talks about where idol worship and human-like representations of gods came from and how these images affected religious practices and ideas about beauty. The author prepares the reader for a wider study of different parts of religion, like popular beliefs, official practices, poetry, philosophy, and how they all connect with art, asking readers to think deeply about these relationships.