Initiation has often been accepted as a common phenomenon with a coherent meaning in the Greek world, and seen as the key to understanding a wide range of cultural and literary artefacts. In this volume, an international group of experts in Greek religion and society challenge the privileged status of initiation as a paradigm in classical studies. The case studies used range widely, from the ancient Greek wedding and adolescent haircutting rituals to initiation in Greek myth, tragedy and comedy. The collection will be useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Classical...