Conclusion
The personifications which appear throughout Greek art and literature take on new
life when we consider the place that so many of them had in actual religious practice.
In the archaic period, epic poetry provides a basic mythological pedigree for many
figures which would later acquire cult status, and a few of these cults can be traced
back to at least the sixth century. Cults first attested in the fifth century are less
dependent on the epic tradition, but often involve close association between the
personification and a more major deity, in some cases even being attested as a cult
title. In the fourth century and later, we see the introduction of personification cults
entirely independent of such association, sometimes with little or no prior develop-
ment in literature and art, which probably owe their existence to contemporary
political concerns. The figures discussed here certainly do not constitute a compre-
hensive list, but are just a selection of some of the better-documented cases, and even
these have been only briefly outlined. In particular, there has not been space to
elaborate on the historical circumstances which form the context for each cult’s
inception and subsequent development, and provide the most interesting avenue
for further study. I hope, however, to have demonstrated that even the most abstract
of concepts could quite easily be conceived of as a fully personalized deity, worthy of
worship by individuals and the state, and to have justified my opening assertion that
personification played an important part in Greek religion.
GUIDE TO FURTHER READINGThough they have been superseded by more recent studies in some particulars, Deubner 1902–9,
Nilsson 1952b and Hamdorf 1964 are seminal works on the place of personification in Greek
religion, while Foucart et al. 1917 is the first to set the Greek material in the broader context of
Egyptian, Roman, and Semitic personification. The fullest recent discussion, however, is my
own book (Stafford 2000), which includes more detailed consideration than has been possible
Figure 4.2a and b The two Nemeseis of Smyrna, inside their temple (left) and with their
attributes, the measuring rod and bridle. Drawings by Sheila Bewley from bronze coins of
Smyrna, minted in the reign of Hadrian
Ogden / Companion to Greek Religion 1405120541_4_004 Revise Proof page 84 30.10.2006 4:25pm84 Emma Stafford