What is it about?
The case of ancient Athens, once a prominent and influential city-state within the Greek world, illustrates how religion could serve as an instrument for political and diplomatic purposes. It demonstrates how Athens effectively utilised her periods of supremacy to enhance the popularity of certain cults in the ancient world, thereby promoting her own religious and cultural superiority. This established image helped the Athenian state not only to survive during its period of dependence on Rome, but also to maintain and consolidate its position as an important cultural centre of the Roman Empire.
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Why is it important?
While this essay addresses a subject rooted in ancient history, it may also offer valuable insights for readers interested in various historical eras or current political affairs. The analysis underscores the significant influence of culture and religion in political contexts, illustrating how less dominant actors can leverage soft power to enhance their standing within the diplomatic sphere.
Perspectives
When writing this essay, I was particularly interested in the question of how a small state used its cultural heritage to resist a powerful empire, emphasizing the important roles that common culture, religious beliefs, and shared values played in their efforts.
Margarita Sardak
Universitat zu Koln
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This page is a summary of: Sacred Diplomacy: Eleusis as a Mediator between the Athenian Polis and the Roman Empire, February 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004719620_020.
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