Books by Jon D. Mikalson

The foundational writings of Isocrates, newly translated and placed in historical context.

Jon Mikalson uses the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides to explore popular religious beliefs and practices of Athenians in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. and examines how these playwrights portrayed, manipulated, and otherwise represented popular religion in their plays.

Drawing from various sources, Mikalson traces the religious cults and beliefs of Athenians from the battle of Chaeroneia in 338 BC to the devastation of Athens by Sulla in 86 BC, demonstrating that traditional religion played a central role in Athenian private, social and political life.