Ancient Greek religion. Religion of Hellenism. Zelinsky F.F.

Faddey Frantsevich Zelinsky (1859–1944)-an outstanding anti-people, philologist-classic, translator and encyclopedist.

Russian by birth and language, blood Pole, Zelinsky was an Hellenic in spirit. The passionate interest in antiquity determined all his scientific activity. Extremely strict, at the same time she was deprived of any imprint of scholasticism: classical antiquity, the researcher was aware of the deeply involved spiritual life of the New Age. “The museum is not quiet and distracting from modern life, but a living part of the latest culture” - this is how the Zelinsky significance of antiquity characterized. In accordance with this understanding, the scientist multilaterally investigated the culture of ancient Greece and Rome, including the religions of these civilizations.

The brightest embodiment of this area of ​​Zelinsky’s scientific lessons found in his two books - “Ancient Greek Religion” and “ Religion of Hellenism. " Conceived as the first parts of the failed monumental work, they were a full -fledged systematic study representing the dynamics of ancient religious beliefs. On the widest material, Zelinsky not only describes the variety of beliefs, myths and secret cults that formed the flesh of ancient Greek culture, but also shows the evolution of religious consciousness on the path to Christian transformation.