"The division of land and consolidation of territory that created the Greek polis also divided sacred from productive space, sharpened distinctions between purity and pollution and created a ritual system premised on gender difference. Regional sanctuaries ameliorated competition between city-states, publicized the results of competitive rituals for males, and encourage judicial alternatives to violence. Female ritual efforts, which focused on reproduction and the health of the family, are less visible but were no less significant. Taking a fresh look at the epigraphical evidence for Greek ritual practice in the context of recent studies of landscape and political organization. Susan Guettel Cole illuminates the profoundly gendered nature of Greek cult practice and explains the connections between female rituals and the integrity of the community." "In a rich integration of ancient sources and current theory. Cole brings together the complex evidence for Greek ritual practice. She discusses relevant medical and philosophical theories about the female body, considers Greek ideas about purity, pollution, and ritual purification, and examines in detail the cult of Artemis. Her nuanced study brings into focus issues of ancient Greek ritual concern and demonstrates the social contribution of women's rituals to the sustenance of the polis and the identity of its people."--Jacket.