The later history of Greek paganism is mainly concerned with its gradual penetration by Oriental ideas and worships, and the results of this [Greek: theokrasia] are discerned in an ever increasing mysticism and a tendency towards monotheism. Obliterated as the old Hellenic religion appeared to be by Christianity, it nevertheless retained a certain life, though transformed, under the new creed to which it lent much of its hieratic organization and religious terminology. The indebtedness of Christianity to Hellenism is one of the most interesting problems of comparative religion; and for an adequate estimate a minute knowledge of the ritual and the mystic cults of Hellas is one of the essential conditions. BIBLIOGRAPHY.--Older Authorities: A. Maury, _Histoire des religions de la Grece antique_ (3 vols., 1857-1859); Welcker, _Griechische Gotterlehre_ (3 vols., 1857-1863); Preller, _Griechische Mythologie_, 2 vols. (4th edition by C. Robert, 1887), all antiquated in regard to theory, but still of some value for collection of materials. Recent Literature--(a) General Treatises: O. Gruppe, "Griechische Mythologie und Religionsgeschichte" in Iwan von Muller's _Handbuch der klassischen Altertumswissenschaft_, v. 2. 2 (1902-1906); L. R. Farnell's _Cults of the Greek States_, 4 vols. (1896-1906, vol. 5, 1908); Miss Jane Harrison's _Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion_ (ed. 1908); Chantepie de la Saussaye's _Lehrbuch der Religionsgeschichte_ (Greek section, 1904); (b) Special Works or Dissertations: articles in Roscher's _Ausfuhrliches Lexikon der griechischen und romischen Mythologie_, and Pauly-Wissowa _Encyklopadie_ (1894- ); Immerwahr, _Kulte und Mythen Arkadiens_ (1891); Wide, _Lakonische Kulte_ (1893); de Visser, _De Graecorum diis non referentibus speciem humanam_ (Leiden, 1900). Greek Ritual and Festivals--A. Mommsen, _Feste der Stadt Athen_ (1898); P. Stengel, "Die griechischen Sacralaltertumer" in Iwan von Muller's _Handbuch_, v. 3 (1898); W. H. D. Rouse, _Greek Votive Offerings_ (1902). Greek Religious Thought and Speculation--L. Campbell's _Religion in Greek Literature_ (1898); Ducharme, _La Critique des traditions religieuses chez les Grecs des origines au temps de Plutarque_ (Paris, 1904). See also articles on individual deities, and cf. ROMAN RELIGION; MYSTERIES; MITHRAS. (L. R. F.) FOOTNOTES: [1] This has often been explained as a result of _Mutterrecht_, or reckoning descent through the female: for reasons against this hypothesis see L. R. Farnell in _Archiv fur vergleichende Religionswissenschaft_ (1904); cf. A. J. Evans, "Mycenaean Tree and Pillar Cult," in _Journ. of Hellenic Studies_ (1901).