This work investigates the conceptual framework and practical application of 'miasma' or pollution within the religious and social structures of ancient Greece. Robert Parker, a scholar of Greek religion, synthesizes a vast array of literary, historical, and ritual evidence to argue that pollution was not merely a superstitious concern but a fundamental mechanism for maintaining social and divine order. The text examines how these concepts evolved from archaic religious movements through the classical period, influencing everything from legal oratory to personal ritual practice.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of Greek social norms and religious ritual. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a comprehensive and scholarly treatment of the subject matter.