Religions of Rome: Volume 2, A Sourcebook

This book presents a wide range of documents illustrating religious life in the Roman world from the early Republic to the late Empire.

Mary Beard (Author), John North (Author), Simon Price (Author)

9780521456463, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 June 1998

428 pages
24.9 x 17.6 x 2 cm, 0.886 kg

'These books are the result of years of patient scholarship and intellectual questioning. No other volume has covered such a time span so effectively and made such clear use of maps, illustrations and archaelogical evidence.' Robin Lane-Fox, British Museum Magazine

Volume two reveals the extraordinary diversity of ancient Roman religion. A comprehensive sourcebook, it presents a wide range of documents illustrating religious life in the Roman world - from the foundations of the city in the eighth century BC to the Christian capital more than a thousand years later. Each document is given a full introduction, explanatory notes and bibliography, and acts as a starting point for further discussion. Through paintings, sculptures, coins and inscriptions, as well as literary texts in translation, the book explores the major themes and problems of Roman religion, such as sacrifice, the religious calendar, divination, ritual, and priesthood. Starting from the archaeological traces of the earliest cults of the city, it finishes with a series of texts in which Roman authors themselves reflect on the nature of their own religion, its history, even its funny side. Judaism and Christianity are given full coverage, as important elements in the religious world of the Roman empire.

1. Earliest Rome
2. The deities of Rome
3. The calendar
4. Religious places
5. Festivals and ceremonies
6. Sacrifices
7. Divination and diviners
8. Priests and priestesses
9. Individuals and gods: life and death
10. Rome outside Rome
11. Threats to the Roman order
12. Religious groups
13. Perspectives
Glossary
Deities and their epithets
Bibliography
Indexes.

Subject Areas: General & world history [HBG]