The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Mediterranean Religions

Provides an introduction to the major religions of the ancient Mediterranean and explores current research regarding the similarities and differences among them.

Barbette Stanley Spaeth (Edited by)

9780521113960, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 November 2013

364 pages, 13 b/w illus.
23.5 x 15.7 x 2.7 cm, 0.72 kg

“More than a dozen American scholars embark on a truly comparative study of Mediterranean religion, from the Neolithic stelae of Göbekli Tepe onward. Conceptions of the divine, sacrifice, divination, sacred space and time, priesthoods and politics – these keywords make the various religions described in the book accessible across different cultures.” – Jörg Rüpke, University of Erfurt

In antiquity, the Mediterranean region was linked by sea and land routes that facilitated the spread of religious beliefs and practices among the civilizations of the ancient world. The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Mediterranean Religions provides an introduction to the major religions of this area and explores current research regarding the similarities and differences among them. The period covered is from the prehistoric period to late antiquity, that is, ca.4000 BCE to 600 CE. The first nine essays in the volume provide an overview of the characteristics and historical developments of the major religions of the region, including those of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria-Canaan, Israel, Anatolia, Iran, Greece, Rome and early Christianity. The last five essays deal with key topics in current research on these religions, including violence, identity, the body, gender and visuality, taking an explicitly comparative approach and presenting recent theoretical and methodological advances in contemporary scholarship.

1. Egypt Emily Teeter
2. Mesopotamia Beate Pongratz-Leisten
3. Syria-Canaan Shawna Dolansky
4. Israel Mayer Gruber
5. Anatolia Billie Jean Collins
6. Iran William Malandra
7. Greece Jennifer Larson
8. Rome Celia Schultz
9. Early Christianity H. Gregory Snyder
10. Violence Bruce Lincoln
11. Identity Kimberly Stratton
12. The body Elizabeth A. Castelli
13. Gender Ross Kraemer
14. Visuality Robin Jensen.

Subject Areas: Ancient religions & mythologies [HRKP], Religion: general [HRA], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1]