On Roman Religion: Lived Religion and the Individual in Ancient Rome (Cornell Studies in Classical Philology, 67)

"Was religious practice in ancient Rome cultic and hostile to individual expression? Or was there, rather, considerable latitude for individual initiative and creativity? Jörg Rüpke, one of the world's leading authorities on Roman religion, demonstrates in his new book that it was a lived religion with individual appropriations evident at the heart of such rituals as praying, dedicating, making vows, and reading. On Roman Religion definitively dismantles previous approaches that depicted religious practice as uniform and static. Juxtaposing very different, strategic, and even subversive forms of individuality with traditions, their normative claims, and their institutional protections, Rüpke highlights the dynamic character of Rome's religious institutions and traditions. In Rüpke's view, lived ancient religion is as much about variations or even outright deviance as it is about attempts and failures to establish or change rules and roles and to communicate them via priesthoods, practices related to images or classified as magic, and literary practices. Rüpke analyzes observations of religious experience by contemporary authors including Propertius, Ovid, and the author of the "Shepherd of Hermas." These authors, in very different ways, reflect on individual appropriation of religion among their contemporaries, and they offer these reflections to their readership or audiences. Rüpke also concentrates on the ways in which literary texts and inscriptions informed the practice of rituals." -- Publisher's description Was Religious Practice In Ancient Rome Cultic And Hostile To Individual Expression? Or Was There, Rather, Considerable Latitude For Individual Initiative And Creativity? Jörg Rüpke, One Of The World's Leading Authorities On Roman Religion, Demonstrates In His New Book That It Was A Lived Religion With Individual Appropriations Evident At The Heart Of Such Rituals As Praying, Dedicating, Making Vows, And Reading. On Roman Religion Definitively Dismantles Previous Approaches That Depicted Religious Practice As Uniform And Static. Juxtaposing Very Different, Strategic, And Even Subversive Forms Of Individuality With Traditions, Their Normative Claims, And Their Institutional Protections, Rüpke Highlights The Dynamic Character Of Rome's Religious Institutions And Traditions. In Rüpke's View, Lived Ancient Religion Is As Much About Variations Or Even Outright Deviance As It Is About Attempts And Failures To Establish Or Change Rules And Roles And To Communicate Them Via Priesthoods, Practices Related To Images Or Classified As Magic, And Literary Practices. Rüpke Analyzes Observations Of Religious Experience By Contemporary Authors Including Propertius, Ovid, And The Author Of The Shepherd Of Hermas. These Authors, In Very Different Ways, Reflect On Individual Appropriation Of Religion Among Their Contemporaries, And They Offer These Reflections To Their Readership Or Audiences. Rüpke Also Concentrates On The Ways In Which Literary Texts And Inscriptions Informed The Practice Of Rituals. -- Publisher's Description Individual Appropriation Of Religion -- Individual Decision And Differences Of Social Order In Late Republican Roman Priesthoods -- Appropriating Images Embodying Gods -- Testing The Limits Of Ritual Choices -- Reconstructing Religious Experience -- Dynamics Of Individual Appropriation -- Religious Communication -- Instructing Literary Practice In The Shepherd Of Hermas. Jörg Rüpke. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Was religious practice in ancient Rome cultic and hostile to individual expression? Or was there, rather, considerable latitude for individual initiative and creativity? This book demonstrates that it was a lived religion with individual appropriations evident at the heart of such rituals as praying, dedicating, making vows, and reading. The book dismantles previous approaches that depicted religious practice as uniform and static. Juxtaposing very different, strategic, and even subversive forms of individuality with traditions, their normative claims, and their institutional protections, this text highlights the dynamic character of Rome's religious institutions and traditions. In the view expressed in this book, lived ancient religion is as much about variations or even outright deviance as it is about attempts and failures to establish or change rules and roles and to communicate them via priesthoods, practices related to images or classified as magic, and literary practices. The text analyzes observations of religious experience by contemporary authors including Propertius, Ovid, and the author of the “Shepherd of Hermas.” These authors, in very different ways, reflect on individual appropriation of religion among their contemporaries, and they offer these reflections to their readership or audiences. The book also concentrates on the ways in which literary texts and inscriptions informed the practice of rituals.