Philostratus's Heroikos: Religion and Cultural Identity in the Third Century C.E. (Writings from the Greco-Roman World) (Writings from the Greco-Roman World (Brill Academic Publishers))

This multidimensional collection of essays explores the interrelation of religion, cultural identity, politics, literature, myth, and memory during the Roman Empire by focusing on the cultural dynamics embedded in and surrounding Philostratus s Heroikos, an early third-century C.E. dialogue about Homer and the heroes of the Trojan War. The essays focus on ritual and literary dimensions of hero cult; cultural and community identity reflected in the Heroikos and in early Christianity; and the cultural, literary, and political turn toward heroes in the negotiation of difference, particularly with those outside the Roman Empire. Contributors to this volume include classicists, archaeologists, ancient historians, and scholars of early Christianity: Ellen Bradshaw Aitken, Susan E. Alcock, Hans Dieter Betz, Alain Blomart, Walter Burkert, Casey Dué, Simone Follet, Sidney H. Griffith, Jackson P. Hershbell, Christopher Jones, Jennifer K. Berenson Maclean, Francesca Mestre, Gregory Nagy, Corinne Ondine Pache, Jeffrey Rusten, M. Rahim Shayegan, James C. Skedros, and Tim Whitmarsh.Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org). Concerning Transliteration -- Singing Heroes -- The Poetics Of Hero Cult In The Heroikos / Corinne Ondine Pache -- Hero Worship And Christian Beliefs : Observations From The History Of Religion On Philostratus's Heroikos / Hans Dieter Betz -- Illuminating The Classics With The Heroes Of Philostratus / Casey Due And Gregory Nagy -- Apollonius Of Tyana, Hero And Holy Man / Christopher Jones -- Transferring The Cults Of Heroes In Ancient Greece : A Political And Religious Act / Alain Blomart -- Jason, Hypsipyle, And New Fire At Lemnos : A Study In Myth And Ritual / Walter Burkert -- Refuting Homer In The Heroikos Of Philostratus / Francesca Mestre Edited By Ellen Bradshaw Aitken And Jennifer K. Berenson Maclean. Most Of The Essays In This Volume Were First Presented At A Conference Held In May 2001 At Harvard Divinity School, 'philostratus's Heroikos, Religion And Cultural Identity.'--p. Xviii. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [333]-368) And Indexes. In this essay, I explore the poetic, emotional, and ritual dimensions of hero cult as presented in Philostratus's Heroikos.