Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide (Harvard University Press Reference Library)

Religious beliefs and practices, which permeated all aspects of life in antiquity, traveled well-worn routes throughout the Mediterranean: itinerant charismatic practitioners journeying from place to place peddled their skills as healers, purifiers, cursers, and initiators; and vessels decorated with illustrations of myths traveled with them. New gods encountered in foreign lands by merchants and conquerors were sometimes taken home to be adapted and adopted. A full understanding of this complex spiritual world unfolds in Religions of the Ancient World , the first basic reference work that collects and organizes available information to offer an expansive, comparative perspective. At once sweeping in scope and groundbreaking in format, the Guide eschews the usual encyclopedic approach, instead presenting, side by side, materials from ten cultures and traditions. Thus specific beliefs, cults, gods, and ritual practices that arose and developed in Mediterranean religions--of Egypt, Anatolia and the Near East, Mesopotamia, Iran, Greece, and the Roman world, from the third millennium to the fourth century C.E.--are interpreted in comparison with one another, and with reference to aspects that crisscross cultural boundaries, such as Cosmology, Myth, Law and Ethics, and Magic. Written by leading scholars of ancient religion, the essays in this guide sketch the various religious histories, raise central theoretical issues, and examine individual topics such as Sacred Times and Spaces; Prayers, Hymns, Incantations, and Curses; Sin, Pollution, and Purity; Death, the Afterlife, and Other Last Things; Divination and Prophecy; Deities and Demons; and Sacred Texts and Canonicity. Clearly and stylishly written, grandly illustrated, this comprehensive work welcomes readers as never before into the diversity and interconnections of religion in the ancient world. This Guide Presents, Side By Side, Materials From Ten Cultures And Traditions. Thus Specific Beliefs, Cults, Gods, And Ritual Practices That Arose And Developed In Mediterranean Religions, Of Egypt, Anatolia And The Near East, Mesopotamia, Iran, Greece, And The Roman World, From The Third Millennium Bce To The Fourth Century Ce Are Interpreted In Comparison With One Another, And With Reference To Aspects That Crisscross Cultural Boundaries, Such As Cosmology, Myth, Law And Ethics, And Magic. Written By Leading Scholars Of Ancient Religion, The Essays In This Guide Sketch The Various Religious Histories, Raise Central Theoretical Issues, And Examine Several Individual Topics. Encountering Ancient Religions: What Is Ancient Mediterranean Religion? / Fritz Graf -- Monotheism And Polytheism / Jan Assmann -- Ritual / Jan Bremmer -- Myth / Fritz Graf -- Cosmology: Time And History / John J. Collins -- Pollution, Sin, Atonement, Salvation / Harold W. Attridge -- Law And Ethics / Eckart Otto -- Mysteries / Sarah Iles Johnston -- Religions In Contact / John Scheid -- Writing And Religion / Mary Beard -- Magic / Sarah Iles Johnston. -- Histories: Egypt / Jan Assmann And David Frankfurter -- Mesopotamia / Paul-alain Beaulieu -- Syria And Canaan / David P. Wright -- Israel / John J. Collins -- Anatolia: Hittites / David P. Wright -- Iran / William Malandra And Michael Stausberg -- Minoan And Mycenaean Civilizations / Nanno Marinatos -- Greece / Jon Mikalson -- Etruria / Olivier De Cazanove -- Rome / John North -- Early Christianity / Harold Attridge. -- Key Topics: Sacred Times And Spaces -- Religious Personnel -- Religious Organizations And Bodies -- Sacrifice, Offerings, And Votives -- Prayers, Hymns, Incantations, And Curses -- Divination And Prophecy -- Deities And Demons -- Religious Practices Of The Indididual And Family -- Rites Of Passage -- Illnesses And Other Crises -- Death, The Afterlife, And Other Last Things -- Sin, Pollution, And Purity -- Ethics And Law Codes -- Theology, Theodicy, Philosophy -- Religion And Politics -- Controlling Religion -- Myth And Sacred Narratives -- Visual Representations -- Sacred Texts And Canonicity -- Esotericism And Mysticism. Sarah Iles Johnston, General Editor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Religious beliefs and practices, which permeated all aspects of life in antiquity, traveled well-worn routes throughout the Mediterranean: itinerant charismatic practitioners journeying from place to place peddled their skills as healers, purifiers, cursers, and initiators; and vessels decorated with illustrations of myths traveled with them. New gods encountered in foreign lands by merchants and conquerors were sometimes taken home to be adapted and adopted. A full understanding of this complex spiritual world unfolds in Religions of the Ancient World, the first basic reference work that collects and organizes available information to offer an expansive, comparative perspective. At once sweeping in scope and groundbreaking in format, the Guide eschews the usual encyclopedic approach, instead presenting, side by side, materials from ten cultures and traditions. Thus specific beliefs, cults, gods, and ritual practices that arose and developed in Mediterranean religions--of Egypt, Anatolia and the Near East, Mesopotamia, Iran, Greece, and the Roman world, from the third millennium to the fourth century C.E.--are interpreted in comparison with one another, and with reference to aspects that crisscross cultural boundaries, such as Cosmology, Myth, Law and Ethics, and Magic. Written by leading scholars of ancient religion, the essays in this guide sketch the various religious histories, raise central theoretical issues, and examine individual topics such as Sacred Times and Spaces; Prayers, Hymns, Incantations, and Curses; Sin, Pollution, and Purity; Death, the Afterlife, and Other Last Things; Divination and Prophecy; Deities and Demons; and Sacred Texts and Canonicity.Clearly and stylishly written, grandly illustrated, this comprehensive work welcomes readers as never before into the diversity and interconnections of religion in the ancient world. "At once sweeping in scope and format, the Guide eschews the usual encyclopedic approach, instead presenting, side by side, materials from ten cultures and traditions. Thus specific beliefs, cults, gods, and ritual practices that arose and developed in Mediterranean religions - of Egypt, Anatolia and the Near East, Mesopotamia, Iran, Greece, and the Roman world, from the third millennium BCE to the fourth century CE - are interpreted in comparison with one another, and with reference to aspects that crisscross cultural boundaries, such as Cosmology, Myth, Law and Ethics, and Magic. Written by leading scholars of ancient religion, the essays in this guide sketch the various religious histories, raise central theoretical issues, and examine individual topics such as Sacred Times and Spaces; Prayers, Hymns, Incantations, and Curses; Sin, Pollution, and Purity; Death, the Afterlife, and Other Last Things; Divination and Prophecy; Deities and Demons; and Sacred Texts and Canonicity."--BOOK JACKET. Moderator - Unless there is another part of this, the book is sorely incomplete. Ends with Dictionary of Religious Festivals, but that is only page 282 out of more than 677 pages!Presents the beliefs, cults, gods, and ritual practices that developed in Mediterranean region countries such as Egypt, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Iran, Greece, and Rome from the the third millenium B.C. up to the fourth century A.D.