Synopses & Reviews
This book, the second of the two volumes that make up Religions of Rome, presents a wide range of documents illustrating religious life in the Roman world from the early Republic to the late Empire (both visual evidence and texts in translation). More than just a "sourcebook," it explores some of the major themes and problems of Roman religion (such as sacrifice, the religious calendar, divination and prediction). Each document has an introduction, explanatory notes and bibliography, and is used as the starting point for further discussion.
Review
'This is an excellent book that answers any reader's questions on the religious life of the Romans.' The Australian National Review
Review
' ... the best one-volume study in publication ... a well written book that should have a place of the shelf of every student of early European history, and on that of every theologian as well'. Theology
Review
'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
Synopsis
Religions of Rome offers the first full account of the history of the official cults of Rome from the 5th and 4th centuries BC to the 4th century AD. Volume 2, A Sourcebook, presents a wide range of documents, including visual examples and texts: translation, on a range of themes including deities, the calendar, festivals and ceremonies, sacrifices, and religious groups. Each document is accompanied by an introduction, explanatory notes and a bibliography.
Table of Contents
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.