A Companion to Roman Religion - Paperback

by Jörg Rüpke (Editor)

A comprehensive treatment of the significant symbols and institutions of Roman religion, this companion places the various religious symbols, discourses, and practices, including Judaism and Christianity, into a larger framework to reveal the sprawling landscape of the Roman religion.

• An innovative introduction to Roman religion
• Approaches the field with a focus on the human-figures instead of the gods
• Analyzes religious changes from the eighth century BC to the fourth century AD
• Offers the first history of religious motifs on coins and household/everyday utensils
• Presents Roman religion within its cultural, social, and historical contexts

Back Jacket

This companion provides a comprehensive treatment of Roman religion within its cultural, social, and historical contexts.

Written by international experts, the volume offers a new approach, directing its focus away from the gods and concentrating on the human-figures of Roman religion. The book addresses the media through which religion was experienced and shared, including epigraphy, mosaics, wall-paintings, drama, and poetry, and provides, for example, the first ever history of religious motifs on coins. Placing the various discourses and practices into a larger geographical and cultural framework, the contributors also consider the cults, gods, iconography, rituals, and texts that were exported widely throughout the empire, revealing the sprawling landscape of Roman religion. Judaism and Christianity are firmly placed within a strongly historical approach, covering the period from the eighth century BC to the fourth century AD.

Author Biography

Jörg Rüpke is Chair of Comparative Religion at the University of Erfurt and coordinator of the Priority Program of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 1080 "Roman imperial and provincial religion". His recent books include Religion of the Romans (2001), Rituals in Ink (2004), Fasti Sacerdotum (2005), Religion and Law, ed. with Clifford Ando, (2006), Zeit und Fest (2006), and Religions Orientales (2006).