An Introduction to Roman Religion

by Scheid, John; Lloyd, Janet

• ISBN13: 9780253216601
• ISBN10: 0253216605
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-01
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

Written by one of the world's leading scholars of the Roman world, An Introduction to Roman Religion offers students a complete portrait of religion in Rome during the late republic and early empire. It draws on the latest findings in archaeology and history to explain the meanings of rituals, rites, auspices, and oracles, to describe the uses of temples and sacred ground, and to evoke the daily patterns of religious life and observance within the city of Rome and its environs. The text is usefully organized around major themes, such as the origins of Roman religion, the importance of the religious calendar, the structure of religious space, the forms of religious services and rituals, and the gods, priests, and core theologies that shaped religious observance. In addition to its clear and accessible presentation, Roman Religion includes quotations from primary sources, a chronology of religious and historical events from 750 B.C. to A.D. 494, a full glossary, and an annotated guide to further reading.

Author Biography

John Scheid is Director of Studies in Ancient History at the +ëcole pratiques des hautes +¬tudes in Paris.

Table of Contents

List of text boxes	vii
Publisher's acknowledgement	viii
Introduction	1	(4)
PART 1 QUESTIONS OF METHODOLOGY
Chapter 1 Problems and problematics	5	(13)
Chapter 2 Definitions, concepts, difficulties	18	(12)
Chapter 3 Ritual and its formulations	30	(11)
PART II STRUCTURES
Chapter 4 The division of time: calendars, rituals, regular festivals	41	(19)
Chapter 5 The division of space: temples, sanctuaries and other sacred places	60	(19)
PART III RELIGIOUS RITUALS
Chapter 6 Sacrifice	79	(32)
Chapter 7 Auspices and rituals of divination	111	(18)
PART IV THE ACTORS
Chapter 8 Priestly figures	129	(18)
Chapter 9 The double life of the Roman gods	147	(26)
PART V EXEGESES AND SPECULATIONS
Chapter 10 Interpretations of Roman religion	173	(20)
Chronology	193	(20)
Principal people	213	(3)
Glossary	216	(3)
Further reading	219	(7)
Index	226