+612 9045 4394
This is an unprecedented collection of nearly seventy Late Antique primary religious texts. These texts--all in new English translation and many appearing in English for the first time--represent every major religious current from the late first century until the rise of Islam. Produced through the efforts of thirty-six leading scholars in the field, they constitute a comprehensive view of religious practice in Late Antiquity.
Religious life and performance during this period comprised diverse, often unusual practices. Philosophical ascent, magic, legal pronouncement, hymnography, dietary and sexual restriction, and rhetoric were all part of this deeply fascinating world. Religious and political identity often intertwined, as reflected in the Roman persecution of Christians. And a fluid boundary between religion and superstition was contested in daily life. Many practices, including ascetic training, crossed religious boundaries. Others, such as "incubation" at specific temples and certain divination rites, were distinctive practices of individual groups and orders.
Intrinsically interesting, the practice of religion in the Late Antique also edifies modern-day religious life. As this volume shows, the origins of the contemporary Western religious terrain can be gleaned in this period. Rabbinic Judaism flourished and spread. Christianity developed still-important theological categories and structures. And even movements that did not survive intact--such as Neoplatonism and the once-powerful Manichaean churches--continue to influence religion today.
This rich sourcebook includes discussions of asceticism, religious organization, ritual, martyrdom, religion's social implications, law, and theology. Its unique emphasis on practice and its inclusion of texts translated from lesser-known languages advance the study of religious history in several directions. A strong interdisciplinary orientation will reward scholars and students of religion, theology, gender studies, classical literatures, and history. Each text is accompanied by an introduction and a bibliography for further reading and research, making the book appropriate for use in any university or seminary classroom.
"The selection of texts is judicious and the translations are lively; those teaching late antique religions will find this anthology nearly indispensable."--Choice
| Princeton Readings in Religions | p. vii |
| Conventions | p. ix |
| Contributors | p. xv |
| Introduction | p. 3 |
| Inventing the Individual: Biography | |
| The First Sahidic Life of Pachomius | p. 19 |
| Philostratus of Athens, Life of Apollonius of Tyana | p. 34 |
| Porphyry, On the Life of Plotinus and the Order of His Books | p. 50 |
| Refashioning the Person: Asceticism | |
| Evagrius Ponticus on Prayer and Anger | p. 65 |
| Pseudo-Athanasius, Discourse on Salvation to a Virgin | p. 82 |
| Basil of Caesarea, The "Prooemium" of the Regulaefusius tractatae | p. 100 |
| Sermons of Columbanus | p. 109 |
| Manichaean Asceticism | p. 122 |
| Founding Religious Movements: Organizations | |
| Talmudic Texts and Jewish Social Life | p. 133 |
| Julian "the Apostate," Against the Galileans | p. 143 |
| A Thriving Native Cult in the Fifth Century and Its Demise under Coptic Monks | p. 156 |
| The Cologne Mani Codex | p. 161 |
| Tales of Holy Fools | p. 177 |
| Locating Religion in Society: Community | |
| Vision for the City: Nisibis in Ephrem's Hymns on Nicomedia | p. 189 |
| Acts of Thomas: Scene One | p. 207 |
| An Anonymous Letter to a Woman Named Susanna | p. 218 |
| A Plea to a Local God for a Husband's Attentions | p. 230 |
| Bishop Avitus of Vienne to His Excellency Ansmundus | p. 232 |
| Chrysostom's Catecheses: A Hermeneutic of Social Institutions | p. 235 |
| John Chrysostom, Sermons on City Life | p. 247 |
| Regulating Religious Expression: Law | |
| Laws on Religion from the Theodosian and Justinianic Codes | p. 263 |
| The Acts of the Council of Aquileia (381 C.E.) | p. 275 |
| Canons of the Council in Trullo (692 C.E.) | p. 289 |
| Creating Religious Ceremonial: Ritual | |
| The Mithras Liturgy and Sepher Ha-Razim | p. 303 |
| Manichaean Ritual | p. 316 |
| The Seal of the Merkavah | p. 322 |
| Anonymous Spanish Correspondence; or the Letter of the "She-ass" | p. 330 |
| Amuletic Invocations of Christ for Health and Fortune | p. 340 |
| Singing Divine Praises: Hymnody | |
| The Hymns of Ambrose | p. 347 |
| Hymns to Mary, the Mother of God, the Theotokos | p. 357 |
| Manichaean Hymnody | p. 364 |
| An Isis Aretalogy from Kyme in Asia Minor, First Century B.C.E. | p. 369 |
| Sacrificing Self to God: Martyrology | |
| The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity | p. 387 |
| The Martyrs of Lyons | p. 398 |
| The Martyrdom of Habbib the Deacon | p. 413 |
| 4 Maccabees | p. 424 |
| Enlivening Thought: Philosophy and Theology | |
| Gregory Nazianzen, Homily on the Nativity of Christ | p. 443 |
| Texts on Iconoclasm: John of Damascus and the Council of Hiereia | p. 454 |
| Asterius of Amasea Ekphrasis on the Holy Martyr Euphernia | p. 464 |
| Christian Oracle Shrines | p. 469 |
| Popular Religious Practices in Fifth-Century Egypt | p. 473 |
| The Zenith and Destruction of a Native Egyptian Oracle in 359 C.E. | p. 476 |
| Manichaean Theology | p. 481 |
| lamblichus, de Mysteriis, Book 1, The de Mysteriis | p. 489 |
| Index | p. 507 |
| Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780691057514
ISBN-10: 0691057516
Series: Princeton Readings in Religions (Paperback)
Audience:
Tertiary; University or College
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 527
Published: 19th June 2000
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 15.55
x 3.07
Weight (kg): 0.73
