Archaic Roman Religion: With an Appendix on the Religion of the Etruscans: Volume 2 - Softcover

Dumézil, Georges

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801854814 ISBN 13: 9780801854811

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996

Synopsis

When St. Paul and St. Peter reached Rome they encountered a state-sponsored religion that had been established for centuries. Amid the shrines and temples of Rome, the Romans sought to preserve and strengthen a religion especially suited to the ambitious city. But Roman religion had also proved permeable to many influences, from Greece, Egypt, Persia, and other parts of Italy. What then was truly Roman, and what had Romans done with their borrowings to stamp them with Roman character?

By exhaustive study of texts, inscriptions, and archaeology of Roman sacred places, Dumezil traces the formation of archaic Roman religion from Indo-European sources through the development of the rites and beliefs of the Roman republic. He describes a religion that was not only influenced by the other religions with which it came into contact, but influenced them as well, in mutual efforts to distinguish one nation from another. Even so, certain continuities were sustained in order to achieve a religion that crossed generations and ways of life. The worship of certain gods became the special concerns of certain parts of society, all of which needed attention to assure Rome's success in war, civil administration, and the production of food and goods.

About this title

Review:

Among the foremost scholarly achievements of our time.

(New Comparative Mythology)

A valuable permanent addition to the lore of myth and the stories of divinities.

(Christian Century)

Synopsis:

The second of two volumes discussing archaic Roman religion. From the study of texts, inscriptions, and archaeology of Roman sacred places, this volume traces the formation of archaic Roman religion from Indo-European sources through the development of the rites and beliefs of the Roman republic. The author describes a religion that was not only influenced by other religions, but influenced them as well, in mutual efforts to distinguish one nation from another. Even so, certain continuities were sustained in order to achieve a religion that crossed generations and ways of life. The worship of certain gods became the special concerns of certain parts of society, all of which needed attention to assure Rome's success in war, civil administration, and the production of food and gooods.

About this edition

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0801854814
• ISBN 13: 9780801854811
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 321