Beginning with Greece's earliest rites, this volume traces the development of the classic religion of the Olympian gods and discusses the religion of the philosophic schools of the fourth century BC. It portrays the emergence of Christianity and concludes with an account of the efforts of Julian the Apostate to restore a new variety of paganism.

Most modern studies of Athenian religion have focused on festivals, cult practices, and individual deities. Jon Mikalson turns instead to the religious beliefs citizens of Athens spoke of and acted upon in everyday life. He uses evidence only from reliable, mostly contemporary sources such as the orators Lysias and Demosthenes, the historian Xenophon, and state decrees, sacred laws, religious dedications, and epitaphs. "This is in no sense a general...

"Ashrams in Europe 2500 years ago? Meditation classes in ancient Rome? Greek philosophers studying in India? First century vegetarians? It sounds unbelievable, but there is impressive historical evidence of spiritual practices in the ancient Western world paralleling the yoga tradition of India. In fact, there are historical accounts by the ancient Greeks themselves describing their encounters with enlightened masters of the East. You've already heard...

"Diano's Form and Event has long been known in Europe as a major work not only for classical studies but even more for contemporary philosophy, anticipating the work of Deleuze, Badiou, Esposito, and Agamben. It now appears in English for the first time, with a substantial Introduction that situates the book in the genealogy of modern political philosophy."--

Archaeologist Connelly gives us the first comprehensive cultural history of priestesses in the ancient Greek world. Connelly presents the fullest picture yet of how priestesses lived and worked, from the most famous and sacred of them--the Delphic Oracle and the priestess of Athena Polias--to basket bearers and handmaidens. Along the way, she challenges long-held beliefs to show that priestesses played far more significant public roles in ancient...

Two scholars explore the role of ancient pagan mystery cults in the early Christian Church, concluding that the early Christians may have hailed from a Jewish version of a very ancient pagan sect.

The Sanctuary of Eleusis, near Athens, was the centre of a religious cult that endured for nearly two thousand years and whose initiates came from all parts of the civilized world. Looking at the tendency to 'see visions', the author examines the Mysteries of Eleusis from the standpoint not only of Greek myth but also of human nature. He holds that the yearly autumnal 'mysteries' were based on the ancient myth of Demeter's search for her ravished...

"The Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth and Religion is the first A-Z reference work of its kind. From Abaris to Zoroaster the Dictionary provides invaluable information not only on the mythologies of Greece and Rome but also on festivals, religious places, monuments, personnel, divination, astrology, magic, Judaism, Christianity, regional religions, and 'mystery cults' in the Graeco-Roman world." "Offering quick, accessible information in short...