In this pioneering 1902 work of historical-religious scholarship, the author sifts through ancient artifacts and texts to trace the rise of the Eastern religion of Mithra-the Zoroastrian divinity of oath and covenant-throughout the Roman Empire and its spread among the Roman legions. He compares and contrasts Mithraism with the competitor that eclipsed it: Christianity.

"In this thematic study of the Roman goddess Ceres, Barbette Spaeth explores the rich complexity of meanings and functions that grew up around the goddess from the prehistoric period to the Late Roman Empire. In particular, she examines two major concepts, fertility and liminality, and two social categories, the plebs and women, which were inextricably linked with Ceres in the Roman mind. Spaeth then analyzes an image of the goddess in a relief of...

Religion in the Roman Empire goes beyond gods and goddesses to provide a detailed look at the belief system of ancient Rome. As the empire expanded, diverse cultures joined together, bringing new traditions, sacred places, and holidays. This book examines current scholarship about the role religion played in the lives of everyday Romans as well as that of spiritual figures like priests and priestesses.

An introduction to some of the more famous gods and myths of the ancient Romans.

A fascinating exploration of women's role in Roman religion that facilitates a better understanding of their importance in Rome's cultural formation. Roman women were the procreators and nurturers of life, both in the domestic world of the family and in the larger sphere of the state. Although deterred from participating in most aspects of public life, women played an essential role in public religious ceremonies, taking part in rituals designed...

This work surveys the life and legacy of the first Christian Roman emperor, describing the vision that inspired his religious conversion and subsequent conquest of the imperial capital, his founding of Constantinople, and his role in promoting a unified Christian Europe.. In 312, Constantine, one of four Roman emperors ruling a divided empire, marched on Rome to establish his sole control of its western half. According to Constantine's first biographer,...

"The strange triumph of Christianity is a tale of struggle, courage, and religious obsession. It is also a story of fantastic innovations that have left an indelible mark on modern culture. From an illegal sect whose members were persecuted and killed, Christianity has grown to be one of the world's dominant religions."--Jacket.

"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...