Ancient Mystery Cults

by Walter Burkert

Overview

The foremost historian of Greek religion provides the first comprehensive, comparative study of a little-known aspect of ancient religious beliefs and practices. Secret mystery cults flourished within the larger culture of the public religion of Greece and Rome for roughly a thousand years. This book is neither a history nor a survey but a comparative phenomenology, concentrating on five major cults. In defining the mysteries and describing their rituals, membership, organization, and dissemination, Walter Burkert displays the remarkable erudition we have come to expect of him; he also shows great sensitivity and sympathy in interpreting the experiences and motivations of the devotees.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674033870
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	10/15/1989
Series:	Carl Newell Jackson Lectures , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Walter Burkert was Professor Emeritus of Classics, University of Zurich.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Personal Needs in This Life and after Death

2. Organization and Identities

3. Theologia and Mysteries: Myth, Allegory, and Platonism

4. The Extraordinary Experience

Abbreviations

Bibliography

Notes

Index of Greek Terms

General Index

Editorial Reviews

Walter Burkert’s publication of his 1982 Jackson Lectures at Harvard University is another of his important contributions to our understanding of the religions of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern cultures. Everything from his pen is welcome and an education… His knowledge of the sources is encyclopedic, his judgment in combining them original, illuminating, and persuasive… This study is bound to become a standard text in the history of religion and in the interpretation of individual experiences in antiquity… This slender but packed volume is another powerful document in intellectual history.

Emily Vermeulen Historical Review

The standard book on the subject, encyclopedic in nature, well structured, and readable, all that the interested student and scholar wants to know about ancient Greek polytheism.

Classical World

Widely recognized as our best scholar of ancient Greek religion…Burkert deals with the evidence directly, clearing away misconceptions and discussing problems of interpretation… Extremely valuable.

The Key Reporter

Fascinating… The writing is clear and engaging… [Readers will] learn much about how ancient human beings attempted to find security and joy in a difficult world. They will be able to enter, at least partially, into very different minds and glimpse experiences of ecstasy and wonder that took place many centuries ago.

Wilson Library Bulletin - Judith Amory

Fascinating... The writing is clear and engaging... [Readers will] learn much about how ancient human beings attempted to find security and joy in a difficult world. They will be able to enter, at least partially, into very different minds and glimpse experiences of ecstasy and wonder that took place many centuries ago.--Judith Amory "Wilson Library Bulletin"

The standard book on the subject, encyclopedic in nature, well structured, and readable, all that the interested student and scholar wants to know about ancient Greek polytheism.-- "Classical World"

Walter Burkert's publication of his 1982 Jackson Lectures at Harvard University is another of his important contributions to our understanding of the religions of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern cultures. Everything from his pen is welcome and an education... His knowledge of the sources is encyclopedic, his judgment in combining them original, illuminating, and persuasive... This study is bound to become a standard text in the history of religion and in the interpretation of individual experiences in antiquity... This slender but packed volume is another powerful document in intellectual history.--Emily Vermeule "American Historical Review"

Widely recognized as our best scholar of ancient Greek religion...Burkert deals with the evidence directly, clearing away misconceptions and discussing problems of interpretation... Extremely valuable.-- "The Key Reporter"

From the Publisher

Walter Burkert’s publication of his 1982 Jackson Lectures at Harvard University is another of his important contributions to our understanding of the religions of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern cultures. Everything from his pen is welcome and an education… His knowledge of the sources is encyclopedic, his judgment in combining them original, illuminating, and persuasive… This study is bound to become a standard text in the history of religion and in the interpretation of individual experiences in antiquity… This slender but packed volume is another powerful document in intellectual history.

American Historical Review - Emily Vermeule

Walter Burkert's publication of his 1982 Jackson Lectures at Harvard University is another of his important contributions to our understanding of the religions of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern cultures. Everything from his pen is welcome and an education...His knowledge of the sources is encyclopedic, his judgment in combining them original, illuminating, and persuasive...This study is bound to become a standard text in the history of religion and in the interpretation of individual experiences in antiquity...This slender but packed volume is another powerful document in intellectual history.
— Emily Vermeule

American Historical Review

Fascinating...The writing is clear and engaging...[Readers will] learn much about how ancient human beings attempted to find security and joy in a difficult world. They will be able to enter, at least partially, into very different minds and glimpse experiences of ecstasy and wonder that took place many centuries ago.
— Judith Amory

Wilson Library Bulletin

Widely recognized as our best scholar of ancient Greek religion...Burkert deals with the evidence directly, clearing away misconceptions and discussing problems of interpretation...Extremely valuable.

Key Reporter

Walter Burkert's publication of his 1982 Jackson Lectures at Harvard University is another of his important contributions to our understanding of the religions of Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern cultures. Everything from his pen is welcome and an education...His knowledge of the sources is encyclopedic, his judgment in combining them original, illuminating, and persuasive...This study is bound to become a standard text in the history of religion and in the interpretation of individual experiences in antiquity...This slender but packed volume is another powerful document in intellectual history.
— American Historical Review

Emily Vermeule