Religions of Late Antiquity in Practice

by Richard Valantasis (Editor)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691057514
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	06/19/2000
Series:	Princeton Readings in Religions , #1
Pages:	527
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 6.00(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Richard Valantasis is Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He is the author The Gospel of Thomas and coeditor of Asceticism.

Table of Contents

Princeton Readings in Religions

Conventions

Contributors

Introduction Richard Valantasis

Inventing the Individual: Biography

1. The First Sahidic Life of Pachomius - James E. Goehring

2. Philostratus of Athens, Life of Apollonius of Tyana - Megan H. Williams

3. Porphyry, On the Life of Plotinus and the Order of His Books - Richard Valantasis

Refashioning the Person: Asceticism

4. Evagrius Ponticus on Prayer and Anger - Columba Stewart OSB

5. Pseudo-Athanasius, Discourse on Salvation to a Virgin - Teresa M. Shaw

6. Basil of Caesarea, The "Prooemium" of the Regulaefusius tractatae - Lawrence J. Altepeter

7. Sermons of Columbanus - Arthur G. Holder

8. Manichaean Asceticism - Jason David BeDuhn

Founding Religious Movements: Organizations

9. Talmudic Texts and Jewish Social Life - Daniel Boyarin

10. Julian "the Apostate," Against the Galileans - Elizabeth Geraldine Burr

11. A Thriving Native Cult in the Fifth Century and Its Demise under Coptic Monks - David Frankfurter

12. The Cologne Mani Codex - Ellen Bradshaw Aitken

13. Tales of Holy Fools - Derek Krueger

Locating Religion in Society: Community

14. Vision for the City: Nisibis in Ephrem's Hymns on Nicomedia - David Bundy

15. Acts of Thomas: Scene One - David G. Hunter

16. An Anonymous Letter to a Woman Named Susanna - Maureen A. Tilley

17. A Plea to a Local God for a Husband's Attentions - David Frankfurter

18. Bishop Avitus of Vienne to His Excellency Ansmundus - Maureen A. Tilley

19. Chrysostom's Catecheses: A Hermeneutic of Social Institutions - Arthur B. Shippee

20. John Chrysostom, Sermons on City Life - Blake Leyerle

Regulating Religious Expression: Law

21. Laws on Religion from the Theodosian and Justinianic Codes - Matthew C Mirow and Kathleen A. Kelley

22. The Acts of the Council of Aquileia (381 C.E.) - Kenneth B. Steinhauser

23. Canons of the Council in Trullo (692 C.E.) - James C. Skedros

Creating Religious Ceremonial: Ritual

24. The Mithras Liturgy and Sepher Ha-Razim - Kimberly B. Stratton

25. Manichaean Ritual - Jason David BeDuhn

26. The Seal of the Merkavah - Michael D. Swartz

27. Anonymous Spanish Correspondence; or the Letter of the "She-ass" - Virginia Burrus and Tracy Keefer

28. Amuletic Invocations of Christ for Health and Fortune - David Frankfurter

Singing Divine Praises: Hymnody

29. The Hymns of Ambrose - Carl P. E. Springer

30. Hymns to Mary, the Mother of God, the Theotokos - Vasiliki Limberis

31. Manichaean Hymnody - Jason David BeDuhn

32. An Isis Aretalogy from Kyme in Asia Minor, First Century B.C.E. - Gail Corrington Streete

Sacrificing Self to God: Martyrology

33. The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity - Maureen A. Tilley

34. The Martyrs of Lyons - Frederick W Weidmann

35. The Martyrdom of Habbib the Deacon - Robert Doran

36. 4 Maccabees - Clayton N. Jefford

Enlivening Thought: Philosophy and Theology

37. Gregory Nazianzen, Homily on the Nativity of Christ - Nonna Verna Harrison

38. Texts on Iconoclasm: John of Damascus and the Council of Hiereia - David Vila

39. Asterius of Amasea Ekphrasis on the Holy Martyr Euphernia - Elizabeth A. Castelli

40. Christian Oracle Shrines - David Frankfurter

41. Popular Religious Practices in Fifth-Century Egypt - David Frankfurter

42. The Zenith and Destruction of a Native Egyptian Oracle in 359 C.E. - David Frankfurter

43. Manichaean Theology - Jason David BeDuhn

44. lamblichus, de Mysteriis, Book 1, The de Mysteriis Peter T. Struck

Index

What People are Saying About This

Patricia Cox Miller

This collection will surely prove to be a gold mine for those of us who teach the religions of late antiquity. It provides a lively and kaleidoscopic view of an entire era of religious activity and development. It will also be a tool for scholars. . . .The emphasis on practice is a completely new feature in a collection of this kind; there is simply nothing like it.

From the Publisher

"This collection will surely prove to be a gold mine for those of us who teach the religions of late antiquity. It provides a lively and kaleidoscopic view of an entire era of religious activity and development. It will also be a tool for scholars. . . .The emphasis on practice is a completely new feature in a collection of this kind; there is simply nothing like it."—Patricia Cox Miller, author of Dreams in Late Antiquity

Editorial Reviews

"The selection of texts is judicious and the translations are lively; those teaching late antique religions will find this anthology nearly indispensable."

Choice

"This collection will surely prove to be a gold mine for those of us who teach the religions of late antiquity. It provides a lively and kaleidoscopic view of an entire era of religious activity and development. It will also be a tool for scholars. . . .The emphasis on practice is a completely new feature in a collection of this kind; there is simply nothing like it."—Patricia Cox Miller, author of Dreams in Late Antiquity

From the Publisher