The Matter of the Gods: Religion and the Roman Empire Volume 44
Clifford Ando
(Author)
Description
What did the Romans know about their gods? Why did they perform the rituals of their religion, and what motivated them to change those rituals? To these questions Clifford Ando proposes simple answers: In contrast to ancient Christians, who had faith, Romans had knowledge, and their knowledge was empirical in orientation. In other words, the Romans acquired knowledge of the gods through observation of the world, and their rituals were maintained or modified in light of what they learned. After a preface and opening chapters that lay out this argument about knowledge and place it in context, The Matter of the Gods pursues a variety of themes essential to the study of religion in history.Product Details
Price
$41.94
Publisher
University of California Press
Publish Date
February 13, 2008
Pages
270
Dimensions
6.0 X 8.8 X 0.8 inches | 0.8 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9780520259867
BISAC Categories:
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
About the Author
Clifford Ando is Professor of Classics, History and the College at the University of Chicago and author of Imperial Ideology and Provincial Loyalty in the Roman Empire (UC Press), winner of the Charles J. Goodwin Award of Merit from the American Philological Association, among other books.
Reviews
"The papers that [Ando] has gathered here will cause many people to reconsider what they think they know about the Roman religion, to look at familiar material from a fresh point of view, and ultimately to gain deeper insight into the culture of the Roman world."-- "New England Classical Journal"
"Captures very well the precarious balance maintained in Roman religion between an exaggerated respect for tradition and a remarkable capacity to innovate in a crisis."-- "Bryn Mawr Classical Review"
"Ando argues that the Romans acquired knowledge of the gods through observation of the world and that their rituals were maintained or modified in light of what they learned."-- "Times Higher Education"
"Admirable."-- "American Historical Review"
"Highly recommended."-- "CHOICE"
"Captures very well the precarious balance maintained in Roman religion between an exaggerated respect for tradition and a remarkable capacity to innovate in a crisis."-- "Bryn Mawr Classical Review"
"Ando argues that the Romans acquired knowledge of the gods through observation of the world and that their rituals were maintained or modified in light of what they learned."-- "Times Higher Education"
"Admirable."-- "American Historical Review"
"Highly recommended."-- "CHOICE"
