Religious Studies | Religions of Ancient Rome (previous # R420)
A420 | 30900 | J. Harrill
COLL A&H, Area A- Africa, Europe and West Asia, Cross-listed with
Who or what is the divine? How should human beings relate to it?
This course explores the variety of ways that people answered these
questions in the ancient "pagan" experience of the Roman Empire.
This course is an upper-level seminar that examines the diversity of
religions in Roman imperial society and throughout the Mediterranean
world. The major themes of the course include sacrifice, "magic"
and "superstition," the religious calendar, divination, oracles, and
the priesthood. There is special attention to the widening scope
of religious choice within and outside the "official" cults of the
state, including ancient Judaism and Christianity.
Mary Beard, John North, and Simon Price, eds., Religions of Rome;
vol. 2: A Sourcebook (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998).
James B. Rives, Religion in the Roman Empire. (Blackwell, 2007).
Dale Martin, Inventing Superstition from the Hippocratics to the
Christians. (Harvard University Press, 2004).
Peter Schäfer, Judeophobia: Attitudes toward the Jews in the
Ancient World (Harvard University Press, 1998).
Tests: There will be a Midterm Exam and a Final Exam. Papers: One
short (2–3 page) essay, and one longer Research Paper (8–10 pages)
with an in-class Oral Presentation. The longer paper is an
independent research project (topic in consultation with the
instructor), the results of which you argue in an oral
presentation. Credit given for either A420 or R420.