Greek and Roman Religion

Classics and Ancient History, Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity

College of Arts and Law

Details

Code 19672

Level of study Third/Final year

Credit value 20

Semester Not currently scheduled, 1 and 2

Module description

Each session will address a particular topic. Worksheets and a bibliography will be provided in advance by web. Source material will be made available on the web. Topics such as the following will be included in this module:

  • Semester 1: GREECE: Holy places (groves, hills, precincts) and the buildings (if any) to be found on them; priesthood; sacrifice, festival, calendar; gods, heroes, trees and stones as objects of worship; the nature of god-sets, names and epithets; divination, oracles; mystery-cults; the calendar; mystery rites; and ecstatic practices.

  • Semester 2: ROME: The imperial and official cults, religion in the provinces (eg Britain); eastern so-called 'mystery religions' with a detailed look at Mithras and Isis; Christianity - martyrdom and adoption; and, if time allows, magic, astrology, dream-interpretation, oracle-mongering (Alexander of Abonouteichos).