| The Matter of the Gods: Religion and the Roman Empire Volume 44 Contributor(s): Ando, Clifford (Author) |
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ISBN: 0520259866 ISBN-13: 9780520259867 Publisher: University of California Press OUR PRICE: $34.60 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: February 2008 Annotation: 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. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Ancient - Rome - Religion | History - Religion | Antiquities & Archaeology |
| Dewey: 292.07 |
| LCCN: 2007044525 |
| Series: Transformation of the Classical Heritage |
| Physical Information: 0.8" H x 6" W x 8.8" (0.80 lbs) 270 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Ancient (To 499 A.D.) - Religious Orientation - Christian - Cultural Region - Italy |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher 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. |