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Hello everyone!
The more I read about Roman history, the more I understand the depth with which nearly everything was immersed in religion. Can anyone recommend any good books that focus on the religious aspect in Roman society? There seem to be quite a few books written on the subject. Paganism and Christianity are both fine, but what I had in mind was the religious foundation of the early Republic. Civic offices and activities seem to have had a strong grounding in state religion, and it seems like understanding the religious aspect behind Roman life will put everything else into a richer context.
Thanks, and have a great day!
Take what you want, and pay for it
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Not a richer, the only context really. Any study of ancient cultures has to start with Religion and Law.
Anyway there are a decent amount of beginner's books out there, most of them really bad since no one sees the point of fleshing out a good beginner's textbook and I guess it's not really a beginner friendly subject.
John Scheid "An Introduction to Roman Religion" is citation light and uses translations. I flicked through the original French a while ago it was rather good, I'm recommending the English version because it's more recent and has been updated I believe (?) and some students find it clarifies certain things. It's simple but I think it does a good job of outlining the major areas.
Mary Beard and John North "Religions of Rome". This is in two volumes, a discussion and a critical sourcebook. It's generally a go to first textbook and is rather modern, I'm not a fan of if tbh due to the layout but generally the information is good. I have MAJOR problems with the title but that's another discussion.
Those are basically the few books I'd recommend to begin with in English. If you can get hold of it, Rupke's essay on Roman Religion in "The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Republic" actually highlights some interesting methodological problems (like the title above). But you'd really need a strong grasp of Latin and Greek to progress since very few sources are translated (epigraphic) and a lot of the best secondary literature is in German or French. In English...I can only think of hyper specialist treatments like Weinstock's magisterial Divus Julius.
I'd also say to frame it with a study of Roman law and also some of the "philosophical" treatments like Cicero's de natura deorum or de divinatione (one of my favourites). Unfortunately, the proper pontifical treatments have long been lost.
Jass
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Moi Watson
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
