Religions of Late Antiquity in Practice

Published by Princeton University Press 2000

Religions of Late Antiquity in Practice

Edited by: Richard Valantasis

Volume 18 in the series Princeton Readings in Religions

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691188164

Overview
Contents

About this book

This is an unprecedented collection of nearly seventy Late Antique primary religious texts. These texts--all in new English translation and many appearing in English for the first time--represent every major religious current from the late first century until the rise of Islam. Produced through the efforts of thirty-six leading scholars in the field, they constitute a comprehensive view of religious practice in Late Antiquity.

Religious life and performance during this period comprised diverse, often unusual practices. Philosophical ascent, magic, legal pronouncement, hymnography, dietary and sexual restriction, and rhetoric were all part of this deeply fascinating world. Religious and political identity often intertwined, as reflected in the Roman persecution of Christians. And a fluid boundary between religion and superstition was contested in daily life. Many practices, including ascetic training, crossed religious boundaries. Others, such as "incubation" at specific temples and certain divination rites, were distinctive practices of individual groups and orders.

Intrinsically interesting, the practice of religion in the Late Antique also edifies modern-day religious life. As this volume shows, the origins of the contemporary Western religious terrain can be gleaned in this period. Rabbinic Judaism flourished and spread. Christianity developed still-important theological categories and structures. And even movements that did not survive intact--such as Neoplatonism and the once-powerful Manichaean churches--continue to influence religion today.

This rich sourcebook includes discussions of asceticism, religious organization, ritual, martyrdom, religion's social implications, law, and theology. Its unique emphasis on practice and its inclusion of texts translated from lesser-known languages advance the study of religious history in several directions. A strong interdisciplinary orientation will reward scholars and students of religion, theology, gender studies, classical literatures, and history. Each text is accompanied by an introduction and a bibliography for further reading and research, making the book appropriate for use in any university or seminary classroom.

Author / Editor information

Richard Valantasis is Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He is the author The Gospel of Thomas and coeditor of Asceticism.

Reviews

The selection of texts is judicious and the translations are lively; those teaching late antique religions will find this anthology nearly indispensable.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
PRINCETON READINGS IN RELIGIONS Jr Lopez Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
CONVENTIONS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
CONTRIBUTORS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xv
INTRODUCTION Richard Valantasis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
Inventing the Individual: Biography
1. The First Sahidic Life of Pachomius James E. Goehring Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	19
2. Philostratus of Athens The Life of Apollonius of Tyana Megan H. Williams Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	34
3. Porphyry On the Life of Plotinus and the Order of His Books Richard Valantasis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	50
Refashioning the Person: Asceticism
4. Evagrius Ponticus on Prayer and Anger Columba Stewart OSB Stewart Columba Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	65
5. Pseudo-Athanasius Discourse on Salvation to a Virgin Teresa M. Shaw Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	82
6. Basil of Caesarea The "Prooemium" of the Regulae fusiuS tractatae Lawrence J. Altepeter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	100
7. Sermons of Columbanus Arthur G. Holder Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
8. Manichaean Asceticism Jason David BeDuhn Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	122
Founding Religious Movements: Organizations
9. Talmudic Texts and Jewish Social Life Daniel Boyarin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	133
10. Julian "the Apostate" Against the Galileans Elizabeth Geraldine Burr Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	143
11. A Thriving Native Cult in the Fifth Century and Its Demise under Coptic Monks David Frankfurter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	156
12. The Cologne Mani Codex Ellen Bradshaw Aitken Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	161
13. Tales of Holy Fools Derek Krueger Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	177
14. Vision for the City Nisibis in Ephrem's Hymns on Nicomedia David Bundy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189
15. Acts of Thomas: Scene One David G. Hunter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
16. An Anonymous Letter to a Woman Named Susanna Maureen A. Tilley Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	218
17. A Plea to a Local God for a Husband's Attentions David Frankfurter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	230
18. Bishop Avitus of Vie nne to His Excellency Ansmundus Maureen A. Tilley Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	232
19. Chrysostom's Catecheses: A Hermeneutic of Social Institutions Arthur B. Shippee Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	235
20. John Chrysostom Sermons on City Life Blake Leyerle Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	247
Regulating Religious Expression: Law
21. Laws on Religion from the Theodosian and ]ustinianic Codes Matthew C. Mirow and Kathleen A. Kelley Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	263
22. The Acts of the Council of Aquileia (381 C.E.) Kenneth B. Steinhauser Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	275
23. Canons of the Council in Trullo (692 C.E.) James C. Skedros Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	289
Creating Religious Ceremonial: Ritual
24. The Mithras Liturgy and Sepher Ha-Razim Kimberly B. Stratton Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	303
25. Manichaean Ritual Jason David BeDuhn Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	316
26. The Seal of the Merkavah Michael D. Swartz Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	322
27. Anonymous Spanish Correspondence; or the Letter of the "She-ass" Virginia Burrus and Tracy Keefer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	330
28. Amuletic Invocations of Christ for Health and Fortune David Frankfurter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	340
Singing Divine Praises: Hymnody
29. The Hymns of Ambrose Carl P. E. Springer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	347
30. Hymns to Mary, the Mother of God, the Theotokos Vasiliki Limberis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	357
31. Manichaean Hymnody Jason David BeDuhn Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	364
32. An Isis Aretalogy from Kyme in Asia Minor, First Century B.C.E. Gail Corrington Streete Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	369
Sacrificing Self to God: Martyrology
33. The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicity Maureen A. Tilley Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	387
34. The Martyrs of Lyons Frederick W. Weidmann Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	398
35. The Martyrdom of Habbib the Deacon Robert Doran Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	413
36. 4 Maccabees Clayton N. Jefford Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	424
Enlivening Thought: Philosophy and Theology
37. Gregory Nazianzen Homily on the Nativity of Christ Nanna Vema Harrison Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	443
38. Texts on Iconoclasm: John of Damascus and the Council of Hiereia David Vila Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	454
39. Asterius of Amasea Ekphrasis on the Holy Martyr Euphemia Elizabeth A. Castelli Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	464
40. Christian Oracle Shrines David Frankfurter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	469
41. Popular Religious Practices in Fifth-Century Egypt David Frankfurter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	473
42. The Zenith and Destruction of a Native Egyptian Oracle in 359 C.E. David Frankfurter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	476
43. Manichaean Theology Jason David BeDuhn Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	481
44. Iamblichus, de Mysteriis, Book I The de Mysteriis Peter T. Struck Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	489
INDEX Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	507