Pollution and Religion in Ancient Rome

A detailed study of pollution and impurity in Roman religion, offering new theories on a previously neglected, yet vital, subject.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. Defining pollution; 2. Birth, sex and bodily margins; 3. Blood; 4. Death and remembrance; 5. Pollution and rhetoric; Conclusion.

About the author

Jack J. Lennon is Teaching Fellow in the Department of History, University College London. He is an ancient historian with particular interests in pre-Christian Roman religion and magic, and especially the phenomenon of pollution and ritual impurity. His research frequently aims to integrate the theories of modern anthropology alongside those of ancient history and philology in order to explore beyond the traditional limits of classical scholarship. In addition to studying the nature of pollution within religion, he is also interested in the wider cultural perceptions of dirt and cleanliness across ancient Roman society.

Summary

Comprehensive examination of a major feature within pre-Christian Roman religion - the role of pollution and ritual impurity. Employs comparative material from modern anthropology and proposes that concerns over pollution and purification were integral to Roman religion and ritual.

Product details

• Authors: Jack J Lennon, Jack J. Lennon, Jack J. (University College London) Lennon, LENNON JACK J, Lennon Jack J.
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 22.08.2013
• EAN: 9781107037908
• ISBN: 978-1-107-03790-8
• No. of pages: 235
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Ecology; European History, HISTORY / Ancient / General, History of Religion, Ancient Rome, Ancient History, Classical history / classical civilisation, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, Pollution and threats to the environment, BCE to c 500 CE, Religious life & practice