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Graeco-Roman religion in its classic form was polytheistic, but monotheistic ideas enjoyed wide currency in ancient philosophy. This book establishes a new framework for understanding the relationship between polytheistic and monotheistic religious cultures between the first and fourth centuries AD.
List of contents
1. Introduction: the debate about pagan monotheism Stephen Mitchell and Peter Van Nuffelen; 2. Pagan monotheism as a religious phenomenon Peter Van Nuffelen; 3. Pagan ritual and monotheism John North; 4. The case for pagan monotheism in Greek and Graeco-Roman antiquity Michael Frede; 5. Monotheism between cult and politics: the themes of the ancient debate between pagan and Christian monotheism Alfons Fürst; 6. The price of monotheism: some new observations on a current debate about late antiquity Christoph Markschies; 7. Megatheism: the search for the almighty god and the competition of cults Angelos Chaniotis; 8. Deus deum...summorum maximus (Apuleius): ritual expressions of distinction in the divine world in the imperial period Nicole Belayche; 9. Further thoughts on the cult of Theos Hypsistos Stephen Mitchell.
About the author
Stephen Mitchell is Leverhulme Professor of Hellenistic Culture at the University of Exeter. Previous books include A History of the Later Roman Empire AD 284–641 (2007) and, more recently, The Imperial Temple at Ankara and the Res Gestae of the Emperor Augustus. A Historical Guide (2008).Peter Van Nuffelen is Research Professor of Ancient History at the University of Ghent. He has published numerous articles on aspects of the ancient and medieval worlds, and has recently edited Faces of Hellenism (2009), and co-edited (with Stephen Mitchell) Monotheism Between Christians and Pagans in Late Antiquity (2009).
Summary
Graeco-Roman religion in its classic form was polytheistic, but monotheistic ideas enjoyed wide currency in ancient philosophy. This book establishes a new framework for understanding the relationship between polytheistic and monotheistic religious cultures between the first and fourth centuries AD.
