Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in Late Antique Religions

Ra'anan S Boustan editor Annette Yoshiko Reed editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:16th Aug '04

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Heavenly Realms and Earthly Realities in Late Antique Religions cover

This book maps the patterns of unity and diversity within the religious landscape of Late Antiquity.

The idea of heaven held a special place in the late antique imagination, not only in Judaism and Christianity, but also in the Greco-Roman religious, philosophical, scientific and 'magical' traditions. This volume uses an interdisciplinary approach to understanding this formative era in Western culture and history.The idea of heaven held a special place in the late antique imagination, which was marked by a poignant sense of the relevance of otherworldly realities for earthly life. Such concerns can be found not only in Judaism and Christianity but also in the Greco-Roman religious, philosophical, scientific, and 'magical' traditions. Transcending social, regional and creedal boundaries, the preocupation with heaven in Late Antiquity serves as a focus for an interdisciplinary approach to understanding this formative era in Western culture and history. Drawing upon the expertise of scholars of Classics, Ancient History, Jewish Studies and Patristics, this volume explores the different functions of heavenly imagery in different texts and traditions in order to map the patterns of unity and diversity within the religious landscape of Late Antiquity.

Review of the hardback: 'The volume makes a valuable contribution to a topic of growing interest in recent study of ancient religion.' Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Review of the hardback: '… a sound and serious book.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

ISBN: 9780521831024

Dimensions: 236mm x 160mm x 24mm

Weight: 680g

350 pages