Course description and objectives
In the ancient world, gods and goddesses were omnipresent. In temples,
dreams, and literature, people interacted with deities on a daily basis.
This course will examine the varieties of religious experience in the Roman
Empire, focusing on the so-called "pagan" traditions. We will examine
classical mythology; temple rituals and cults such as the healing cult of
Asclepius and the popular cult of Isis which had women priestesses; astrology;
magic, including curses and love spells; the veneration of the emperor as
a god; oracles and divination.
Course Objectives include:
- An introduction to the religious and cultural world of the Roman Empire
- A thorough study of key Roman religious institutions and traditions,
including magic, the mystery cults, temples and temple rituals, and the role
of the emperor in state religion
- Learning to read and interpret primary sources from antiquity
- Further development of student skills in writing critical and analytical
papers in the field of History