HS 1105

Lecture 2:
MEDITERRANEAN RELIGION

Note: Our next seesion will be the ZOOM Discussion. As the recording of this lecture includes last
years “guided discussion,” listen to carefully and with the handout. Our discussion may first reflect
on and evaluation the conclusions of this “guided-discussion,” but will will also discuss the texts
more generally, using the Guide Questions in the Reader.

Note also: Contrary to what is said on the recording, the Letter of Barnabas is required reading,
as indicated in the syllabus and guide questions.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Robin Lane Fox, Pagans and Christians (mentioned in Lecture 1)

Robert L. Wilken, The Christians as the Romans Saw Them (New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 1984)
Ramsey MacMullen, Christianizing the Roman Empire: A.D. 100–400 (New Haven: Yale Univ.
Press, 1984)
Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal Jesus Movement Became the
Dominant Religious Force in the Western World in a Few Centuries (San Franciso: Harpers,
1997)

OUTLINE

I. The Qualities of “Paganism” (Recording at 19:42)

Paganus (“civilian”)
Miles Christi (“Soldier of Christ”)
Cultura from cultus
Epicureanism
Virgil, Aneid
Curialis (pl. curiales)
Asclepius in Egypt
Jupiter Capitalinus in Rome
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (340–402)
Syncretism
“Experiential Religion”
Marcus Terentius Varro (II cent. B.C.)
Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
Mithras
Isis and Osiris
Phrygian Great Mother (“Diana of the Ephesians”)—Acts 19
Moral Agnosticism
Pater familias
Hubris / nemesis

II. The Context for Religious Practice

Moral Decline and “Theology”
Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 6 vols. (1776–1789; rpt.
London: Penguin, Everyman’s Library, 1993), esp. volume 1, chapter 15 (on Christians).
Diocletian (444–311; reign 286–305)
Plotinus (205–270): ΤÎ ~Εν—“The One”
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Mediterranean Cities and Religion

Condrada—Italian for “countryside around a city”
Salvian (400–490)
Decimvir (pl. decimviri), On the Governance of God
Festival and Cult
Emperor Claudius (reign 41–54) “I think I am becoming a God.”
Marcus Tulliuis Cicero (106–43 B.C.); his daughter Tullia (79–49 B.C.)
Lares and Penates (the household gods)
Zeus of the Capitaline, of Stratonice, of Palmyra
Pompa, pl: pompae = procession, festival
Pretorian Prefect
Suovetaurilia
Ululation
Maidon / Zeus of Troas
Paul on sacrified meat: 1 Cor. 10: 28–30
Red Heifer Water: Num. 19: 2–3
Collegium (pl: collegia) / haetairia (pl. haetairieis) = (religions) self-help organization

Lecture 3:
PAGANS EXPERIENCE OF THE GODS
And Guided Discussion on Christian Sources
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Simon Tugwell, The Apostolic Fathers (London: Continuum, 2002)

John A. T. Robinson, Redating the New Testament (London : SPCK, 1988)

OUTLINE

I. Experiencing the Gods in the World (Recording at 15:34)

Gap between Heaven and Earth
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra (Acts 14)
Paul’s snakebite (Acts 28)
Cornelius worshiping Peter (Acts 10)
Epiphanies
Entertaining Angels (Heb. 13:2–3)
Abraham’s Three Angels (Gen. 18:1–8)
Statues
Alaric the Visigoth (370–410), attack on Athens, 395
Battle on the Frigidius. 389
1944 Head of Epicurus

II. Experiencing the Gods in the Worship

Temples:
Layout of the Temple — see HANDOUT 1 Temples vs. Churches
Chryselephantine — see HANDOUT 2 Athena of Nashville
Oracles:
Apollo at Claros — see HANDOUT 3 Temple at Claros
cf. Apollo at Delphi
Apollo, Leto and Artemis
Thespode
Chthonic deities
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Incubation (in cubile)

Artemidorus of Daldis (II cent. B.C.), Oneirokritikon (The Interpretation of Dreams)
Joseph’s Deams (Mt 1:20–21, Mt 2:13, 2:19–20, 2:22)

III. Guided Discussion on Early Christian Texts

You will need Early Christian Writings and the Reader for this section
Dating Early Christian Texts (Recording at 37:50)
See HANDOUT 4 Document Dating
Interpreting the N.T. Texts and Apostolic Fathers
Monoepiscopalism