Household and Family Religion in Antiquity

John Bodel (Editor), Saul M. Olyan (Editor)

ISBN: 978-1-4051-7579-1

Hardcover

346 pages

June 2008, Wiley-Blackwell

List Price:	US $146.50
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“While studies on the purpose and place of religion in ancient family life have been a topic of scholarly interest for some decades, this book is unique in both the scope of the papers presented and the underlying theoretical approaeh by which they are linked.” (Journal of World History, December 2009)

“The volume stands as a splendid landmark in opening up comparative discussion about family and domestic religion in the ancient world, and does so with an admirably wide-reaching geographical and chronological scope.” (New England Classics Journal , August 2009)

“This volume will find its place on the bookshelf of anyone looking for an authoritative treatment of religion and society in Mediterranean and West Asian antiquity.” ( The Classical Journal , August 2009)

“As a collection of essays that provides insightful consideration of family or household religious life in many Near Eastern and classical cultures, it has the added benefit of offering a comparative perspective.” (Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Spring 2009)

"[I would] recommend the book as a worthy addition to the field of ancient religious studies and a good read for those interested in the subject." (Scholia Reviews, 2009)

"The methodology of the volume is thus simultaneously contextual and comparative. An introductory essay provides a theorization of 'family,' 'household,' and 'religion' as analytical and comparative categories. A conclusion, written by the editors, offers comparative perspectives and suggests directions for future research. The individual essays provide excellent introductions to family religion in various historical periods, and would work well as introductory readings in undergraduate and graduate courses... .Recommended." (CHOICE)

"[The book] offers a counterpart to text-based religion - which equates to civic, public, state religion - by analysing religious rituals, locations and objects in setting governed more by collective memory than by rules." (The Times Literary Supplement, August 2008)

"This impressive volume constitutes an important contribution to the study of ancient religion and society. It fills a longstanding need for an authoritative overview of domestic religion, and does so in a way that is theoretically sophisticated and fully engaged with recent scholarship. This book will no doubt quickly prove to be an essential point of reference for all those interested in ancient society and ancient religion alike."
–James B. Rives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill