This volume, one in a series of books examining religious rivalries, focuses in detail on the religious dimension of life in two particular Roman cities: Sardis and Smyrna. The essays explore the relationships and rivalries among Jews, Christians, and various Greco-Roman religious groups from the second century bce to the fourth century ce.
The thirteen contributors, including seasoned scholars and promising newcomers, bring fresh perspectives on religious life in antiquity. They draw upon a wide range of archaeological, epigraphic, and literary data to investigate the complex web of relationships that existed among the religious groups of these two cities—from coexistence and cooperation to competition and conflict. To the extent that the essays investigate how religious groups are shaped by their urban settings, the book also offers insights into the material urban realities of the Roman Empire.
Investigating two cities together in one volume highlights similarities and differences in the interaction of religious groups in each location. The specific focus on Sardis and Smyrna is broadened through an investigation of methodological issues involved in the study of the interaction of urban-based religious groups in antiquity. The volume will be of particular interest to scholars and advanced students in Biblical Studies, Classical Studies, and Archaeology.
- Bibliography, etc. Note
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-336) and index
- Control Number Identifier
- CaOOCEL
- Dewey Decimal Classification Number
- 200/.939/22
- General Note
- Issued as part of the desLibris books collection
- Geographic Area Code
- a-tu---
- ISBN
- 0889204721 9780889209244
- LCCN
- BL1060
- LCCN Item number
- R44 2005eb
- Modifying agency
- CaBNVSL
- Original cataloging agency
- CaOONL
- Physical Description | Extent
- 1 electronic text (xv, 355 p.)
- Published in
- Canada
- Publisher or Distributor Number
- CaOOCEL
- Rights
- Access restricted to authorized users and institutions
- System Control Number
- (CaBNVSL)jme00323525 (OCoLC)60572070 (CaOOCEL)402702
- System Details Note
- Mode of access: World Wide Web
- Transcribing agency
- CaOONL
Table of Contents
- Contents 6
- Preface 8
- Acknowledgments 10
- Contributors 11
- Abbreviations 12
- Introduction 18
- 1 Interaction among Religious Groups in Sardis and Smyrna 20
- Overview of Religious Groups in Sardis and Smyrna 32
- 2 Jewish Communities in Sardis and Smyrna 34
- 3 Christian Communities in Sardis and Smyrna 42
- 4 Greco-Roman Religions in Sardis and Smyrna 57
- 5 Spheres of Contention, Claims of Pre-eminence: Rivalries among Associations in Sardis and Smyrna 70
- Indirect Contact among Jews and Christians in Sardis and Smyrna 82
- 6 Some Astrological Motifs in the Book of Revelation 84
- 7 The Patriarchs and the Zodiac: Revelation 103
- 8 Was Roma the Scarlet Harlot? The Worship of the Goddess Roma in Sardis and Smyrna 121
- Interaction among Religious Groups in Sardis and Smyrna 138
- 9 “Caring for All the Weak”: Polytheist and Christian Charity in Sardis and Smyrna 140
- 10 Martyrdom: In Accordance with the Gospel 158
- 11 Among Gentiles, Jews, and Christians: Formation of Christian Identity in Melito of Sardis 173
- 12 Acquaintances, Supporters, and Competitors: Evidence of Inter-Connectedness and Rivalry among the Religious Groups in Sardis 192
- Broadening the Context 212
- 13 Down the Road from Sardis: Adaptive Religious Structures and Religious Interaction in the Ancient City of Priene 214
- 14 Urbanization in the Roman East and the Inter-Religious Struggle for Success 228
- Conclusion 260
- 15 Religious Coexistence, Co-operation, Competition, and Conflict in Sardis and Smyrna 262
- Notes 270
- Works Cited 314
- Modern Authors Index 354
- A 354
- B 354
- C 354
- D 355
- E 355
- F 355
- G 355
- H 355
- J 356
- K 356
- L 356
- M 356
- N 356
- O 356
- P 356
- R 357
- S 357
- T 357
- V 357
- W 357
- Y 358
- Z 358
- Ancient Sources Index 359
- Subject Index 370
- A 370
- B 370
- C 370
- D 370
- E 371
- F 371
- G 371
- H 371
- I 371
- J 371
- K 371
- L 371
- M 371
- N 371
- O 372
- P 372
- Q 372
- R 372
- S 372
- T 372
- U 372
- V 372
- W 372
- Z 372
