(Larry Hurtado): Although it’s been out for several years now, I’ve only recently become introduced to a major and important, multi-volume reference work on virutually all aspects of religion in the ancient Greek and Roman periods: Thesaurus Cultus et Rituum Antiquorum (5 vols., Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum, 2004-2006). For advanced research on the religious environment of earliest Christianity, this work will be valuable, offering up-to-date discussions of matters by a galaxy of experts. Also, the volumes include photos of items illustrative of the topics discussed (e.g., cult objects, temples/shrines, representations of worship/prayer/processions, etc.).
The articles (sizeable and with copious bibliographies) are often collaboratively written and variously in English, German, French and Italian. Here are a couple of examples that I found particularly interesting: “Gebet, Gebaerden und Handlungen des Gebetes” (“Prayer, Gestures and Actions of Prayer”), Vol. III, pp. 105-50 (by Daniel Jakov & Emmanuel Foutiras); and “Heroisierung, Apotheose / Eroizzazione, Apotesi” (“Heroization and Apotheosis”), Vol. III, pp. 125-214, by Kostas Buraselis, Ittai Gradel et al.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
