Notice bibliographique
- Notice
Type(s) de contenu et mode(s) de consultation : Texte noté. Image fixe : sans médiation
Auteur(s) : Orlin, Eric M.
Titre(s) : Foreign cults in Rome [Texte imprimé] : creating a Roman Empire / Eric M. Orlin
Publication : Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2010
Description matérielle : xi, 248 p. : maps ; 25 cm
Comprend : Introduction ; Foreign cults in Rome ; Cult introductions of the third century
; Foreign priests in Rome ; Prodigies and expiations ; Ludi ; Establishing boundaries
in the second century ; The challenges of the first century.
Note(s) : Includes bibliographical references and index
""In this timely and important book, Orlin explores a central conundrum in republican
history through the lens of religion, namely how the Romans managed to construct a
distinctive ethnic identity for themselves while incorporating masses of non-Romans
into the citizen-body. He shows how decisions about which foreign gods to admit into
the Republic's cult and on what terms erected clear yet permeable boundaries that
defined Romanness and at the same time helped to extend Rome's sway over Italy. This
work is a must read for anyone interested in Roman ethnogenesis and the foundations
of the Republic's imperium."--Nathan Rosenstein, The Ohio State University" ""This
is a well-researched and well-written book on a very important topic. Orlin argues
that while the boundaries of R̀omanness' in religion (and, one can assume, much else)
consistently expanded during the Republic, the Roman elite simultaneously took great
care that the expanded boundaries were firm and clear. In terms of foreign cults introduced
at Rome, Orlin convincingly proves his case."--Arthur Eckstein, University of Maryland,
College Park" ; "Religion is a Particularly Rich Field Within Which to Study Roman
Self-Definition, for the Romans considered themselves to be the most religious of
all peoples and ascribed their imperial success to their religiosity. Building on
the observation that the Romans were remarkably open to outside influences, Foreign
Cults in Rome explores how the Romans installed foreign religious elements as part
of their own religious system and how that affected their notions of what it meant
to be Roman. The inclusion of so many foreign elements posed difficulties for defining
a sense of Romanness at the very moment when a territorial definition was becoming
obsolete. Using models drawn from anthropology, this book demonstrates that Roman
religious activity beginning in the middle Republic (early third century B.C.E.) contributed
to redrawing the boundaries of Romanness. The methods by which the Romans absorbed
cults and priests and their development of practices in regard to expiations and the
celebration of ludi allowed them to recreate a clear sense of identity, one that could
include the peoples they had conquered. While this identity faced further challenges
during the civil wars of the Late Republic, the book suggests that Roman openness
remained a vital part of their religious behavior during this time. The volume concludes
with a brief look at the reforms of the first emperor Augustus, whose activity can
be understood in light of Republican activity, and whose actions laid the foundation
for further adaptation under the Empire."--BOOK JACKET
Sujet(s) : Religions orientales -- Rome
Cultes -- Rome
Religion romaine -- Relations -- Religions orientales
Identifiants, prix et caractéristiques : ISBN 9780199731558. - ISBN 0199731551
Identifiant de la notice : ark:/12148/cb43620559c
Notice n° :
FRBNF43620559
(notice reprise d'un réservoir extérieur)