Valerie M. Warrior

Examining sites that are familiar to many modern tourists, Valerie Warrior avoids imposing a modern perspective on the topic by using the testimony of the ancient Romans to describe traditional Roman religion. The ancient testimony recreates the social and historical contexts in which Roman religion was practised. It shows, for example, how, when confronted with a foreign cult, official traditional religion accepted the new cult with suitable modifications. Basic difficulties, however, arose with regard to the monotheism of the Jews and Christianity. Carefully integrated with the text are visual representations of divination, prayer, and sacrifice as depicted on monuments, coins, and inscriptions from public buildings and homes throughout the Roman world. Also included are epitaphs and humble votive offerings that illustrate the piety of individuals, and that reveal the prevalence of magic and the occult in the spiritual lives of the ancient Romans.

Roman Religion: A Sourcebook provides an introduction to the fundamentals of ancient Roman religious beliefs and rituals through a rich collection of ancient source readings. The ancient sources are to be viewed with utmost respect as the primary means by which an accurate understanding of the past may be gained. By contrasting Roman action and opinion with our own, we may come to better understand ourselves and the culture in which we live. The book includes maps, glossary, a chronological table and lists of important gods. This book is designed as a companion to Valerie Warrior's Greek Religion: A Sourcebook.