Jörg Rüpke 
A Companion to Roman Religion 

A comprehensive treatment of the significant symbols and institutions of Roman religion, this companion places the various religious symbols, discourses, and practices, including Judaism and Christianity, into a larger framework to reveal the sprawling landscape of the Roman religion.

* An innovative introduction to Roman religion

* Approaches the field with a focus on the human-figures instead of the gods

* Analyzes religious changes from the eighth century BC to the fourth century AD

* Offers the first history of religious motifs on coins and household/everyday utensils

* Presents Roman religion within its cultural, social, and historical contexts

Table of Content

List of Figures x

List of Maps xiii

Notes on Contributors xiv

Acknowledgments xix

Abbreviations xxi

Maps xxviii

1 Roman Religion – Religions of Rome 1

Jörg Rüpke

2 Approaching Roman Religion: The Case for
Wissenschaftsgeschichte 10

C. Robert Phillips, III

Part I Changes 29

3 The Religion of Archaic Rome 31

Christopher Smith

4 Pre-Roman Italy, Before and Under the Romans 43

Olivier de Cazanove

5 Urban Religion in the Middle and Late Republic 58

Eric Orlin

6 Continuity and Change: Religion in the Augustan Semi-Century
71

Karl Galinsky

7 Religions and the Integration of Cities in the Empire in the
Second Century ad: The Creation of a Common Religious Language
83

William Van Andringa

8 Old Religions Transformed: Religions and Religious Policy from
Decius to Constantine 96

Hartmut Leppin

9 Religious Koine and Religious Dissent in the Fourth Century
109

Michele Renee Salzman

Part II Media 127

10 The History of Roman Religion in Roman Historiography and
Epic 129

Denis Feeney

11 Religion and Roman Coins 143

Jonathan Williams

12 Reliefs, Public and Private 164

Katja Moede

13 Inscriptions as Sources of Knowledge for Religions and Cults
in the Roman World of Imperial Times 176

Rudolf Haensch

14 Religion in the House 188

Annemarie Kaufmann-Heinimann

Part III Symbols and Practices 203

15 Roman Cult Sites: A Pragmatic Approach 205

Ulrike Egelhaaf-Gaiser

16 Complex Rituals: Games and Processions in Republican Rome
222

Frank Bernstein

17 Performing the Sacred: Prayers and Hymns 235

Frances Hickson Hahn

18 Music and Dance: Forms of Representation in Pictorial and
Written Sources 249

Friederike Fless and Katja Moede

19 Sacrifices for Gods and Ancestors 263

John Scheid

Part IV Actors and Actions 273

20 Religious Actors in Daily Life: Practices and Related Beliefs
275

Nicole Belayche

21 Republican Nobiles: Controlling the Res Publica 292

Veit Rosenberger

22 Emperors: Caring for the Empire and Their Successors
304

Peter Herz

23 Urban Elites in the Roman East: Enhancing Regional Positions
and Social Superiority 317

Athanasios Rizakis

24 Living on Religion: Professionals and Personnel 331

Marietta Horster

Part V Different Religious Identities 343

25 Roman Diaspora Judaism 345

Jack N. Lightstone

26 Creating One’s Own Religion: Intellectual Choices
378

Attilio Mastrocinque

27 Institutionalized Religious Options: Mithraism 392

Richard Gordon

28 The Romanness of Roman Christianity 406

Stefan Heid

Part VI Roman Religion Outside and Seen from Outside
427

29 Exporting Roman Religion 429

Clifford Ando

30 Religion in the Roman East 446

Ted Kaizer

31 Roman Religion in the Vision of Tertullian 457

Cecilia Ames

Bibliography 472

General Index 511

Index of Personal Names 526

Index of Places 537

About the author

Jörg Rüpke is Chair of Comparative Religion at the
University of Erfurt and coordinator of the Priority Program of the
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft 1080 ‘Roman imperial and provincial
religion’. His recent books include Religion of the Romans
(2001), Rituals in Ink (2004), Fasti Sacerdotum
(2005), Religion and Law, ed. with Clifford Ando, (2006),
Zeit und Fest (2006), and Religions Orientales
(2006).