The Gods of Ancient Rome: Religion in Everyday Life from Archaic to Imperial Times

First published in 2001. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor &amp; Francis, an informa company.

Turcan, Robert

Religion & Spirituality

Routledge

This book is about the multiplicity of gods and religions that characterized the Roman world before Constantine. It was not the noble gods such as Jove, Apollo and Diana, who were crucial to the lives of the common people in the empire, bur gods of an altogether more earthly, earth level, whose rituals and observances may now seem bizarre. As well as being of wide general interest, this book will appeal to students of the Roman Empire and of the history of religion.

The Cults of the Roman Empire (Ancient World)

Wiley/Blackwell

The Cults of the Roman Empire

This is a vivid account of what their gods meant to the Romans from archaic times to late antiquity, and of the rites and rituals connected with them. After an introduction into the nature of classical religion, the book is divided into three parts: religions of the family and land; religions of the city; and religions of the empire. The book ends with a discussion of the rise and impact of Christianity. For the Romans, the author argues, religion was almost as much a form of insurance as it was a question of belief. The gods were valued according to the degree of protection they afforded against natural hazards and occult powers. They were a crucial source of tactical information in time of war and their approval was vital to the success of agriculture, marriage and childbirth. Appeasing the gods and enlisting their help involved ritual and sacrifice which required the arcane knoweldge of the priesthood. Because there were so many gods, it might be hard to know which one to invoke and perilous to get it wrong. The Romasn took their gods extremely seriously, there was nothing more complicated than a Roman sacrifice or more precise than the preparation of the meal offered to the god; the slightest infringement of the priestly recipe would spoil the feast and might jeopardise the affairs of Rome itself. Robert Turcan shows that Roman attitudes towards the gods continued to be pragmatic throughout the millennium coverd by the book. Useful gods discovered among conquered peoples of the Empire were adopted without rejecting any from the old pantheon. Traditional worship remained strong long after the emperors converted to Christianity, and many of the early Roman Christians maintained a tactful respect for older deities. Up-to-date in its archaeological and epigraphic evidence, and drawing extensively on a wide range of relevant literary material this book is ideally suited for undergraduate courses in the history of Romand and its religions. Its urbane style and lightly worn scholarship will broaden its appeal to non-academic readers with a serious interest in the classical world.

Edinburgh University Press

Tunbridge Wells Through Time

Arts & Photography

Photography & Video

Amberley Publishing

Broadstairs is rightly known as the jewel in Thanet’s crown’. This most easterly, quintessentially English seaside resort exudes much charm. Its sandy beaches provide wonderful opportunities for family bathing. Late Regency and more predominantly Victorian or Edwardian buildings reflect growth following railway expansion. Historically, the town’s name was linked to broad stairs which were cut into steep cliffs above its shoreline, leading to an ancient religious shrine. A fishing village with smuggling activities is all that existed in Georgian times. By 1815 it was here that the exultant news of victory at Waterloo first reached our country. Later in the nineteenth century Charles Dickens frequented the borough. There are two museums relating to his life and great works. Festivals marking his visits along with food fêtes enliven summer gaiety. All these vivid scenes are pictured within this collection of scenes, past and present. They are a colourful illustration of how time has kindly preserved and simply enhanced this Kentish gem.

Broadstairs Through Time

Faversham has always been a hard-working town. Its very name, which was derived from Latin and old English, means 'the metal workers' village' and in Saxon times the area was a centre for the manufacture of jewellery. Its town market has been in continuous use for over 900 years and when King Steven established a huge abbey here it became, for a while, capital of the kingdom. With a navigable creek leading to the Swale seaway, fishermen have always plied their trade. In fact the Faversham Oyster Fisheries Company is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as being the oldest. Shepherd Neame's Brewery, which was established here, also claims to be Britain's oldest, and many surrounding farms supply the essential raw material; hops. Faversham is best known, though, for its explosives industry, which has been based here since the seventeenth century. Faversham gunpowder blasted through rocks and tunnels to allow faster growth of the railways. They also aided extraction of vital ores and minerals from mines. Consequent expansion in demand led to enlarged works at two different sites until an accidental explosion in 1916 brought about decline. Faversham At Work explores the working life of this charming Kent market town nestled in the heart of the 'Garden of England' . In a fascinating series of contemporary photographs and illustrations it looks at the rise and fall of the explosives industry, the town's long association with shipbuilding, the influence of brick-making during the Victorian era and the continuing importance of fruit growing on the local economy.

Faversham At Work: People and Industries Through the Years

Faversham's many natural advantages attracted settlers from earliest times. The surrounding farmland is most productive with fruit and hops grown in vast quantities. Both crops are still significant and the town is proud to be the centre of Kent's brewing industry. Of national importance is a collection of over 4,000 fruit varieties at Bogdale. Brick making is another local speciality, though albeit on a much smaller scale than a century ago. Haulage of these heavy loads to mainly London markets was by Thames sailing barges. Today a galaxy of fine country houses lie hidden close by in scenic countryside. While in the town centre the main streets are fine examples of effective conservation. Much credit goes to the townspeople who resisted town planners' inappropriate schemes with a true appreciation of their valuable heritage.

Faversham Through Time

Rochester lends the Medway towns a degree of class. It is the ancient core of Kent's largest conurbation. Instantly recognisable by its splendid Norman castle and beautiful cathedral, its shops abound with references to Charles Dickens - who lived and worked nearby. Historically the town was established at the lowest covenient crossing point of the river Medway. The Romans built the first bridge on their vital Watling Street route between Dover and London. Strategically important from a naval point of view Rochester was the target for an embarrassing raid by Dutch marauders in the late seventeenth century. Accordingly an expansive dockyard base was constructed at the adjacent fishing village of Chatham. Today Rochester is a thriving town. Its bustling high street is renowned for many specialist shops while the passageways are often enlivened by revellers celebrating Dickens festivals.

Rochester Through Time

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Turcan, Robert. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Turcan, Robert

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Turcan, Robert. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Gods of Ancient Rome: Religion in Everyday Life from Archaic to Imperial Times

The Gods of Ancient Rome: Religion in Everyday Life from Archaic to Imperial Times

The Cults of the Roman Empire (Ancient World)

The Cults of the Roman Empire

The Gods of Ancient Rome: Religion in Everyday Life from Archaic to Imperial Times

Tunbridge Wells Through Time

Broadstairs Through Time

Faversham At Work: People and Industries Through the Years

Faversham Through Time

Rochester Through Time