Ancient religions in the Roman world WT-DMI-MST
Course contents:
1. Basic cults
- gods of the family house
- divinities of the Roman civitas
- native and new gods
- old gods and the new expectations: Asclepius, Demeter, Dionysus, Hercules
2. Organization of worship
- the priests
- Vestal virgins
- augurs
- sodalities
- reforms of Caesar Augustus
3. The oriental deities
- the Great Mother Cybele
- cult of Isis
- mithraism
4. Magic and divination
5. The cult of the emperors
6. Religion and philosophy
Assessment: Oral exam on the base of earlier available questions.
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Learning outcomes
The student characterizes basic cults in the Roman Empire.
He indicates the main features of these religions.
He points out the differences between them.
He recognizes the historical factors, social, cultural, political, anthropological shaping the creation of the ancient cults.
He examines some of the views of Christian writers on the ancient pagan cults.
He keeps criticism of ancient polytheism, and inconsistencies in pagan religions.
participation in the lecture: 30 hours
preparation of lectures: 20 hours
exam preparation: 25 hours
TOTAL HOURS: 75
ECTS: 3
Bibliography
A. Basic bibliography:
Starożytne religie w świecie rzymskim, oprac. L. Nieścior OMI, Warszawa UKSW 2011 (course notes of the professor)
B. Additional bibliography:
M. Jaczynowska, Religie świata rzymskiego, Warszawa 1990;
D. Musiał, Antyczne korzenie chrześcijaństwa, Warszawa 2001;
H. P. Hasenfratz, Religie świata starożytnego a chrześcijaństwo, Kraków 2006.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: