Book

Dumézil, Georges, 1898-1986.

Archaic Roman religion : with an appendix on the religion of the Etruscans / Georges Dumézil ; translated by Philip Krapp ; foreword by Mircea Eliade.

Baltimore, Md. : Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996.

2 volumes (xxx, 715 pages) ; 23 cm

By exhaustive study of texts, inscriptions, and archaeology of Roman sacred places, Dumezil traces the formation of archaic Roman religion from Indo-European sources through the development of the rites and beliefs of the Roman republic. He describes a religion that was not only influenced by the other religions with which it came into contact, but influenced them as well, in mutual efforts to distinguish one nation from another. Even so, certain continuities were sustained in order to achieve a religion that crossed generations and ways of life. The worship of certain gods became the special concerns of certain parts of society, all of which needed attention to assure Rome's success in war, civil administration, and the production of food and goods.

Etruscans -- Religion.

Rome -- Religion.

Religion romaine archaïque. English

Originally published: Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1970.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Translation of La religion romaine archaïque.

Preface -- Abbreviations -- Preliminary remarks -- Uncertainty of the history of the first centuries -- Political history and religious history -- The most ancient roman religion: numen or deus? -- Characteristics of the Roman gods -- The lost mythology: the example of the matralia -- From mythology to history -- The indo-European heritage at Rome -- Conservatism of roman religion: the case of the iuges auspicium -- The value of formulary evidence -- The Roman scholars -- The so-called pontifical revolution -- Some characteristics of Roman religion -- Balances in Roman religion -- The vocabulary of the sacred -- The purpose of this book -- First part the great gods of the archaic triad -- The archaic triad: the documents -- Interpretation: the three functions -- Jupiter -- Mars -- Quirinus -- The archaic triad: complements -- Second part ancient theology -- The Capitoline triad -- Capitoline Jupiter -- Juno -- Minerva -- The Capitoline triad -- The fires of public worship -- Frameworks -- The beginnings -- The times -- The places -- Man -- The living -- The dead -- Forces and elements -- Third function -- Second and first functions.

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292.07 Dumezil