Sacred Space: Religions of the Roman World
Prof. Limberis
Office Anderson 631
limberis@temple.edu
office hours :Wed 9:30-10:30, Th 8:30-9:15
Gen Ed 0803
T-Th 9:30-10:50
Anderson 0542
This is a new course designed to exploring how the peoples of the Mediterranean world during the Roman period
(roughly 100 BCE to 400 CE) defined sacred space for their particular gods and how they made use of such physical
places through almost every form of human action in order to bring favor of the divine world into the human. In
each section of the syllabus, we shall deal with the people worshiping traditional Greco-Roman deities and the gods
of the mystery religions. Then we shall move to the Jewish communities and the Christian. Some of the questions
we shall explore will be the following. Where do people go to communicate with the divine? Where and how do
people of the many different cultures of the Greco-Roman world communicate with their gods. Why are graves and
groves considered sacred space? When is a painting or sculpture considered sacred? Whom do the gods allow to
enter a sacred building? Can a song be a prayer or a curse? How can dance sway the gods? Why do gods love
processions and the smell of burning animals? The journey through sacred space in Roman antiquity will engage
your senses and your intellect, and will reveal a mindset both ancient and new.
TEXTS: John Scheid, An Introduction to Roman Religion
Hugh Bowden, Mystery Cults of the Ancient World
Hannah Harrington, Holiness, Rabbinic Judaism and the Graeco-Roman World
Graydon Snyder, Ante-Pacem, Archaeological Evidence of Church Luke before Constantine
Antonia Tripolitis, Religions of the Hellenistic and Roman Age
These 3 books can be purchased at Zavelle’s Bookstore, 1520 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, 215-763-1514.
Steven Fine, This Holy Place, this book will be on Electronic reserve on Blackboard for our class, as a
supplement.
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES,REQUIREMENTS, AND GRADING:
There will be 2 tests, each worth 20%, the final exam will be worth 30%, the final project will be worth 20%, and
the remaining 10% will come from class participation. You have the option of doing a crafted project that will be
accompanied by a 3 page paper. Or you can do a Curator project, which has a 3 page paper. Or you can do a 5 page
paper. (You will see further instructions at the end of this syllabus.) You must deliver it hardcopy, no electronic
submissions accepted. This is due April 23.
Attendance at class is mandatory. The ONLY EXCUSES for an absence is a DOCTOR OR MORTUARY NOTE.
Due dates for tests and projects must be followed. I do not give extra credit work. For every three (3) classes
missed by the student, the grade will be docked one “notch,” for example, a “B” will go down to a “B-”. Disruptive
behavior will not be tolerated in class, nor will tardiness, more than 5 minutes. ALL CELL PHONES, INTERNET,
TEXT MESSAGES, AND EARPHONE DEVICES FOR MUSIC AND/OR TALK MUST BE TURNED OFF
WHILE IN CLASS.
DISABILITY STATEMENT: This course is open to all students who meet the academic requirements for
participation. Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the
instructor privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services
at 215-204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented
disabilities.
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY’S STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM: Freedom to teach and freedom
to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty
Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02) which can be accessed through the following link:
http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no= 03.70.02
Part 1. Imaging the Invisible; Symbolism of the Invisible
Jan 22 Introduction to the peoples and Gods of the Mediterranean
Jan 24 The Roman Pantheon , READ Scheid pp. 5-40; and see
http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/deities.html, and http://www.musesrealm.net/rome/gods.html
Jan 29 The “foreign Gods” of the mystery cults, and Demeter, READ Bowden 1-67; and Tripolitis 9-21; and see
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/hansen/eleusis/eleusis-images.htm
http://www.andrewgough.co.uk/blog2.html
Jan 31 The one God of Israel , Judaism and Christianity in the Empire; READ Tripolitis 61-90; Harrington 1-44,
and Snyder, ch. 1-3.
Part 2. Community and the Invisible
Feb 5 The Roman Calendar, READ Scheid, pp. 41-59, and see http://www.musesrealm.net/rome/festivals.html
Feb 7 Mystery sanctuaries in Greece and the Mother of the Gods, Cybele, of Phrygia, READ Bowden pp. 68-104;
and Tripolitis 30-36; and see http://community.middlebury.edu/~harris/cybele.html
Feb 12 Different ways of experiencing the God of Israel, READ Fine, chapter 1, in the ‘course docs’ on
Blackboard; read I Corinthians 5-11 in the New Testament; Harrington CHAPTER 5 pages 61-201; and Snyder, pp.
128-152.
See diagram of house church; http://www.pitt.edu/~tokerism/0040/images4/ar.96.03626.jpg and
http://campus.belmont.edu/honors/ECArchOne/ECArchOne.html
Feb 14 TEST 1 IN CLASS
Part 3. The Person and the Invisible
Feb 19 The Roman Household Gods; and read http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/rel-home.html , and
http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/Lararium1.html
see these models of houses: http://www.cast.uark.edu/cast/animation/gallery/images/atrium2.jpg and
http://www.sbceo.k12.ca.us/~vms/carlton/Romanhouse.jpg and http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lararium and
http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/lararium2.html
Feb 21 Mysteries of Dionysus, at Pompeii, read Bowden 105-155; Tripolitis 22-25; and see http://www.art-andarchaeology.com/timelines/rome/empire/vm/villaofthemysteries.html
Feb 26 The presence of the invisible God of Israel, READ Harrington ch. 2 and Fine ch. 2-3 on Blackboard..
Feb 28 Earliest images of Jesus, the image of the invisible God (images are on Blackboard); READ Snyder chap. 4;
Tripolitis ch. 4; and YOU MUST READ Pliny’s Letter to Emperor Trajan, at this website:
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/pliny.html .
Part 4. Artistic Communications with the Sacred: Visual
Mar 5 Temples and Statues, READ Scheid, pp. 60-78; and READ this website:
http://www.uark.edu/ua/metis2/zanker/zanker_txt.html , Ara Pacis Augustae =The Altar of Peace of Augustus.
Mar 7 Isis, Great goddess of the Nile; MUST READ this selection: Apuleius, The Golden Ass at
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/lucius-assa.html and see wall painting at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/daily_life_gallery_04.shtml ; read Bowden 156-180; and read
Tripolitis 26-29.
SPRING BREAK MAR 10-16
Mar 19 Synagogues of Jewish communities, READ Harrington ch. 3; and Fine ch. 4 on Blackboard, and see images
of Dura Europos synagogue on Blackboard.
Mar 21The Catacombs for early Christian Art, READ Snyder ch. 6; read and study
http://campus.belmont.edu/honors/catacombs/catacombs.htm
Part 5. Artistic Communications with the Sacred: Auditory
Mar 26 Music for the Gods, Read on Blackboard, J. Landeis, “The Roman Musical Experience.” Procession on Ara
Pacis.
Mar 28 The mystery cult Mithras, http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/archive/mithras/text.htm; READ Bowden, 181-197;
Tripolitis ch. 2 Harrington 1-44.
Apr 2 Music and Prayer to God, READ Bird 133-150; Early Christian prayers and hymns, see Mausoleum of Galla
Placidia ppt. on Blackboard; READ Snyder pp. 153-209.
Apr 4 TEST 2 IN CLASS
Part 6. Artistic Communications with the Sacred Kinetic (auspices, expiation, dance, processions)
Apr 9 Auspices and propitiation to the Gods. Read Scheid, ch. 6 & 7.
Apr 11 Did the Mystery Religions end? Read Bowden 198-223.
Apr 16 Synagogues worship after 70 c.e. READ Fine, ch. 4, on Blackboard; read Harrington ch. 4.
Apr 21 Designing pageantry for God, from house church to basilicas, READ Snyder CHAPTER 8. READ, OPEN,
AND STUDY the first Christian cathedrals, at http://campus.belmont.edu/honors/byzart2001/byzindex.html
Part 7. The Boundaries of the Sacred and the Profane
Apr 23 PROJECTS AND PAPERS DUE. Roman funerary rites, customs, and art , and read all of
http://www.forumromanum.org/life/johnston_14.html, and see Fayum portraits on Blackboard.
Apr 28 The Priesthoods: Vestal Virgins, Read Scheid ch. 8 & 9; Magic or miracle: defixiones? See websites on Bb.
Apr 30 Jewish burial and Christian burial, remembering the dead as eternally alive, see 2 “Sarcophagii,”
May 2 Christian prayers, curses, and death rituals. Read Snyder chap. 7; and see “Sinai Icons,” at
http://campus.belmont.edu/honors/byzart2001/byzindex.html and most importantly again Fayum portraits on
Blackboard.
May 9 Final Exam , 8-10 a.m. in this room
Website for ancient Jewish synagogues:
http://www.pohick.org/sts/index.html
Websites for Roman Religion
http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/religion.html
http://www.novaroma.org/religio_romana/deities.html
images of temples, http://wings.buffalo.edu/AandL/Maecenas/general_contents.html
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/home.html
Websites for Mystery Religions
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/classics/students/dave/Cults/index.html
for ancient sources http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/asbook10.html#Roman%20Mystery%20Religions
Cybele: http://bama.ua.edu/~ksummers/cl222/LECT7/index.htm
Mithras: http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/archive/mithras/text.htm
Demeter: http://www.andrewgough.co.uk/blog2.html
Websites for Christianity
catacombs: http://campus.belmont.edu/honors/catacombs/catacombs.htm
http://www.ou.edu/class/ahi4263/byzantine.html
http://campus.belmont.edu/honors/byzart2001/byzindex.html
Requirements for the Project/Paper, and just the Paper
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If you are doing a combination project/paper, the paper must be NO LESS than 3 pages.
If you are doing just a paper, it must be NO LESS than 5 pages.
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The paper must be 12-point font (NO OVERSIZED FONTS!!), double spaced (NO
SPACE IN BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS). Also, ALL PAGES MUST BE
NUMBERED and have NORMAL MARGINS.
The format of citation for this paper is Chicago Style and the citation of sources MUST
be in the form of FOOTNOTES. There is NO BIBLIOGRAPHY needed for this paper!
All papers, regardless of if you are doing a project/paper or just a paper, must have ample
sources. For this assignment, you are required to use a minimum of 3 BOOKS (these
cannot include the books used in class). Legitimate, academic, peer-reviewed journal
articles are permitted for use as extra material. Also the option is available to use 3
ARTICLES and 2 BOOKS in your paper.
NO WIKIPEDIA OR ANY OTHER NON-LEGITIMATE SOURCES. ANY USE
OF THESE WEBSITES OR PLAGIARISM OF ANY SORT WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED AND WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION!!
Guidelines
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Fred Rowland is a great resource and can be of assistance in finding sources for any
topic. His email is... frowland@temple.edu
There are general options for this project:
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o
o
Museum Curator project (accompanied by a 3 Page Paper)- You are to act as a
museum curator who is designing an exhibit for your museum of choice. All
aspects of the showcasing of the exhibit are your responsibility. You are to decide
what to purchase/borrow, what to place together, what to write on explanatory
signs, all in an organized fashion. Who, what, where, why,when, and how are
questions that should be answered for each object and the grouping of objects
should have significance. Explanations of which museums the objects were
borrowed from or how much was paid for them is required and only bound by
your imagination. Resources can be found in the Art History section of Paley
library.
Crafted Project (accompanied by a 3 Page Paper)- Pick an aspect of the class that
has intrigued you thus far and take a shot at creating your own sacred object or
recreate a sacred space. Let's say you want to make a model of what took place
during the taurobolium of the Cult of Cybele (pretty grisly choice huh?), or
maybe you are interested in house worship and want to create a lararium for a
fictional Roman family. The only limit to making a crafted project is that it has to
be of something covered in class or closely related (project ideas will be reviewed
and given an ok).