Reassembling Religion in Roman Italy

This book explores the role of the material world in Roman religion and offers new perspectives on the formation of multi-scalar forms of ancient religious knowledge. It examines archaeological evidence associated with case studies of monumentalized sanctuaries, cult instruments, anatomical votive offerings, cult images, and magic, and makes the case for adopting a material approach to the study of ancient lived religion.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of lived religion in ancient Roman Italy, exploring the profound and multifaceted experiences of religious agency that emerged through the ritualization of activities that brought together human and more-than-human elements into interconnected assemblages. Drawing upon a rich array of posthumanist and new materialist theories, it seeks to re-examine the central role of the material world within Roman religion and offer fresh insights into the formation of complex and multidimensional forms of ancient religious knowledge.

The book embarks on a systematic exploration of key questions about Roman religion, such as the meaning of "religion" in the Roman world, the insights that religious experiences provided about the material world and one's place within it, the connections between ritual practices and shared beliefs or concepts about the relationship between the mortal and divine realms, the construction and perception of divinity, and the role of magic as a distinct form of religious knowledge. To answer these profound inquiries, the book meticulously gathers and evaluates archaeological evidence associated with a series of case studies. Each case study focuses on a specific aspect of the ritualized assemblages that gave rise to Roman religious agency, encompassing place, objects, bodies, and divinity. By delving into the lived experiences of religion in the contexts of monumentalized sanctuaries, cult instruments used in public sacrifice, anatomical votive offerings, cult images, and the qualities of divinity, the book offers a rich tapestry of insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of Roman religious practices.

Through the meticulous breakdown and reconstruction of these ritualized assemblages, the book makes a compelling case for adopting a material approach to the study of Roman religion. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the materiality, sensory, and experiential dimensions of religious practices and the ways in which they shaped and were shaped by the broader social, cultural, and political contexts in which they occurred. By exploring the intersections between the material world and religious agency, this book provides a fresh perspective on the rich and complex tapestry of ancient Roman religion, shedding light on its enduring significance and relevance to contemporary scholarship.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367611026