Worshippers of the Gods
Debating Paganism in the Fourth-Century Roman West
Mattias P. Gassman
252 pages | ~7 hrs
Worshippers of the Gods
Debating Paganism in the Fourth-Century Roman West
By Mattias P. Gassman
In the pivotal fourth century of the Roman Empire, a profound spiritual transformation unfolded as Christianity rose to political prominence while ancient religious traditions faced unprecedented challenges. Worshippers of the Gods examines this crucial period through the eyes of Latin writers who witnessed and grappled with the empire's changing religious landscape.
Drawing from Christian polemical works, imperial legislation, pagan inscriptions, and the correspondence of influential figures like Senator Symmachus, author Mattias P. Gassman reconstructs how Romans reconsidered the place of traditional worship in their evolving world. Rather than viewing Christian critiques of paganism as mere identity exercises, this scholarly work reveals how writers like Lactantius, Firmicus Maternus, Ambrosiaster, and Ambrose crafted thoughtful responses to the philosophical polytheism flourishing in Rome.
Through five interconnected case studies, the book traces pivotal moments from the empire-wide persecution of Christians under the Tetrarchy to the withdrawal of state funding from Roman cults in the early 380s. These episodes illuminate how political circumstances shaped religious thought and how the concept of unified "paganism" emerged not as Christian invention, but as a response to the sophisticated, eclectic spiritual practices of the time.
For readers interested in understanding how major spiritual transitions unfold within societies, this work offers valuable insights into the complex dialogue between emerging and established religious traditions during one of history's most significant periods of spiritual change.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore Early church
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Paganism
- ✓ Explore Church history
- ✓ Explore Relations
- ✓ Explore History
- ✓ Explore Christianity
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2020
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press, Incorporated
- ISBN-13
- 9780190082444
- ISBN-10
- 0190082445
- Pages
- 252
- Language
- EN
