Ancient Mystery Cults

The foremost historian of Greek religion provides the first comprehensive, comparative study of a little-known aspect of ancient religious beliefs and practices. Secret mystery cults flourished within the larger culture of the public religion of Greece and Rome for roughly a thousand years. This book is neither a history nor a survey but a comparative phenomenology, concentrating on five major cults. In defining the mysteries and describing their rituals, membership, organization, and dissemination, Walter Burkert displays the remarkable erudition we have come to expect of him; he also shows great sensitivity and sympathy in interpreting the experiences and motivations of the devotees.

Author: Walter Burkert
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Published: 10/15/1989
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.64lbs
Size: 8.97h x 5.94w x 0.55d
ISBN13: 9780674033870
ISBN10: 0674033876
BISAC Categories:
- History | Ancient | General
- Religion | Comparative Religion
- Religion | Ancient