Monographs on Mithraic sanctuaries
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
2w ago
There are approximately 150 Mithraic sanctuaries in the Roman Empire (this number circulates in the recent literature, however nobody ever made an updated, complete list of sanctuaries since Vermaseren: a recent – however incomplete map – see here and here). Some of these sanctuaries were excavated in the early 19th century, therefore a detailed monograph was not possible to publish (still, sanctuaries of Ostia, Heddernheim or Sarmizegetusa were published with relatively well documented drawings). Most of the early excavated sanctuaries are published in form of short or long studies, but no de ..read more
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Mithraeum VI in Aquincum
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
3M ago
Aquincum was one of the largest urban centres of the Danubian provinces (with Carnuntum and Apulum). The double city (civilian town, military town, legionary fortress and the praetorium consularis) left us hundreds of votive monuments (459 epigraphic and hundreds of figurative) and several, archaeologically attested sanctuaries as well. From the large quantity of the materiality of religon, Mithras represents far the most relevant material evidence of Roman religious communication in Aquincum. The altar of Tiberius Pontius Pontianus is probably the oldest attested Mithraic monument of Aquincum ..read more
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Roman religion in Apulum
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
4M ago
The Danubian provinces are far from being the most urbanised areas of the Roman Empire, however the region had several urbanised (citified) settlements (small urban centres and larger conurbations too). One of the largest urban centres of the region is the double city of Apulum in Roman Dacia (colonia Aurelia Apulensis, municipium Septimium Apulense, the legionary fortress, the praetorium consularis). The large urban centre existed only 170 years in the period of 106-271 AD (and reused systematically since the 4th century), but left us a large amount of arhaeological sites, epigraphic (772 ins ..read more
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Richard Gordon 80
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
8M ago
One of the leading scholars of Mithraic studies, Richard Gordon celebrates his 80th birthday in this month. His revolutionary contribution for the study of Mithraism is unquestionable and still inspires dozens of young scholars. Short presentation of his academic cursus honorum: 1. Higher Education First degree: Jesus College, Cambridge: 1962-66, Classical Tripos (Ancient History option) Postgraduate: Jesus College, Cambridge: 1966-69; Supervisor: Prof. M.I. Finley. PhD topic: Mithraism in the Roman Empire (unpubl.) (1972) 2. Academic Posts 1969-70: Research Fellow, Downing College, Cambridge ..read more
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In memoriam Roger Beck (1937-2023)
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
9M ago
When I begun to work on Roman Mithras, there were three persons alive from the grand generation of scholars, who revolutionised the study of Roman religion and Mithras in the 1970s, creating the third big wave of Mithraic studies after Cumont and Vermaseren: Robert Turcan, Richard Gordon and Roger Beck. I am really sad to read, that Roger Beck passed away in April this year. His studies and paradigmatic book from 2006 will be and remain a star on the great mantle of Mithras. I was so happy when he answered my message few years ago. Have a great journey in the Light, pater. S T T L Roger Beck ..read more
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Mithriaca: 2010-2022
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
1y ago
In 2008 I was hesitating on my future, as a student: what should I study, what are the most interesting parts of history, I would like to reseach? Numerous professors were trying to push me towards Hungarian history, especially Renaissance history, but my devotion towards antiquity and Roman archaeology and religion was already established. I was interested also in the reception of antiquity, this field remained also among my favourites, but an accidental archaeological excavation in Porolissum changed my mind: a German team promissed us, that we will excavate in Porolissum (Dacia, Romania tod ..read more
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The great Mithras exhibition: some personal notes
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
1y ago
The cult of Roman Mithras attracted the attention of the academic scholarship and the greater public since the 19th century (and in the antiquarian traditions, even before, since the Renaissance). In the last few decades, the scholarship produced an incredible number of monographs and studies, there is almost every year a new book on Roman Mithras. Some might interpret this as a “renaissance” of the Mithraic Studies, however we prefer to say that finally, Mithraic Studies – which separated this cult from its own cultural, historical and polytheistic context – actually have changed and finally ..read more
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New books on Roman religion in 2022
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
1y ago
Roman religious studies produced a rich corpus of books also in 2022. I listed 21 new titles, but this is certainly not a complete list (numerous books in France, Italy, Spain are hard to access and I am not able to follow the local scholarships from the West anymore). From the new titles of 2022 there are as usually, two Mithras books by Mastrocinque and Fear, several sanctuary monographs, local case studies on names and divine epithets, macro-regional analysis for the Danubian provinces, methodological approaches by Roubekas and Mackey and cognitive approaches by Eidinow and others. It seems ..read more
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My book presented in Vienna, Szeged and Sibiu
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
1y ago
I was lucky, that my book attracted the interest of several scholars from the Central European University, the Archaeological Institute of Belgrade and cultural institutions of Sibiu too. The first book launch was organised at 30th May 2022 by the Center for Religious Studies, Central European University in Vienna, where I had the honour to have as respondents prof. dr. Volker Menze and dr. Gabrielle Kremer from the Archaeological Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The second book launch was organised at 2nd June 2022 by my current hosting institution, the Department of Religious ..read more
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New books on Roman religion in 2021
Szabó Csaba
by religioacademici
2y ago
In the second year of the collective madness and pandemic, the academic world produced less books on Roman religion, however some of these books will be important references for future generations. The most important book probably is synthesis on Roman religion edited by Greg Woolf and Jörg Rüpke, two of my former supervisors. The book is one of the last volumes – and the best synthesis so far – on lived ancient religion, focusing on the religious life of the Roman Empire. This book is certainly an important one, the first one after decades which will offer a new approach on Roman religion in ..read more
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