CLAS2911: Roman Religion

• CLAS1301 or THEO1131

• None

• None

• To use knowledge of Roman history, literature and culture, as acquired in the first year, as a base for further development.
• To investigate the multifarious aspects of religious life in the Roman empire through studying a combination of material, literary and visual sources.

• This module studies 'Roman religion' in the widest sense of the word: from the religion of Rome the city-state to that of Rome the empire, including the variety of indigenous cults which were in vogue in different parts of the empire, Judaism in Judaea/Palaestina and in the Diaspora, and the beginnings of Christianity.
• The first part of the module focuses on the development of religion (and its function in society) through Roman history, from the earliest period through the republic to the reforms under the Augustan principate and the later empire, including the spread of the ruler cult and the 'Oriental cults'.
• Later lectures and seminars are devoted to particular cults and to patterns of worship in specific regions (e.g. religion in Roman Britain).
• Some specific themes to be addressed: syncretism, myth & ritual, sacrifice, pilgrimage, oracles, civic religion, magic.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Appropriate knowledge of the workings of religion in the Roman period and of relevant modern theories concerning ancient religious practice
• Familiarity with interdisciplinary source material (literary texts, inscriptions, iconography, archaeological remains)
• Understanding of place and function of religion in the societies of the Roman empire

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to evaluate a combination of different source materials throwing light on different aspects of religious life in Rome and its empire
• Ability to locate the various sources for 'Roman religion' in their appropriate historical contexts

Key Skills:

• Appreciation of the relevant terminology involved, and of the inherent limitations of expressions of 'religion' in different languages
• Assessment of different methodologies applied to the study of Roman religion
• Ability to study the relevant course material autonomously and to communicate a clear and well-structured argument in written format

• Lectures introduce the key topics and provide a broad overview of the development of religion in the Roman empire; from these, students will acquire a basic knowledge of various scholarly approaches, of the variegated source materials and of the main religious structures.
• Through reading and seminars (preparation and presentation) students will develop their own ideas and discuss them in an interactive manner.
• Students will be assessed through an essay (with specific attention to source criticism) and an examination. The exam enables the student to display the ability to comment in some detail on a specific ancient source, and to show an understanding of religion and its place in Roman society, and a judgement of different interpretative approaches.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.