REL227

The Hellenistic era was a period of extraordinarily rich and diverse religious activity. Greek and Roman religious traditions met and mingled, Judaism was transformed by its encounter with the Hellenistic world, and Christianity was born. This course examines the religious life of the Hellenistic world, including the great temples and their gods, the imperial cult, local and family-oriented practices, magic, philosophy, mystery cults, Gnosticism, and more. Students should have basic familiarity with the history of Greece and Rome, 300 B.C.E. - 300 C.E.

Fall Semester