This is the first of a two-volume collection of studies in inconsistencies in Greek and Roman religion. Their common aim is to argue for the historical relevance of various types of ambiguity and dissonance. The first volume focuses on the central paradoxes in ancient henotheism. The term 'henotheism' -- a modern formation after the stereotyped acclamation: #EIS O QEOS# ("one is the god"), common to early Christianity and contemporaneous paganism -- denotes the specific devotion to one particular god without denying the existence of, or even cultic attention to, other gods. After its prime in the twenties and thirties of this century the term fell into disuse. Nonetheless, the notion of henotheism represents one of the most remarkable and significant shifts in Graeco-Roman religion and hence deserves fresh reconsideration.
Author(s): H. S. Versnel
Series: Studies in Greek and Roman Religion, Vol. 6.1
Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
Year: 1990
Language: English
Pages: 268
Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 3
CONTENTS......Page 5
PREFACE......Page 6
ABBREVIATIONS......Page 7
1. INCONSISTENCY......Page 9
2. HENOTHEISM......Page 26
1. I AM ISIS......Page 28
2. "I HAVE DESTROYED THE MASTERY OF TYRANTS". THE PICTURE OF THE AWFUL TYRANT (I)......Page 35
3. "ISIS I AM, THE TYRANT OF ALL LAND". THE PICTURE OF THE AWFUL TYRANT (Il)......Page 40
4. LIBERATION AND SUBJECTION. THE OBVERSE AND REVERSE OF A HELLENISTIC MEDAL......Page 45
5. SLAVERY IS FREEDOM. FROM UNHEEDED INCONSISTENCY TO CONSCIOUS AMBIGUITY......Page 50
INTRODUCTION......Page 57
1. HAILING NEW GODS IN ATHENS......Page 60
2. BACCHIC RITES IN CLASSICAL GREECE......Page 74
3. AMBIGUITIES IN THE BACCHAE......Page 87
HERMES TER UNUS. MARTIAL 5,24: TRANSFORMATIONS OF HENOTHEISM......Page 112
1 . ANALYSIS OF THE POEM......Page 115
2. THREE AND ONE......Page 125
3. DATING THE BIRTH OF HERMES TRISMEGISTOS......Page 127
4. THRICE ONE THROUGH THE EYES OF A SATIRIST......Page 131
BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 135
1. NAMES AND SUBJECTS......Page 139
2. CREEK WORDS......Page 141
3. LATIN WORDS......Page 143
Back Cover......Page 144
