The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism
Franz Cumont, the Belgian scholar of ancient religion best known for his work on Mithras, wrote The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism as a series of lectures, and this authorized English translation, with an introductory essay by Grant Showerman, appeared in 1911. Cumont asks why the cults of the East won so many followers in the Roman Empire, and then examines them region by region: the Great Mother and Attis from Asia Minor, Isis and Serapis from Egypt, the Syrian gods, Mithras and the religions of Persia, and the astrology and magic that spread with them. He shows how these faiths, with their promises of purification and life after death, transformed Roman paganism and prepared the ground for Christianity. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism by Franz Cumont can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
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Yes. The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism by Franz Cumont is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
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About 6 h 13 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism?
The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism by Franz Cumont is filed under "Religion & Mythology" in the Vinteuil library.
