Religion in Roman Egypt [Hardcover]

David Frankfurter (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mythos | Publication Date: August 10, 1998

This exploration of cultural resilience examines the complex fate of classical Egyptian religion during the centuries from the period when Christianity first made its appearance in Egypt to when it became the region's dominant religion (roughly 100 to 600 CE). Taking into account the full range of witnesses to continuing native piety - from papyri and saints' lives to archaeology and terracotta figurines - and drawing on anthropological studies of folk religion, David Frankfurter argues that the religion of Pharonic Egypt did not die out as early as has been supposed but was instead relegated from political centres to village and home, where it continued a vigorous existence for centuries.

Editorial Reviews

Review

. . . his book will become a standard for assessing the religious life and practice of Roman religions. -- Richard Valantasis, Iliff School of Theology

This thought provoking study has set a benchmark for future work on religion in the ancient Mediterranean. -- Georgia Frank, Journal of the American Academy of Religion

This thought-provoking study [sets] a benchmark for future work on religion in the ancient Mediterranean. -- Georgia Frank, Journal of the American Academy of Religion

From the Inside Flap

"Popular religion is at the center of this excellent study. Frankfurter places Christianity in a multifaceted, often unexpected context in the countryside of Egypt. He shows that despite the state's new religion, Egyptian gods, goddesses, and cultic practices persisted. The result is a thoroughly stimulating book---n unusual mix of erudition and interpretation--and one which I read with great pleasure." (Dorothy J. Thompson, Girton College, Cambridge)

"Clearly written and well-researched, [Frankfurter's] book is accessible to a wide audience of scholars and lay people alike." (J. G. Manning, Stanford University)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (August 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691026858
• ISBN-13: 978-0691026855
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,826,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, June 25, 2006

By 

Edward D. Plymouth (Philadelphia, PA. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Religion in Roman Egypt (Paperback)

This book is a thorough account of pagan Egyptian religion from the Roman occupation of Egypt during the first five centuries AD. It details the struggle of pagnism vs. Christianity in the course of Egyptian religious observance.

There is much I have learned about this period of history by reading this book. Suprisingly (in my opinion) there did not seem to be an enormous Roman influence on this culture (aside from imperial objections to oracles Rome may have found contentius).

The author's writing style is not easy to follow along with. While erudite,he seems to put much information in one paragraph,leads to another point and then returns to his original point some time later. A reader my have to re-read several paragraphs just to gather his original point. (Have a very good dictionary handy as well).

Overall, this is an interesting book.