Death, Burial and the Rebirth in the Religions of Antiquity (Religion in the First Christian Centuries) (Paperback)

by Jon Davies (Author) "Amongst the oldest thanatologies of the Ancient Near East were those of Egypt and Persia..." (more)
Key Phrases: differentiated afterlife, secondary burial, funerary architecture, Roman Empire, Beth Shearim, Iron Age (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
'... the application of a Weberian approach is, in itself, a welcome and valuable contribution.' - Bernadette McNary-Zak, Rhodes College, Reviews in Religion and Theology

'... the total effect is of an original scholarly study' - William Frend, Church Times

'Davis has produced a stimulating monogaphy on a vast subject' - Johan Leemans, Heythrop Journal

'The book is easy to read, and provides a good introduction to the study of comparative funerary religion for archaeologists and others outside the discipline or religious studies.' - Assemblage, University of Sheffield

'a fascinating analysis of the significance of death in early Christianity ... an impressive wealth of archaelogical and literary data [and] the resulting work is clear and readable.' - The Expository Times Vol.III No.6 March 2000

... the application of a Weberian approach is, in itself, a welcome and valuable contribution. - Bernadette McNary-Zak, Rhodes College, Reviews in Religion and Theology

... the total effect is of an original scholarly study - William Frend, Church Times

Davis has produced a stimulating monogaphy on a vast subject - Johan Leemans, Heythrop Journal

The book is easy to read, and provides a good introduction to the study of comparative funerary religion for archaeologists and others outside the discipline or religious studies. - Assemblage, University of Sheffield

a fascinating analysis of the significance of death in early Christianity ... an impressive wealth of archaelogical and literary data [and] the resulting work is clear and readable. - The Expository Times Vol.III No.6 March 2000

Product Description
Death, Burial and Rebirth in the Religions of Antiquity charts the significance of death to the emerging religious cults in the pre-Christian and early Christian world. Jon Davies analyzes the varied burial rituals and examines the different notions of the afterlife. Several areas are covered including: Osiris and Isis: the Life Theology of Ancient Egypt , burying the Jewish Dead and Christian burials. Jon Davies also draws on the sociological theory of Max Weber to present a comprehensive introduction to and overview of death, burial and the afterlife in the first Christian centuries which offers insights into the relationship between social change and attitudes to death and dying.
Draws on a wide variety of data: ancient texts, archaeological findings, works of art and architecture
Beautifully illustrated

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (August 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415129915
• ISBN-13: 978-0415129916
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #961,077 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

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0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great seller, July 30, 2007

By	R "r" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

Thank you for this easy transaction. I received the book promptly and it was in excellent condition.