The pagan world in ancient times was characterized by a multitude of religions before the dominance of Christianity. These ancient religions were polytheistic in nature, meaning they believed in the existence of multiple gods and goddesses. Each culture and civilization had its own unique pantheon of gods and religious practices. One of the most well-known ancient religions is ancient Greek mythology. The ancient Greeks believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses, such as Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, and Aphrodite, among others. These gods were believed to have control over various aspects of life and were worshipped through rituals, offerings, and festivals.
24 lectures (30 min. each) on 4 videodiscs.
Ancient Roman ancestor worship -- Gods of the Roman household -- Gods of the Roman state -- Priests and ceremonies in the Roman Republic -- Religion, politics and war in Rome -- Rome s reactions to foreign religions -- disc 4. jpeg titleId 14601704 isbn rating TVPG abridged episode 1 language ENGLISH profanity title Early Pagan Religion in Mesopotamia titleTitle Pagan World Ancient Religions before Christianity demo segments Array duration 35m 0s children artists Array 0 stdClass Object name Hans-Friedrich Mueller artistFormal Mueller, Hans-Friedrich relationship ACTOR 1 stdClass Object name The Great Courses artistFormal Courses, The Great relationship DIRECTOR 2 stdClass Object name The Great Courses artistFormal Courses, The Great relationship PRODUCER genres Array 0 Educational 1 History price 1.
These gods were believed to have control over various aspects of life and were worshipped through rituals, offerings, and festivals. The Greek gods were seen as powerful and often depicted as having human-like qualities and emotions. Similarly, the ancient Romans had their own pantheon of gods and goddesses, closely resembling the Greek deities.
The Pagan World: Ancient Religions before Christianity
Take a close, behind-the-scenes look at religion and life in the ancient Mediterranean world to see how early pagan religions helped shape the world as we know it today.
- By This Professor
- 01: Early Pagan Religion in Mesopotamia
- 02: The Rigveda and the Gods of Ancient India
- 03: State Religion in Ancient Egypt
- 04: From Myth to Religion: The Olympian Deities
- 05: Household and Local Gods in Ancient Greece
- 06: Feeding the Gods: Sacrificial Religion
- 07: Prayers, Vows, Divination, and Omens
- 08: Delphi and Other Greek Sanctuaries
- 09: Cults and Mystery Religions
- 10: Philosophical Critiques of Paganism
- 11: Greek Funerary Practices and the Afterlife
- 12: Egyptian Influences on Ancient Religion
- 13: Ancient Roman Ancestor Worship
- 14: Gods of the Roman Household
- 15: Gods of the Roman State
- 16: Priests and Ceremonies in the Roman Republic
- 17: Religion, Politics, and War in Rome
- 18: Rome’s Reactions to Foreign Religions
- 19: The Roman Calendar and Sacred Days
- 20: Julius Caesar: A Turning Point in Roman Religion
- 21: Emperor Worship in Rome
- 22: Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians
- 23: Popular Religions of Late Antiquity
Taught by
Hans-Friedrich Mueller, Ph.D.
Hans-Friedrich Mueller., Hans-Friedrich Mueller|ACTOR., The Great Courses|DIRECTOR., & The Great Courses|PRODUCER. (2020). Pagan World: Ancient Religions before Christianity: Early Pagan Religion in Mesopotamia . The Great Courses.
Roman mythology incorporated many of the same gods but with different names. For example, Zeus became Jupiter, Hera became Juno, and Aphrodite became Venus. The Romans also believed in the importance of rituals and worship to appease these gods and ensure their favor. In ancient Egypt, the religious beliefs were centered around the worship of numerous gods and goddesses. The ancient Egyptians believed in the concept of afterlife and the existence of the soul. Their religion was highly ritualistic and involved elaborate burial practices, including mummification. The pharaoh was seen as the divine intermediary between the gods and the people. The ancient Norse religion, known as Norse mythology, was practiced by the Vikings and other Germanic tribes. The Norse gods, such as Odin, Thor, and Loki, were gods of war, wisdom, and trickery. Viking culture and beliefs involved rituals, sacrifices, and legends about their gods and heroes. Other ancient pagan religions include Celtic mythology, Sumerian religion, Babylonian religion, and the religions of ancient India and China. These religions had their own unique pantheons and religious practices. The pagan world before the rise of Christianity was rich in religious diversity. These ancient religions provided explanations for natural phenomena, offered guidance on morality and ethics, and played a significant role in shaping the cultures and societies of the past. With the spread of Christianity, many of these pagan religions declined and eventually disappeared, but their influence on history and culture cannot be overlooked..
Reviews for "The Influence of Pagan Beliefs on Modern Christianity"
1. Jane Smith - 1 star
I found "The pagan world ancient religions before Christianity" to be incredibly dull and unengaging. The author's writing style was dry and lacked any excitement or passion. Additionally, the book seemed to jump around without any clear structure or organization, making it difficult to follow the content. I was hoping to learn more about ancient religions and their practices, but I found that the book only provided surface-level information without any depth or analysis. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. John Doe - 2 stars
"The pagan world ancient religions before Christianity" was a disappointing read for me. I was expecting a comprehensive exploration of various pagan beliefs and practices, but instead, the book felt like a disjointed collection of random facts. The author failed to provide sufficient context or background information, leaving me feeling confused and disconnected from the content. Additionally, the writing style was overly academic and lacked a personal touch, making it difficult to stay engaged. While the book had potential, it fell short in delivering a cohesive and engaging examination of ancient religions.
3. Emily Johnson - 2 stars
As someone with a strong interest in ancient history and religions, I was excited to dive into "The pagan world ancient religions before Christianity." However, I was ultimately disappointed with the book's content. The author seemed more focused on discussing the theories and hypotheses surrounding ancient religions rather than providing concrete information. It often felt like I was reading a series of speculations rather than an in-depth analysis. Furthermore, the writing style was dry and lacked the enthusiasm needed to make the subject matter come alive. Overall, I found this book to be a missed opportunity in exploring and understanding ancient religions from a more objective and informative perspective.