Women's Religions in the Greco-Roman World

This is a substantially expanded and completely revised edition of a book originally published in 1988 as Maenads Martyrs Matrons Monastics. The book is a collection of translations of primary texts relevant to women''s religion in Western antiquity from the fourth century BCE to the fifth century CE. The selections are taken from the plethora of ancient religions including Judaism and Christianity and are translated from the six major languages of the Greco-Roman world: Greek Latin Aramaic Hebrew Syriac and Coptic. The texts are grouped thematically in six sections: Observances Rituals and Festivals; Researching Real Women: Documents to from and by Women; Religious Office; New Religious Affiliation and Conversion; Holy Pious and Exemplary Women; and The Feminine Divine. Women''s Religions in the Greco-Roman World provides a unique and invaluable resource for scholars of classical antiquity early Christianity and Judaism and women''s religion more generally.