The Pagan God, Popular Religion in the Greco-Roman near East

1979 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
John H. Marks ◽  
Javier Teixidor
Keyword(s):  
Near East ◽  
Popular Religion ◽  
Greco Roman ◽  
Roman Near East

A Greek Christian World?

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fergus Millar
Keyword(s):  
Near East ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Literary Culture ◽  
Second Century ◽  
Local Context ◽  
The West ◽  
Greek Culture ◽  
Greco Roman ◽  
Roman Culture ◽  
Roman Near East

The great temple of Artemis at Gerasa (Jerash) in Jordan is one of the finest expressions of Greco-Roman culture in the Near East. Built in the second century, it includes a church that was erected on top of another building. This chapter explores the combination of Greek and Hebrew or Aramaic that characterised the mosaic floors of synagogues of the period from Palestine, across the Jordan to the west, where the roles of the two languages tend to be reversed: Hebrew or Aramaic was used for the strictly religious components while Greek was used for the names of benefactors. More specifically, it considers the combination — or alternation — of co-existence and hostility between Christians and Jews. After providing a background on the Roman Near East, the chapter analyses the language that Jews possibly used in daily life, and whether pagans of the Roman Near East spoke Aramaic. It then examines documentary evidence that offers insights into Greek culture in the Near East in its local context before concluding with a discussion of Greek literary culture in the region.

The Aphrodite of Emesa: miniature marble sculpture and religious life in Roman Syria

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 193-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas J. M. Kropp
Keyword(s):  
Near East ◽  
Religious Life ◽  
Art Market ◽  
Julius Caesar ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
The Temple ◽  
Comprehensive Study ◽  
Roman Syria ◽  
Roman Near East

The sculpture of Roman Syria is a mighty tree with roots so deep and branches so far-flung that they have defied all attempts at systematic and comprehensive study. This article deals with one of these branches of artistic traditions, a series of unusual marble Aphrodite statuettes found in Roman Syria, and in particular at Emesa . In what little attention these statuettes have received, scholars have listed up to 10 extant specimens, but a closer look has uncovered dozens, many of which have surfaced on the art market in recent years. In all likelihood, they reproduce a cult statue of Aphrodite at Emesa. They merit attention on a number of levels. Unlike much of the marble statuary of the Roman Near East, they do not reproduce an opus nobile from the Graeco-Roman canon; the Emesa Aphrodites, although based on Graeco-Roman divine iconography, draw on a Roman Venus type, while their style has much in common with local sculpture made of basalt, sandstone and limestone. This study examines, first, the character, origins and development of this statuary type and its links to well-established Graeco-Roman Aphrodite types. Many years ago, M. Bieber identified these statuettes as miniature versions of the statue of Venus Genetrix created by Arkesilaos for the Temple of Venus in the Forum of Julius Caesar. As there is still no consensus on the exact appearance of that famous statue, I will also comment on this question. Second, I look at the statuettes in context. Through their unusual style, format and iconography, they portray an Aphrodite of a distinct and unique character that raises questions about the significance of marble sculpture in the religious life of Roman Syria.

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