The Pagan World
Ancient Religions Before Christianity
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Pagan World
Buy Now for $43.80
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Hans-Friedrich Mueller
-
Written by:
-
Hans-Friedrich Mueller
-
The Great Courses
About this listen
In The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity, you will meet the fascinating, ancient polytheistic peoples of the Mediterranean and beyond, their many gods and goddesses, and their public and private worship practices, as you come to appreciate the foundational role religion played in their lives. Professor Hans-Friedrich Mueller, of Union College in Schenectady, New York, makes this ancient world come alive in 24 lectures with captivating stories of intrigue, artifacts, illustrations, and detailed descriptions from primary sources of intriguing personalities.
In the ancient Mediterranean area, religion was not separate from daily life. To the contrary, religion was daily life. The many dozen gods of this ancient world were everywhere, with spirits inhabiting every crack and crevice of life. These polytheists believed they had a strict contract with their deities: If they took care of their gods, their gods would take care of them (or at least not harm them). Consequently, they built extraordinary temples to honor their deities, brought food and wine to them, sacrificed animals for them, and held sacred meals with their gods. In fact, they followed numerous rules and regulations that circumscribed almost all aspects of life both inside and outside the home - anything and everything to keep the gods happy. Consequently, the religious practices of the ancient Mediterranean make a wonderful lens through which to develop a deeper understanding of their world.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2020 The Great Courses (P)2020 The Teaching Company, LLCWhat listeners say about The Pagan World
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ryan Patrick
- 2023-05-23
Great overview
This is a fascinating overview of religions of antiquity with an entertaining professor presenting the lessons.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark F Sperring
- 2020-06-30
armchair historian
A little on the feminist studies side of the aisle but still lots of interesting stuff in it. also not a big fan of his presentation style. To be fair I'm not his usual demographic but I found him a little condescending. It could well be my issue alone but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laverdm
- 2023-04-13
Great Class
Delivery was good, although at times the pace was slow.
I really liked his session closures, « May your day be auspicious » or a disambiguation of that.
Content was extraordinary!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mason
- 2022-11-27
Dry as the Egyptian desert.
Like listening to someone reading the encyclopedia to you. They call it a “course” but I would expect someone teaching a course to somehow try and engage the reader with some sort of story telling. This lecturer would have put me to sleep if I’d had him reading a textbook this way to me in class.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Ivy Mills
- 2022-12-01
I wouldn't pay for it
If you can get it for free, it has some great information focussing on pre-christian Mesopotamia and Rome. That said the incessant, grandiose and irrelevant lists drive me crazy. It's like he wrote a thesis paper and read it aloud.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!