Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide (Harvard University Press Reference Library)
Comparative study of ancient cultures--especially ancient religious conceptions--has evolved in recent decades, and this volume meets an important desideratum in light of scholarly advances... 'Key Topics' is the most distinctive feature of the book, and one that will make this reference tool valuable for many years to come, especially when used together with the first two parts for comparative purposes...This volume contains a wealth of information. (Bill T. ArnoldReview of Biblical Literature2005-07-01)Every once in a long while, a reference work comes along that is certain from the outset to become a well-used standard.Religions of the Ancient World: A Guideis such a work, which is unsurprising given that approximately one hundred forty top scholars contributed to the articles inside. Not quite an encyclopedia, not quite a collection of essays, this unique volume is the first comprehensive and comparative reference guide to a wide array of topics in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern religions. (Frances FlanneryJournal of the American Oriental Society)