ENGLISH

Mystery Religions in the Ancient World

By Joscelyn Godwin

Book information

Publisher
Harper & Row
Year
1981
ISBN
0060631406, 9780060631406
LCC
BL610 .G63 1981
Open Library ID
OL3785179M
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
55 MB (57513507 bytes)
Pages
177\177
Topic
History
Time added
2011-06-04 13:46:07

Description

A lively, illustrated overview of the variety of mystery religions that flourished at the dawn of the Christian era. In clear, enlightened text and striking images, Mystery Religions holds up a "distant mirror" to our own times, showing that the quest for spiritual illumination from Eastern religions, and emphasis on spiritual development and experience, and a concern for hidden knowledge are deeply rooted in Western culture. Mystery Religions brings the myths, the magic, their rites and the wisdom of a bygone age to compelling life, making them comprehensible to modern readers.... Here is a compelling account of the forms mystery religions took, from the cults of Mithras, Dionysus, and Orpheus to those of the Goddess, esoteric Christianity and Judaism, and Gnosticism. Godwin offers a rich and varied selection of illustrations; the symbolism of paintings, statues, releifs, and other visual imagery provides a wealth of additional information about these religions. --- excerpts from book's back cover

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