Amazon.com
This is a book that was recommended to me, and I have to admit that it is one of the best scholarly texts on the history of European Pagan religions. Jones and Pennick trace the evolution of Pagan religions in Greece and Rome, the religions of the Celts, Paganism in Germany and the Balkans, and the current Pagan revival. Filled with concise information and illustrations which add to the content rather than distracting from it, I'm sure I'll be referring to this book again in the future.
Book Description
A History of Pagan Europe is the definitive study of the indigenous religions of Europe and their practices, beliefs and customs. Establishing Paganism as a persistent force in European history with a profound influence on modern thinking, Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick divide Europe into five broad cultural areas and traces the expression and development of Pagan religion in each of them from earliest times to present day. From the serpent goddesses of ancient Crete to modern nature worship and the restoration of the indigenous religions of Eastern Europe, this wide-ranging book offers an often provocative new perspective of European history.
Customer Reviews:
Thorough.......2007-03-02
This is a very comprehnsive review of what is known historically of Paganism in pre-Christian and Christian Europe. Although a great deal is known about Classical Paganism, the book is more evenly balanced with just as much, perhaps more, focus (given the relative paucity of facts) on old Northern European Paganism. Although the authors are, as it happens, pagans, it is a very thoroughly researched and scholarly book, without modern myth and vastly extrapolated speculation that one finds in some spiritually-based books posing as factual scholarly works. And yet the authors are not afraid to do a little reasonable (in my view) speculation about transformed relics of pagan ritual and beliefs surviving in folk culture. This is a good book for scholars who are looking for a broad survey of (mostly) historical European Paganism with some speculation about survivals in folk customs, and an excellent book for Neopagans who are looking for factual and scholarly works about old and ancient European Paganism and survivals in folk customs, which would be of interest to the Pagan and/or Wiccan. The book does not focus on the Neolithic.
An Illuminating Book.......2006-02-11
Jones & Pennick (J&P) present a well-documented text that provides substantial history for pagan culture, society, and religion. Their work does not challenge or argue with faith traditions. Their task is simply to offer available information about Europe's original socio-religious culture. (J&P speak only briefly to Asian and Middle Eastern influences.) Their point is to inform, not convert.
J&P begin by defining "paganism" as the original rural society and religious culture from the islands of the eastern Mediterranean (about 3000 BC). (The authors correctly point out that only after Christianity's 4th century legalization did "pagan" become synonymous with- and negatively connoted to- "non Christian".) Their narrative incorporates Greek, Roman, and Nordic influences in paganism's long history. Much of this story speaks to Christianity's medieval suppression (especially through the 5th and 11th centuries) of pagan rites and worship. By the end of the book J&P document paganism's modern emergence across the globe.
The book also proffers interesting arguments for pagan origins of various Christian characteristics and practices (i.e. Church's royal purple dating from the Etruscan -1500 BC- priestly color (p. 32), Christianity's 5th century assigning Christmas to Dec. 25th- the Mithric Day of the Unconquered Sun (p. 76), and the canonization of St. Bridget from the popular Scots/Celtic goddess Brighde (p. 101). Additionally, J&P tell of newly Christianized medieval kings' destruction of pagan culture and religion across the continent and paganism's continual resurgence through history.
The 200 page (hardback) is a quick read, especially for those unfamiliar with paganism. The book (containing 11 chapters) also includes a plethora of photographs (several in each chapter), maps, drawings, and an extensive 10 page bibliography.
This book is recommended to those hoping to understand paganism, students of religion, European historians, curious Christians, and clergy of all faiths. You will find this book illuminating.
awesome overview.......2005-10-27
This ADF approved text proved to be very enjoyable. Not only was it more educational than it's slim 220 pages would lead you to believe, it was also well written and not at all dry. This book is perfect for anyone wanting a broad spectrum treatment of pagan europe as well as having descriptive chapters on the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Germanic, Baltic, Russian and Baltic.
There was a certain sort of comfort reading this book as well. For one, we are shown how much paganism persisted even into modern times. As a modern day pagan, I often feel like a salmon swimming upstream against the current, but the book shows how paganism didn't just fall over like a leaf to the wind to the forces of Christianity. It fought back, persisted and even resurged over and over again. The current resurgance of paganism in modern times then seems like it is just part of the wave, rather than an isolated uprising.
Also, I found curious to note that much of ADF's focus on the Kindred would seem to be found here. The authors note again and again the pagan worship of ancestors, spirits and gods, just as we modern Druids in the order do. Additional mentions of the World Tree as well as a plethora of cauldrons and wells, further illustrates the firm grounding of our path in the past, not made up in its entirety.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable book, actually, proving that history does not have to be boring. It's presented in an interesting fashion and it's (deceptively) short length hides the wealth of knowledge to be gained here.
A good summary of the history of Paganism in Europe.......2005-03-25
This is a survey about the history of Paganism in Europe since Roman times.
There's some material about the traditional Goddesses, Gods, and worship in various parts of Europe. And there's material about what happened to Pagan customs when the Christians took over. Some, such as maypoles and caroling, appear to have survived.
I got the feeling from reading the book that Pagans were simply too tolerant to do well in the fight against the Christians. The Christians weren't tolerant at all, and so they tended to win battles against the Pagans. Of course, having a worse product to sell, the Christians had to fight to have any chance.
There were decisive defeats for the Pagans in the Roman Empire in the fifth century, including the brutal murder of Hypatia. And then, in 782 AD came a severe blow to Paganism in Western Europe: Charlemagne murdered 4500 Pagans who preferred death to conversion. Within three centuries, Scandinavia converted to Christianity, and that basically left Lithuania as the lone Pagan holdout in Europe. Pagans fled to Lithuania, but eventually the Christians took over there as well.
What did the triumph of Christianity mean? Well, I think it meant that people gave up the worship of the Goddesses and Gods in favor of a foreign atheistic religion, namely Christianity. It meant abandoning local and private worship in favor of an autocratic religious tyranny. I think the book glosses over the loss of freedom involved in giving up Paganism.
The book then recounts Pagan reaffirmation in Europe. There isn't much to that. A few Lithuanians stayed loyal to their old traditions into the eighteenth century. And some Gypsies arrived in Europe, but in keeping with Christian tradition, they were dealt with severely.
What is happening in Europe today? Is Paganism making a comeback? Given that people are different and fickle, there are obvious reasons to choose among many Gods and Goddesses. In addition, Christianity has never been morally or theologically sound. In an age where Christianity is being replaced by modern humanism, are Pagans being tolerated? Is it safe for them to come out of the broom closet?
Well, yes, Pagans are finally being tolerated. As the book says, the two biggest reasons for Europeans wanting to become Pagans today are to adopt a less chauvinistic religion than Christianity and to adopt a religion that takes a pro-ecology stand. I think these are fine reasons as well.
Jones and Pennick mention that Iceland, which shamefully converted to Christianity in 1000 AD, officially recognized Asatru (worship of the Aesir) as a religion in 1973. But the book does not say why this happened. The reason is that Iceland, as has been traditional in Scandinavia, has a Church tax. There is a State Church. But such a tax is inherently unfair to anyone who might not want to be a Lutheran. And so Norse Paganism was given some rights as an official minority religion. The issue was really about taxes, not about religion.
Overall, this is a readable and reasonable work. I recommend it.
A skippy survey.......2004-03-14
This is an interesting survey describing the various pagan religions; the process of their merger/supplantation by Christianity, their perseverance as "folk religion" and even their modern re-emergence. Nothing really heavy, but nice scholarship buttressed by a nice bibliography. On the bad side, it seemed a bit too much of a sell job for "goddess" worship and the section of Hungarian aboriginal religion was weak and, I believe, mildly inaccurate. Since Hungarians believe they spring from the Sumerians, there may have been more interesting connections. Nevertheless, the authors do a lot in a compact space.
Book Description
Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, the Vikings surged from their Scandinavian homeland to trade and raid along the coasts of Europe. Their influence extended from Newfoundland to Baghdad, their battles were as far-flung as Africa and the Arctic. But were they great seafarers or desperate outcasts, noble heathens or oafish pirates, the last pagans or the first of the modern Europeans?
This concise study puts medieval chronicles, Norse sagas and Muslim accounts alongside more recent research into ritual magic, genetic profiling and climatology. It includes biographical sketches of some of the most famous Vikings, from Erik Bloodaxe to Saint Olaf, from King Canute to Leif the Lucky.
Extending beyond the traditional ‘Viking age’ of most books, A Brief History of the Vikings also places sudden Scandinavian population movements in a wider historical context. It presents a balanced appraisal of these infamous sea kings, explaining both their swift expansion and its supposed halt. Supposed because the Vikings never really went away. Instead, posits Clements, they became a part of who we are today.
Customer Reviews:
Fresh Ideas.......2007-07-23
The author's conversational style and sense of humor make this book easy and enjoyable to read. Adding recent DNA evidence cements up areas concerning which peoples settled the various parts of Britain and the world. Viking history has been told in many books, yet this one adds new slants to old history. In concluding, the author reminds us that we might respond as lawlessly as the "barbarian" Vikings in similar hardship conditions, their warmer climate, and without our modern supports of government, welfare and insurance. Indeed, he says, other people now exploit the resources of distant lands for us.
A solid introduction.......2007-04-23
I had always been casually interested in Viking history, and while browsing at my local bookstore, this book seemed to provide an easy-to-read introduction to the Vikings. It definitely lived up to its potential. The author conducts a wide survey of the Vikings and their voyages from Greenland and North America all the way to the Middle East and the Black Sea. The text is entertaining and the author writes with a dry sarcasm that I found to be comedic. The only negative was that it was sometimes difficult to keep up with all the different names of various Scandinavian rulers and raiders. Overall, highly recommended for casual Viking enthusiasts.
a new perspective.......2005-11-05
Using personal histories and the biographies of leading figures, this book humanises the Viking world. In places, it often reads more like a historical novel, albeit one with scrupulous references to original sagas and archaeology. It is particularly good on the Vikings' encounters outside the usual stories, with interesting notes on their dealings with the Muslim world, particularly the effect of the Zanj Rebellion in what is now Iraq on the white slave trade in Northern Europe, and the influence of the influx of silver from Benjahir in Afghanistan. The narrative also manages a broad historical perspective, beginning with the departure of the Roman legions from Britain, and taking the impact of Scandinavians on North America all the way up to the year 2000. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- A disorganized, disjointed, and disappointing read
- Invaluable resource
- Classic of the Annales School
- Motley crew
- good peek into the private of early times
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A History of Private Life, Volume I, From Pagan Rome to Byzantium (History of Private Life)
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ASIN: 0674399749 |
Book Description
First of the widely celebrated and sumptuously illustrated series, this book reveals in intimate detail what life was really like in the ancient world. Behind the vast panorama of the pagan Roman empire, the reader discovers the intimate daily lives of citizens and slaves--from concepts of manhood and sexuality to marriage and the family, the roles of women, chastity and contraception, techniques of childbirth, homosexuality, religion, the meaning of virtue, and the separation of private and public spaces. The emergence of Christianity in the West and the triumph of Christian morality with its emphasis on abstinence, celibacy, and austerity is startlingly contrasted with the profane and undisciplined private life of the Byzantine Empire. Using illuminating motifs, the authors weave a rich, colorful fabric ornamented with the results of new research and the broad interpretations that only masters of the subject can provide.
Customer Reviews:
A disorganized, disjointed, and disappointing read.......2007-06-21
This book is one of those doppelgangers which appear to be something good and excellent on the outside but wind up being something, well, otherwise. The cover art at once draws you in, and just flipping through the pages, the multitude of interior plates, both color and b&w, are completely engrossing.
Sadly, the text of this book is practically worthless from a scholarly perspective. The authors make a variety of highly questionable claims throughout the book, very few of which are backed up with meaningful citations. For such a large book, the reference list at the back is pathetic. Hardly any primary sources are listed at all, even though many are mentioned in the text. Worse, the various authors write in a style which makes it appear that their claims are universally accepted and completely above debate. No serious academic would long tolerate such flaws in a work which pretends to make a contribution to scholarship.
It appears, however, that the book is meant for undergraduate level students and general readers. The publisher has clearly produced it with an eye to a wide audience. But this is precisely the type of book that a student or a reader with scant knowledge of ancient history should avoid. One doesn't have to read very far before it becomes clear that this book is primarily a philosophical/political tract masquerading as history. That's not to say that there is no presentation of valid historical facts here. The trouble is, these facts are often cherry-picked to fit neatly into a certain philosophical point of view that is never explicitly defined, only hinted at. Other extant facts that might harm or invalidate this point of view are routinely de-emphasized or ignored. If you want a clue as to what this over-riding philosophical point of view might be, you need only read the tribute given to Michel Foucault, a destructive critic of western civilization, by Paul Veyne in his introduction to the section on the Roman Empire.
There are simply too many questionable claims made in this book to challenge in a review, so I'll limit my criticisms to a couple big picture issues. The single greatest problem I had with this book is that it is not really a "History of Private Life." Discussions of hygiene, diet, maternity, child growth and development, adolescence, play, religious practices, trades, occupations, domestic architecture (except for one very out-of-place chapter), furnishings, farm life, medical care, personal finance, etc. are scanty when they exist at all. Meanwhile, the subjects of slavery, death, and sexuality (particularly deviant forms of sexuality) are covered in exquisite detail, again and again, chapter after chapter. If nothing else, one is left with a very clear notion of what the authors consider the key elements of "private life."
Another major problem involved the scope of the work. Though claiming to cover all the ground between "Rome and Byzantium," the book is highly idiosyncratic in what it covers and what it leaves out. The authors spill a great deal of ink on classical Roman civilization, but expend comparatively little on Christian Roman life between the 4th and 7th centuries. And aside from a brief foray into Merovingian private life, there is nothing on the other Germanic successor states that conquered the western empire. The chapter on Byzantium is completely cursory and covers only the 9th through 12th centuries, leaving everything from the 6th through 8th centuries, including the well-recorded Justinianic period, completely ignored.
Last but not least, there are also some very basic content and consistency problems with this book. A particularly humorous example is on page 81 where the author parenthetically claims that "cats were not yet domesticated in Rome." Meanwhile, an image directly to the right of this text shows a Roman relief of a young girl holding a cat, very obviously domesticated. There is also at least one example of a photo bearing the wrong caption. But these are certainly minor quibbles compared to the ones above.
Lest I sound completely down on this book, however, I should point out that the chapter on domestic architecture in Roman Africa by Yvon Thébert was as excellent as it was out of place. It deserved a book of its own, rather than to be a single grain of wheat amidst a heap of chaff.
Over all, this is a terrible book dressed up in a nice package. Its ultimate goal is to attract unsuspecting non-specialist readers and to fill their minds with a very scholarly-sounding but poorly-grounded and skewed version of history. As such, it is a subtle piece of propaganda which should not be confused with an actual description of what private life was really like in ancient Rome or Byzantium. Admittedly, though, the pictures are nice. Had the authors left the text in the original French, I would heartily endorse this book for an English speaking audience.
Invaluable resource.......2006-11-17
Fascinating in parts; illustrative of things I had not known or even suspected, things I had read allusions to previously, and things I never would even have thought studied. Of course, you need an interest in Roman and Byzantine life; and even if you have such an interest, not all the details will hold your attention. Some of the cross cultural comparisons were beautifully illustrative (one that sticks was a comparison between the economy of a present day middle eastern country to that of the Empire). I am pretty sure this suffered from some sort of idiological bias, as it was weirdly contradictory in places, though it is an original/odd enough bias that it it probably unique to the authors. One of the authors at least, seemed to be an intimate of Michel Foucault. All were french, and the prose suffers for it to the point of being occasionally downright nonsensical. The book certainly rid me of any "golden age" delusions I might have had, regarding Roman times. I'll stick with my electric can opener, microwave ovens, annoying legal system, and Blue Cross HMO thanks very much.
Classic of the Annales School.......2004-11-03
This book is the product of the methodology created by the annales school of historians in france. Founded in the late 20's, the Annales school pioneered the use of the methods and teachings from other schools of social science in the service of history. This approach spurned a focus on wars and politics in favor of a focus on "everyday life" i.e. the life of non-presidents and generals.
The general editors of this book (Durby and Aries) were pioneers of the approach, along with it's most famous author: Braudel. See his work on the mediteranean, or Aries' classic "In the Hour of Our Death".
These authors are second and third generation. The work is, on the whole, excellent, but it's a distinct style of scholarship, which may account for some of the confusion in the other reviews.
Each chronological segment is written by a different author. The section on Rome is an anchor to the whole five volume series. The secton on late antiquity is a bit brief. I skipped the chapter on roman domestic architecture in africa. The period on the early middle ages is rich and fascinating, but too brief. I could have read a whole book on the Merovinigian empire in northern Gaul! The chapter on the Byzantine empire focuses on the later empeire (900-1200(?) and the source material for the last chapter seems to consist almost of entirely of information on monastery life.
Over all, one is struck by the dramatic, though gradual, shift from pagan rome to early christianity. It is a unique book, and well worth reading.
Motley crew.......2002-08-11
This is the first volume of a multi-author endeavor to trace the changes in private attitudes, beliefs, benaviors, and lifestyles from the early Roman Empire to the late twentieth century. The first volume begins with the early Roman Empire and ends with the apogee of the Byzantine Empire. Containing five lenghty essays by different authors (mainly French -- the whole project is a French one) dealing with the early Roman Empire, the late Roman Empire, housing and architecture in Roman Africa, Merovingian Gaul, and tenth and eleventh-century Byzantium.
The project is a fresh and invigorating look at the ways that societies change. There are several excellent illuminations in this book. We are shown that the notion of Roman "sexual liberation" is not well-founded; that Christianity did not change Western views on sex and the body, but that Christianity adopted the views of the poorer (and more numerous) Roman classes; how architecture can reveal much about a society; and that the major change between the late Empire and the early medieval had to do with notions of "private" and "public."
Although the book is interesting and useful, there are some reasons to criticize it. Most of the attention is given to the early Roman Empire, which consumes almost one third of the book. Entirely too much space is given to the chapter on architecture in Roman Africa -- it is significantly longer than the chapter on the late Empire. The chapter entitled "The Early Middle Ages in the West" is really only about Merovingian Gaul, and does not always have the change between the late Empire and early medieval as a focus. The chapter on Byzantium did not seem to fit with the rest of the book. The reason for including Byzantium in this volume rather than the next volume (Middle Ages) was to show Byzantine culture as a continuation of Roman culture. Unfortunately, the piece was not about the early Byzantine, but rather the middle Byzantine era, thus having no connection with the rest of the book. It is also dubious that the book begins with the Roman Empire, not the Roman Republic or classical Greece. Paul Veyne says that this decision was made because Rome was essentially Greek in character, and that a section on Greece and a section on Rome would be repetitive. This is weak reasoning at best, but, given the lenght of the book as it stands now, it may still have been a good decision. Finally, the book is not footnoted or endnoted. There is a lengthy bibliography and a small notes section in the back, but assertions, ideas, and evidence are not clearly referenced. I do not know if this is how French scholarship is done, or if this major chunk of scholarship was left out in the interest of marketing the book to a lay audience. Either way, it is frustrating, and only hurts the academic value of this major project.
Despite these critical comments, I view the book as an excellent effort and an enlightening read. Too often history is about events, not people, and these historians have made a noble attempt to humanize our past.
good peek into the private of early times.......2002-05-02
This book covers about 1,000 years of private life, from the polytheistic era of classical Rome through the acceptance there and then institutionalization of Christianity in the dark ages. It is a dazzling side glance into the cultural evolution of these tumultuous times with some reference to the larger political context.
The distinctions between these cultures are at once subtle and brutal. First, we view the civitas of Rome, that is, the obligation that Roman citizens felt towards their cities, which involved complex community-oriented mores and expensive public displays that were paid for by private means; aristocratic children, brought up with relatively less sense of their individuality than we enjoy, saw their lives and careers as reflections of the glory of their cities. The reader is also treated to the way that slaves and families were treated in great detail.
Then, in the early Christian era, more privatized cultures arose, first with the increased introspection that the christianization of the empire entailed. Next, the barbarian invasions - in which nomadic tribes smashed the urban cultures in whose wealth they had wanted to partake - merely accelerated this trend; they greatly valued their possessions, often war booty that they had to carry with them, and hence had little regard for fixed property and its supporting laws that enabled cities to flourish. Infrastructure and larger communities and political units in this period deteriorated, which severely impacted trade and hence economic welfare. The standard of measure of a life at that time became purely personal wealth and power.
A sub-theme of the book is the influence of monasticism, which created its own closed communities and became the model for family life at the beginning of the gothic era. Monks and the clergy were the holders of standards of conduct and literacy through this little-known period, and exerted immense influence on the mores of the people who lived nearby. In all its detail, this was new to me. Indeed, if it were not for their labors, much of classical learning would have been lost forever. They are also virtually the only source for information about life in Byzantium.
While there is something lost in having so many authors involved in a single volume, the chapters in this book are so long and detailed that they are like self-contained books. Ample illustrations transport the reader to each era, revealing the mystery of what made us who we are in the west over so many centuries. Nonetheless, the chapters are uneven. The chapter on Roman architecture in N. Africa is very boring indeed, and the one on Byzantium is dull as well. But those on pagan and then Christian Rome are superb, as are those on the dark ages.
Finally, this book relies more on written sources than on archaeology, which is a pity in my opinion, as the sources written after pagan Rome are rather formulaic and outright boring in their rhetorical flourishes as you read about them over hundreds of pages. At times, it reads like a compendium of obscure sources, including exhaustive analysis of funery inscriptions, though that is often what academia comes down to. Another odd thing is that there are only two pages of footnotes, which are followed by a rather poor bibliography. While the book is trying to strike a balance between popular and specialized audiences, I would have preferred better info on sources.
In spite of these criticisms, there is no question that this book is an ample and fascinating meal. Recommended.
Book Description
This is the first survey of religious beliefs in the British Isles from the Old Stone Age to the coming of Christianity, one of the least familiar periods in Britain's history. Ronald Hutton draws upon a wealth of new data, much of it archaeological, that has transformed interpretation over the past decade. Giving more or less equal weight to all periods, from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages, he examines a fascinating range of evidence for Celtic and Romano-British paganism, from burial sites, cairns, megaliths and causeways, to carvings, figurines, jewellery, weapons, votive objects, literary texts and folklore.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book on what is know but open to other's theories.......2007-09-04
I found this to be a very informative book. The author presents what was know about the various time periods in Great Britian, states clearly that any further interpretation is best guess on anyone's parts, and presents both the archeological data, the guesses of academia and the guesses of intuitives. A very all around approach to the subject.
If you're a neo-pagan, you won't be after reading this (if you have any sense).......2007-08-07
I don't think I could add much to the reviews. This is a marvelous work, and a good antidote to the more common "newage" (rhymes with "sewage") books churned out by the thousands on the beliefs of the pre-Christian inhabitants of the British Isles. MAKE your neo-pagan friends read this! Tie them down and read it to them if you have to!
This is how historical surveys should be written........2005-12-23
Agreeing with D.P. Birkett's review below, the greatest strength of this book (and it has many) is that it can stand as a model of how a scholar with integrity can not only give you the facts about a subject but can also discuss - fairly and rigourously - what others (scholars and non-scholars) have said before. Hutton scrupulously gives credit where it is due, even to writers with whom (on other points) he utterly disagrees. This is scholarship at its best, and if only more books were written in this manner (ie. diligently finding out what IS known, and not distorting or going beyond the facts), we would all be intellectually better off.
Highly recommended.
An Academic Masterpiece.......2004-10-02
As a practising pagan of several years now, I'm rather disappointed by the review that dashes this work and author out of hand with a curt, "he must be a Christian" followed by a stream of rhetoric. No, this book isn't the fuzzy little love-love story that pagandom has been inundated with, and the world is the greater for it.
Ronald Hutton IS actually well versed in pagan traditions as an academic, if not a practitioner, having attended numerous pagan celebrations in the U.K. and actually pursuing pagan history as a personal interest (over what the establishment might deem as more suitable research topics). His degree of scholarship is apparent throughout this work. Archaeologically and historically (or prehistorically, if you will), this work is comprehensive and current, quite an eye-opener to those who have been bombarded with outdated archaeology/anthropology on the one hand and romantic mythology dressed as fact on the other.
Although parts of this book are dry, that is more a comment on the material than on the author himself. Containing numerous priceless diagrams and sketches, this book is a virtual treasure trove. This is the Number One book on my ample bookshelves for its history and applicability to my understanding of my own religious tradition.
I would highly recommend it to both academics and to pagans seeking a better comprehension of what has gone before (without the fluff and filler). For a more modern history of current paganism, try the author's Triumph of the Moon. For more great history/prehistory, try Ellis' The Celtic Empire, Barry Raftery's Pagan Celtic Ireland, Dillon's and Chadwick's Celtic Realms, Harding's European Societies in the Bronze Age and Whittle's Europe in the Neolithic.
Definitely interesting.......2004-08-06
OT: I find it amusing to read reviews stating that "obviously, Hutton is a Christian scholar." Oh really?
Short review for this one: it's good, academic reading that will challenge the way you think. I like it.
Book Description
This volume of translated source materials from the late Roman Empire to the mid-15th century introduces students to the diversity of medieval culture, covering all aspects of medieval life--social, religious, economic, intellectual, institutional.
Customer Reviews:
Great.......2005-10-19
The book was in great condition, it was a older version then we used in class, but it stil works. It also arrived a little later then I was hoping for.
Professor Tierney's research pays off for you!.......2002-05-20
Brian Tierney has collected so many excellent primary sources. If you are interested in what people of that time thought about or wrote, by all means get anything by Tierney. If you are a history student or teacher, these gems will enliven the discussion in the classroom and will even challenge your ideas of modernity. Enjoy!
Book Description
THE ISLES OF THE MANY GODS : An A-Z of the Pagan Gods & Goddesses worshipped in Ancient Britain during the first Millenium CE through to the Middle Ages By David Rankine & Sorita D'Este The British Isles have long been seen as a place of mystery & magic. For many thousands of years successive waves of invaders each brought their own gods & goddesses with them, often assimilating the beliefs of the tribes they conquered. The Celtic races merged with the indigenous people, they were conquered by the Romans, who brought with them deities from all over the Roman Empire (including Greece & Egypt). After them came the Saxons & other Germanic tribes, further adding to the rich tapestry that forms part of our spiritual heritage today. The Isles of the Many Gods brings together, for the first time, information on the worship of these deities in Britain, in an easy to use A-Z. It includes both the native & immigrant gods & goddesses, from well known gods like Apollo, Brigit, Freya, Herne, Isis, Mars & Woden to lesser known ones like Abandinus, Arianrhod, Genii Cucullati, Midir, Vitiris & the Wheel God. There are more than 240 entries providing information regarding the evidence of their worship in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland & the Isle of Man. Drawing from archaeology, architecture, art, artefacts, currency, place-names & literature thereby providing an excellent reference work for those interested in the spiritual beliefs of our ancestors. About the Authors Sorita D'Este and David Rankine are internationally recognized for their research and writing on mythology, spirituality and magickal practices of both ancient and modern times. They have collaborated on a number of projects in the past, including "The Guises of the Morrigan" and "Circle of Fire". Between them they have authored more than a dozen books, sometimes working with other authors with expertise in a particular area. In addition to books, Sorita and David have also contributed many articles to magazines, journals and websites over the years. Notably they were major contributors to the very successful D'Agostini "Enhancing Your Mind Body Spirit" partwork. They live and work in Wales (UK). For more information visit: www.avalonia.co.uk
Customer Reviews:
Very Good Research and Material.......2007-08-26
David Rankine and Sorita D'Este did a great researching job for this A to Z index of the many Gods and Goddesses that have been part of the culture and spirituality of the British Isles.
I have to give them big kudos for the quality of research and documentation that is included in this book. The bibliography is probably the largest I've ever seen in association with a pagan book, and it is not mostly referencing other pagan authors. Rather, this is a scholarly work, and if you have ever done any historical research on the British Isles, you will recognize some of these names.
Secondly, the explanation of the work is one of the best introductions I've ever read. Not only do we find out what the book is about, but Rankine and D'Este explain what they did, why they chose the Gods/Goddesses they chose, historical reference for their choices and a some background material that is a must have for the use of this book.
I like the layout of the book, from the front Table of Contents, to the well thought out Index, to the layout of the information on each of the Gods and Goddesses. This makes this a great reference book for anyone looking at the God and Goddesses of the British Isles.
I keep using the "British Isles" reference, because the book does not confine itself to any particular culture or island in that area. The Gods and Goddesses were introduced and evolved based on the cross cultures in that area over a period of time. The book covers all the Deities of the area, and while I did notice some obscure Deities that I did not expect, there were some I didn't recognize and reading through all the material was an education.
If your pantheon includes any of the Gods or Goddesses associated with the geographic area, this book will shed light on origins, lines of progression and some basic information on some of the lesser known Deities. The bibliography alone is worth the price of the book for further reference. Serious followers of the Ancient British traditions will find this book priceless and beginners will find the information will cover just about anything they want to know or research further.
And excellent reference book, a solid scholarly text and a marvelous research job by two people who took the time and effort to make a book worth having. Boudica
Everything you need in one book!.......2007-05-12
Wow, what a fantastic book!
I'm one of those people who, when doing research, hates to be surrounded by tons of different books searching through pages of useless info to find that 1 page that holds the information I'm looking for.
David and Sorita have done all the hard work for you here, a book that contains information on the Gods and Goddesses that were worshiped in Britain. Over 240 entries, this is a fantastic reference book.
Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
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Rome and the Literature of Gardens (Classical Inter/Faces) (Classical Inter/Faces)
Victoria Emma Pagan
Manufacturer: Duckworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
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ASIN: 0715635069
Release Date: 2007-02-16 |
Product Description
Rome and the Literature of Gardens explores the garden as a powerful locus of transformation and transgression in the De Re Rustica of Columella, the Satires of Horace, the Annals of Tacitus, and the Confessions of Saint Augustine. In keeping with the approach of this series, a concluding chapter examines the reincarnation of these expressions in the contemporary plays Arcadia and The Invention of Love by Tom Stoppard. Many books on gardens in ancient Rome concentrate on either technical agricultural manuals, or pastoral poetry, or the physical remains of Roman gardens. Instead, this book considers images of gardens from a kaleidoscope of genres, especially those that the Romans made their own: satire, annalistic history, and autobiography. This atypical approach makes a unique contribution to the field of Latin literature and garden history, bridging the gap between material culture and cultural history.
Book Description
Richard Wright chronicles his trip to Spain in 1954, capturing the beauty and tragedy of the country under the rigid rule of Francisco Franco.
Customer Reviews:
A different perspective.......2006-12-23
Spain fascinates me for some of the same reasons that intrigued Richard Wright when he wrote this book a few years before his untimely death. Wright ascertains that Spain is a contradiction,a holy nation that does ungodly acts, a superpower from the past trying to find its way in the modern world. Wright's main issue is exploring religion, namely Roman Catholism but along the way divulges his insights into a society plagued by it's past and present which at the time(1954)was still under Franco's influence. One of the more interesting aspects of this book is his discovery of a little book all young women must read and memorize. It turns out to be a sort of indoctrination to being "Spanish." Take an excerpt from Chapter 1, "Spain is a historical unit with a specific role to play in the world." This role is tied to religion and the conversion of all, by any means neccessary as exemplified with the conquest of the Americas; the gold and riches were just a by product of the divine nature of the conquest, a sort of earthly reward. Further on in the book destiny is defined as "all men in a common movement for salvation." In essence the belief is that Spain although no longer a superpower will be fundamental in the salvation of the world.Wright reads chapters of the book throughout his travels and shares them with the reader. Some of the Falangist concepts about Imperial Spain and how it pertains to the current state of affairs is amazing in it's ethnocentrism. The ideas from the Falangist book are worth reading this book for alone. Along his travels Wright sees the contradictions everywhere, racism, sexism and exploitation of women is rampant but sex sells, for it's price. So much for the high morality. One section is entitled " Sex , Flamenco and Prostitutuion" in which he explores this part of Spain that goes against the teachings of the church. Wright tries to live the life as regular people do and see it through their eyes. He buys a poor family a ticket to the bullfights and learns more lessons and observations on Spanish life. I found this book hard to put down and read it over a few brief settings while listening to Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" as interpreted by Miles Davis on "Sketches of Spain". The material is fascinating and makes you think about many things especially if you happen to have Spanish heritage in your veins somewhere. Highly insightful and worth reading for the perspective of an outsider. Recommended reading from high school to adult although it might offend some Catholics.
Refreshingly Honest.......2006-01-31
I'm a fan of Wright's but had not heard of this book. It's one of those you start reading and it just fascinates you so you can't put it down. Part travelogue, part social critique, this work of Wright's is refreshing because we see it through the eyes of someone who hasn't be educated or socialized out of believing what he sees. I've always felt that in some places Catholicism is practed in a cult-like way. Wright shows how much power the Church had and what the results were.
Valuable perspective from a visitor/outsider.......2000-12-16
This book had, says the introduction, been out of print for many years before being briefly republished several years ago. If anyone is able to purchase or obtain this work, they will find it an insightful view into a Spain still largely unknown by and officially protected from America and much of Europe. It was written in the mid-fifties after Wright had taken three journeys to that country. His argument is that Spain is still pagan: a primitive land untouched by the outside world for better or worse. On one hand, the Spanish practice an almost superstitious, certainly paternalist Catholicism which straightjackets women and suspects the few Spaniards daring to practice Protestantism. More positively, Wright finds, Spaniards have no race consciousness derived from outside sources. Wright notes that though obviously of African background, he was not discriminated against in terms of accomodation, dining, or socializing. He talks with a variety of Spaniards. Many question the Franco regime; are anticlerical and sceptical of Spanish values and history. Wright's descriptions of the often intimidating landscape, of bullfights and the celebration of Holy Week in Seville, are excellent. He maintains a basic criticism of the domination of the Church throughout.This brought adverse reaction when the work originally appeared, during an ultra-conservative era when religion was considered a bastion against communism. Wright 's sympathies for Spanish women, be they housewives, prospective brides or prostitutes, is farseeing. He understands the stereotypes women are subject to, especially in such a traditional society.Wright, an ex-communist, still had nostalgic feelings for the fledgling Spanish Republic. The Civil War is a subject only mentioned in confidence to him, so then recent was that struggle. For anyone wishing a broad-minded, well-written portrayal of a country that has fascinated many writers, "Pagan Spain" would be very worthwhile.
Customer Reviews:
A History of Pre-Christian Europe.......2007-02-11
With chapters on Greek, Roman, Germanic, Celtic, Baltic and Russian pre-Christian religious cultures, this is a very comprehensive book. Ronald Hutton, the well respected scholar, historian and author, reviewed this manuscript before publication and apparently gave advice on the facts and figures presented. The bibliography is huge and varied, providing excellent supplementary resources for those inclined to do further research. An extensive index makes finding information relatively easy.
There is quite a bit of interpretation of anthropological and archeological theories that may or may not be influenced by a certain amount of neo-Pagan bias on the part of the authors.
I may be biased myself, as I am Pagan and know that an accurate history of the pre-Christian past has been hard to come by. Overall, the book covers a wide variety of cultures and geographical areas and contains more detailed information than many other 'pagan' histories that I have read. I almost gave this book 4 stars but my scepticism, deserved or not, just wouldn't let me go that far.
A must read for pagan history.......2005-11-22
this is a factual history of the roots, battles and civilizations of pagan europe... a must read for anyone wanting to learn about Paganism before it's modern rebirth. It is well written and easy to read. It is one of my history refrence books for Pagan Homeschooling.
Book Description
The established impressions of early Celtic Ireland have come down to us through the great Irish sagas, but recent archaeological research has transformed our understanding of the period. Reflecting this new generation of scholarship, Barry Raftery presents the most convincing and up-to-date account yet published of Ireland in the millennium before the coming of Christianity. The transition from Bronze Age to Iron Age in Ireland brought many changes, including significant advances in travel and transport, and the construction of great royal centers such as Tara and Emain Macha. Professor Raftery also discusses the elusive lives of the common people; technology, arts, and crafts of the period; Ireland's contacts with the Roman world; and the complex religious beliefs of the Irish Celts. Generously illustrated throughout, Pagan Celtic Ireland will be read avidly by everyone interested in Ireland's mysterious past.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent source on Iron Age Ireland.......2003-02-20
In this book the author, who is head of archeology at University College Dublin, gives us a great insight into the current research on this period in Ireland. There is so much pseudo-history and myth that gets repeated over and over again that this book offers a rare insight into what Irish scholars actually know about Celtic Ireland. It deals quite effectively with the issue of the mythological "Celtic" invasion of people and explains the circumstances surrounding the arrival or development of the Celtic culture in Ireland.
It is written from an archaeological point of view but should also be of interest to general readers. I highly recommend it as a source for scholars of this period and readers who want to know more about the Iron Age in Ireland.
An important and timely work.......1999-05-06
This book is extremely useful in that it is the only complete synthesis of the Irish Iron Age archaeology. It is also simple to read and illustrates to the layman the differences between Ireland and Europe during the time of the Celts. However, many people are misled by the mystical title - this is a purely archaeological book!
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- A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
- A Woman's Journey to God
- Absolute Fear
- All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)
- An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi`ism
- Born O'Hurley (The Last Honest Woman / Dance to the Piper)
- Bringing Yoga to Life: The Everyday Practice of Enlightened Living
- Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends
- Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know
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Books Index
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