1. The Historical Background of Christianity

2. Historical Background of Christianity
How can we describe ancient Judaism?
How can we describe Greco-Roman religion?
How can we compare/contrast them?

3. The Jewish Heritage Israel AKA “the Hebrews”
First recorded national history
Founders of “Western religious tradition”
Origins: the patriarchs (ca BC)
Abraham and Isaac

4. The Jewish Heritage The Exodus and Sinai (ca. 1300 BC)
Israelites oppressed in Egypt  slave labor
Moses led Israelites out of Egypt  Promised Land
Ten Commandments, the Torah given
Moses and the Ten Commandments

5. The Jewish Heritage

6. The Jewish Heritage

7. The Jewish Heritage Hebrew Religion Monotheistic YHWH Cult
Tabernacle, sacred furniture
Altars
Male priesthood
Holy days

8. The Jewish Heritage

9. The Jewish Heritage United Monarchy in Israel (ca. 1020-928 BC)
Different view of kingship from others in Middle East
David (r BC)
Origins: shepherd, mercenary
Expansion, conquest
Solomon (r BC)
Temple
Israel at its zenith

10. The Jewish Heritage
Edward Poynter, The Queen of Sheba before Solomon (1890)

11. The Jewish Heritage
Solomon’s Temple, Jerusalem

12. The Jewish Heritage The Divided Kingdom (928-722 BC)
Northern tribes broke away  Kingdom of Israel
Idols
Conquered by Assyria (722 BC)
Kingdom of Judah
Monotheism, idols too
Conquered by Babylon ( BC)

13. The Jewish Heritage Return from Exile Process began 539 BC
Jews permitted to return to homeland, rebuild Temple
Temple under construction ( BC)  “Second-temple Judaism”
King Cyrus the Great (r BC)

14. The Jewish Heritage The Jews Encounter Hellenism
Under Hellenistic Rule ( BC)
Jews ordered to abandon religious practices
“Abomination of Desolation”
The Maccabean Revolt ( BC)
Jews revolted under Judas Maccabeus ( BC)
Guerrilla warfare  Jewish victory, independence
Rededication of Temple (164 BC)

15. The Jewish Heritage
Hanukkah!

16. The Jewish Heritage Roman Occupation of Palestine
Jews had been ruled by priest-kings
Romans invaded 63 BC
“Client-kings” installed
Herod the Great (r. 37 BC - 4 AD)
King Herod the Great

17. The Jewish Heritage
The Second Temple (“Herod’s Temple”)

18. The Jewish Heritage
Questions?

19. Greco-Roman Religion The Roman Empire
Augustus Caesar (r. 29 BC- 14 AD)
Victory (31 BC)  master of the Roman world
Ruled as constitutional monarch with Senate
Brought stability, reform, Pax romana
Succeeded by Julio-Claudian emperors
Augustus Caesar

20. Greco-Roman Religion Traditional Religion Polytheistic
Roman pantheon  religion of State
Numerous priesthoods, famous shrines
The Vestal Virgins

21. Greco-Roman Religion
The Pantheon ( AD), Rome

22. Greco-Roman Religion

23. Greco-Roman Religion Neoplatonism “Intellectual mysticism”
Derived from Plato ( BC)
Theory of Forms
Dualism, immortality of soul
Teachings
All reality emanates from “the One”
Lowest level is matter
Contemplation  ecstatic union with the One

24. Greco-Roman Religion The Mystery Religions Musterion = “secret”
Devotees “initiated” into mysteries, not “born into” them
Attractive!
Communion with deity
Ethical guidance
Spiritual equality
Eternal afterlife

25. Greco-Roman Religion The Cult of Isis Symbolic of all female deities
Cult of afterlife and “suffering mother”
Popular among women

26. Mithras Slaying the Bull, British Museum
Greco-Roman Religion
Mithraism
Mithras: Persian god of light and truth
Blood of sacred slain bull is “source of life”
Sacramental meal: bread and water
Popular among Roman soldiers
Mithras Slaying the Bull, British Museum

27. Greco-Roman Religion San Clemente, Rome
Mithraeum, beneath San Clemente

28. Greco-Roman Religion

29. Greco-Roman Religion Emperor Worship Some emperors deified after death
Imperial cult established
Foundations during reign of Augustus
Cult statue of Augustus (early 1st cent.)

30. Greco-Roman Religion
Questions?

31. Historical Background of Christianity
How can we describe ancient Judaism?
How can we describe Greco-Roman religion?
How can we compare/contrast them?