After Life in Roman Paganism

The ancient Romans held complex beliefs in the afterlife, reflected in their religious rites, pantheon of Gods, and ideas expressed in folklore and seasonal festivals. A superb explainer of concepts commonly overlooked by students of antiquity, Franz Cumont seeks to demystify and clarify how important religion was to the Roman

The idea of death has perhaps never been more present to humanity than during the years through which we have just passed. It has been the daily companion of millions of men engaged in a murderous conflict; it has haunted the even larger number who have trembled for the lives

This book studies in detail the afterlife scene in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31). The description of the afterlife is related, on the one hand, to the overall Hellenistic cultural milieu and, on the other hand, to Luke's eschatological views.

In ancient Rome, it was believed some humans were transformed into special, empowered beings after death. These deified dead, known as the manes, watched over and protected their surviving family members, possibly even extending those relatives’ lives. But unlike the Greek hero-cult, the worship of dead emperors, or the Christian

Joseph S. Park examines the ancient Jewish inscriptions as they pertain to afterlife beliefs and compares them with afterlife expectations in Pauline literature.