The articulation of Roman religion in the Latin historians Livy, Tacitus and Ammianus Marcellinus
This thesis examines religion in the Latin historians Livy, Tacitus and Ammianus Marcellinus. It differs from the majority of its predecessors in that it is primarily focussed on distinguishing religion as a system of knowledge rather than an issue of simple 'belief' or 'rejection'. To this end, different sections examine the presentation of the religious material and endeavour to integrate the style and language of each historian into an understanding of religion as an interpretative knowledge-system. This examination provides insight into the details and proprieties of religious statements both within the texts of authors concerned and (to a lesser extent) into their societies. It is argued that each historian constructs paganism in such a way as to provide a meaningful model of religious practice specifically for the political and social climate to which he belonged: rather than attempting to present an 'objective' and 'accurate' representation of religion (with which the historian then either agrees or disagrees), he is designing and reifying a model which is more or less traditional: the religious systems in these authors are intended to instruct the reader. As such, issues of 'belief' or 'scepticism'
Davies, Jason Peter
Textual analysis; Paganism; Civic religion
The articulation of Roman religion in the Latin historians Livy, Tacitus and Ammianus Marcellinus. This thesis examines religion in the Latin historians Livy, Tacitus and Ammianus Marcellinus. It differs from the majority of its predecessors in that it is primarily focussed on distinguishing religion as a system of knowledge rather than an issue of simple 'belief' or 'rejection'. To this end, different sections examine the presentation of the religious material and endeavour to integrate the style and language of each historian into an understanding of religion as an interpretative knowledge-system. This examination provides insight into the details and proprieties of religious statements both within the texts of authors concerned and (to a lesser extent) into their societies. It is argued that each historian constructs paganism in such a way as to provide a meaningful model of religious practice specifically for the political and social climate to which he belonged: rather than attempting to present an 'objective' and 'accurate' representation of religion (with which the historian then either agrees or disagrees), he is designing and reifying a model which is more or less traditional: the religious systems in these authors are intended to instruct the reader. As such, issues of 'belief' or 'scepticism'
articulation roman_religion latin historians livy tacitus examines religion latin historians livy tacitus differs majority predecessor primarily_focus distinguish religion system knowledge rather issue simple belief rejection end different section examine presentation religious material endeavour integrate style language historian religion interpretative knowledge system examination provide_insight detail religious statement within texts author concern lesser_extent society argue historian construct paganism way provide meaningful model religious_practice specifically political_social climate belong rather attempt present objective accurate representation religion historian either design reify model less traditional_religious system author intend instruct reader issue belief scepticism