Online Resources for the Study of Ancient Religions and Cultures
Contents
- Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Bible
- Ancient History and Religions (Greek, Roman, Ancient Near Eastern)
- On-Line Ancient Sources (Greek, Roman, Jewish, Christian)
- Epigraphy, Papyrology, and Archeology
- Maps of the Ancient World
- Religious Studies and the Social Sciences
- On-Line Journals
- Academic Societies
Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Bible
1. Gateways and General Resources
All-in-One Biblical Resources Search (Mark Goodacre)
Biblical Art on the www
Links to biblical art (searchable by subject, biblical text, artist, and keyword)Deinde: Discussion and Resources for Biblical Scholars
From Jesus to Christ: The First Christian Centuries (PBS)
Holy Land Photos
Many photos from ancient Greece, Israel, and TurkeyiTanakh: Resources for Academic Study
Links to resources for the study of the Hebrew Bible and its contextJewish History Resource Center (Dinur Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
New Testament Gateway (Mark Goodacre)
Old Testament Gateway (Tabor College, Victoria, Australia)
Online resources for the study of the Christian Apocrypha and "Gnosticism"
Project on Ancient Cultural Engagement (Steve Mason)
Resources for the study of Flavius Josephus (the first-century Jewish historian), Polybius and other writings dealing with cultural interactions in antiquityResource Pages for Biblical Studies (Torrey Seland)
An excellent collection of resources, links, and on-line publications pertaining to early Judaism and Christianity, including resources for the study of Philo of Alexandria (the first-century Jewish philosopher)TheologyWebsite.com
Resources for the study of the Bible, church history, and Christian theology
2. Synagogues
The Nature and Origins of the First-Century Synagogue (Anders Runesson)
This article challenges common assumptions about the beginnings of Jewish synagogues in the ancient MediterraneanSecond Temple Synagogues (Donald D. Binder)
Photos and discussion of synagogues, including those at Gamla, Capernaum, Masada, Herodium, Delos, Cyrenaica, and Ostia.
3. Apocalypticism
Links to Revelation, Apocalyptic and Millennial Websites and Materials (Felix Just)
Ancient History and Religions (Greek, Roman, Ancient Near Eastern)
1. Gateways and General Resources
ABZU (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago)
A Guide to information related to the study of the Ancient Near East on the WebAncient Astrology and Divination on the Web (Tim Spalding)
Classics Gateway (University of Reading)
Diotima: Materials for the Study of Women and Gender
Egyptology Resources (Cambridge University)
Okeanos: Ancient Near Eastern Studies (Scott B. Noegel)
An interdisciplinary resource for the study of the Ancient, Biblical, Classical, and Late Antique Near EastResources on the Internet for Ancient History and Classics (Trent University, K. H. Kinzl)
Roman Sites (Bill Thayer)
A catalogue of over 2,000 websites relating to Roman historyStoa.org: A Consortium for Electronic Publishing in the Humanities
Electronic publication of works relating to the ancient world, including Children of Oedipus, Ancient Journeys (an honorary volume for E.N. Lane), Household and City Organization at Olynthus, and Demos: Classical Athenian DemocracyTraditions of Magic in Late Antiquity (University of Michigan)
Travel and Religion in Antiquity (Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, maintained by Harland)
2. The Mysteries of Specific Gods or Goddesses
(Arranged alphabetically by god/goddess)
Asklepios/Glykon
Alexander the False Prophet (Lucian)
Lucian of Samosata's (second-century) critique of the mysteries for the snake-god Glykon (a new Asklepios), which were introduced by Alexander, a "huckster" (in Paphlagonia, northern Asia Minor)Images of Glykon (Perseus search)
Cybele/Great Mother (Magna Mater)
Images of Cybele (Perseus search)
Demeter and Kore/Persephone
Demeter: The Cult at Eleusis
Outline of the Greater and Lesser MysteriesThe Eleusinian Mysteries (Edward Beach)
Article on the mysteries of Demeter and Kore at EleusisHomeric Hymn to Demeter
Online text of the 7th century BCE writing which tells the story of Persephone, Demeter, and the introduction of mysteries at EleusisImages of Demeter, Kore, and sanctuaries at Pergamon, Priene, Iasos, and others (Perseus search)
Images of Eleusis and its sanctuary (Perseus search)
Dionysos (Dionysus)
The Bacchae (Euripides)
Euripides' (fifth century BCE) play which tells the story of Dionysos' journeys and the women of Thebes, whom he drove mad ("maenads") (Harvard Classics translation)Dionysos
Collection of ancient literary texts and images concerning the godImages of Dionysos (Perseus search)
Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii (Dean Swift)
Photos of paintings relating to Dionysos' mysteries (also known as Villa Item)Emperors
Imperial Cults within Local Cultural Life (Harland - on this site)
Honours and Worship (Harland)
Articles that discuss imperial mysteries for the emperors (Sebastoi) alongside other honours for the emperors as godsMithras
Electronic Journal of Mithraic Studies
Many scholarly articles on Mithras and his mysteriesImages of Mithras (Perseus search)
Mithraism: The Cosmic Mysteries of Mithras (David Ulansey)
Virtual Mithraeum (Museum of Antiquities, University of Newcastle)
Virtual tour of a temple of Mithras with discussionSabazios (Sabazius)
Images of Sabazios (Perseus search)
Samothracian "Great Gods"
Images of Samothrace and its sanctuary (Perseus search)
Samothrace: A Short Cultural Guide (Dimitris Matsas and Argiris Bakirtzis, University of Thrace)
Discussion and photos of the ancient site of Samothrace (island off the north-western coast of Asia Minor), including material on the sanctuary of the "Great gods" and the mysteries that were celebrated there (available in modern Greek or English)
3. Specific Cities or Regions (including Virtual Tours)
Aphrodisias in Late Antiquity: The Late Roman and Byzantine Inscriptions (Charlotte Roueché)
Full book on the city of Aphrodisias and its inscriptions in late antiquity (revised, 2nd edition, originally published by the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies in 1989)Ephesos: An On-line Panoramic Virtual Tour
Metis (Bruce Hartzler)
Panoramic (Quicktime) views of Athens, Delphi, Corinth, Didyma, Epidaurus, Miletos, Priene, Sardis, and many others (in QuickTime)Missioni Archeologiche Italiane in Turchia
Photos and discussion of archeological finds in Asia Minor (carried out by Italian archeologists), including the cities of Elaiussa Sebaste, Hierapolis, Iasos, and Kyme (available in English, Italian and Turkish)Ostia: Harbour City of Ancient Rome
Pompeii Forum Project
Photos of and information about ancient Pompeii, ItalyPompeii: Insula 1.9 (British School at Rome, Pompeii Project)
Panoramic views and virtual tours of excavated houses (in Quick Time)Religion in Hellenistic Athens (Jon D. Mikalson)
Full book on religion in the city of Athens (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998)
Online Ancient Sources (Greek, Roman, Jewish, Christian)
Classical Myth: The Ancient Sources
Early Christian Writings
New Testament, Apocrypha, Gnostics, and FathersEarly Church Fathers
Ante-Nicene, Nicene, and Post-Nicene Christian authorsInternet Ancient History Sourcebook
Links to ancient sources for Mesopotamia, Israel, Egypt, Persia, Greco-Roman world, Christian originsOnline Critical Pseudepigrapha (David Miller, Ken Penner, and Ian Scott, project directors)
Online critical editions of Jewish literature from the Pseudepigrapha in the original languages (e.g. 1 Enoch, Testament of Job, Testament of Abraham)
Epigraphy, Papyrology, and Archeology
American Society of Greek and Latin Epigraphy
Links to web-based epigraphical resourcesAustrian Archeological Institute / Österreichisches Archäologisches Institut
Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents
Images of inscriptionsDuke Databank of Documentary Papyri (Perseus)
Many classic Greek papyri collections onlineGerman Archaeological Institute / Deutsches Archäologisches Institut
Introduction to Greek and Latin epigraphy: An absolute beginners’ guide (Onno van Nijf)
POxy: Oxyrhynchus Online
Discussion of the papyri discovered at Oxyrhynchus in EgyptSupplementum Epigraphicum Graecum
Annual bibliography of Greek epigraphyUniversity of Michigan Papyrus Collection
Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik
Bulletin of Papyrology and Epigraphy
Maps of the Ancient World
Historical Atlas of Antiquity
Regional maps of the Roman empireMap of Greece and Asia Minor
Greek Mythology Link
Religious Studies and the Social Sciences
Online Articles and bibliographies about Sociology of Religion (Hartford Institute for Religion Research)
Links to articles by well-known sociologists covering various topics, including millenialism, sects, cults, and new religious movementsReligion Gateway: World Religions - Religious Studies - Comparative Religion
The Religious Movements Homepage Project (University of Virginia)
Material on cults and New Religious Movements (NRM), including religious movement profiles, cult controversies, on-line articles, and teaching resourcesVirtual Religion Index (Rutgers University)
Voice of the Shuttle (Web Page for Humanities Research): Religious Studies
Online Journals (free, open-access journals only)
1. Gateways to academic, open-access journals on the web
2. Biblical Studies, Judaism, and Early Christianity
IOUDAIOS Review
Book reviews on ancient Judaism.Journal for the Study of Rhetorical Criticism of the New Testament
Review of Biblical Literature
Book reviews relating to the Bible and its context.
3. Ancient World (Greek, Roman and Near Eastern Societies)
Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Book reviews relating to ancient Greece and Rome.Didaskalia
Journal on the ancient theatreElectronic Journal of Mithraic Studies
Revue internationale des droits de l'antiquité
Journal dealing with various aspects of law in ancient Greece and RomeZeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik
Bulletin of Papyrology and Epigraphy
4. Religious Studies
Academic Societies
American Society of Greek and Latin Epigraphy
Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion (CCSR)
Canadian Society of Biblical Studies (CSBS)