Rituals in ink

Ancient rituals are frequently known through descriptions in highly literary texts only. Religious and ritual studies have used such texts rather uncritically as “sources” for a reconstruction of ritual action, literary critics have tended to neglect such longish and technically laden passages. Focussing on Rome, the contributors combine literary and ritual interest in a fresh reading of central passages of Latin elegy, epic and historiography, thus offering new perspectives on literary strategies and illustrating the importance of religion in Roman culture and literature. From the Contents D. Feeney: Interpreting sacrificial ritual in Roman poetry J. Rüpke: Relations of Script and Performance E. Sciarrino: A Temple for the Professional Muse F. Hickson Hahn: Gratitude to the Gods J. Hawkins: Venus the Healer in Virgil’s Aeneid Y. Syed: Ovid’s Use of the Hymnic Genre in the Methamorphoses M. Beard: The Triumph of Ovid T. Murphy: Soranus and the Secret Name of Rome Index locorum