A fresh and daring take on ancient apocalyptic books. The year 167 b.c.e. marked the beginning of a period of intense persecution for the people of Judea; as Seleucid emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted ― forcibly and brutally ― to eradicate traditional Jewish religious practices. In Apocalypse against Empire Anathea Portier-Young reconstructs the historical events and key players in this traumatic episode in Jewish history and provides a sophisticated treatment of resistance in early Judaism. Building on a solid contextual foundation; Portier-Young argues that the first Jewish apocalypses emerged as a literature of resistance to Hellenistic imperial rule. She makes a sturdy case for this argument by examining three extant apocalypses; giving careful attention to the interplay between social theory; history; textual studies; and theological analysis. In particular; Portier-Young contends; the book of Daniel; the Apocalypse of Weeks; and the Book of Dreams were written to supply an oppressed people with a potent antidote to the destructive propaganda of the empire ― renewing their faith in the God of the covenant and answering state terror with radical visions of hope..
#350079 in Books 2001-10-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .42 x 6.00l; .54 #File Name: 080284913X175 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Not Even AverageBy thuggiTripolitis' book is like the Discovery Channel version of Hellenistic religions. It is superficial and presents only the most simplistic "facts" as if they were the full and uncontroverted extent of all scholarship. There is no depth or any attempt to add substance to the topic. It comes across more as a high school essay than an attempt at serious scholarship.That would be bad enough in its own right; but Tripolotis doesn't even manage to get her simple facts correct. Her description of the relationship between Mitra and Varuna is just plain wrong. Although she has an extensive discussion of Hellenistic Judaism; her characterization of it as an aberration of "true" Judaism obscures its historical and cultural significance.Your time will be much better spent reading one of Burkert's books.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent work!By Henry L.This is a thin book which took my daughter and I a while to read and digest the contents of work. This is a concise; intense summary of the religious beliefs of the Hellenistic age. It really took time to digest and mill the discussions over in my mind. Definitely food for thought. I found most amazingly and believe after reading this book that the 'apostle ' Paul may have constructed Christianity as a mystery religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth. And the rest is history. Excellent work!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Brief Survey of the Religons of the Greco-Roman WorldBy Marco Antonio AbarcaThis book covers a seven hundred year period from the rise of Alexander the Great until the Fall of Rome. As the Greco-Roman world started becoming more cosmopolitan; the old locally based fertility religions no longer held the same appeal. A new emphasis on personal salvation arose and a flood of new religions and cults established themselves throughout the Mediterranean World. "Religions of the Hellenistic-Roman Age" is a brief survey of the religious landscape of this time. All the major religions from the Mystery Cults and Hellenistic Judaism to early Christianity and Gnosticism are covered. Professor Antonia Tripolitis is a clear writer who has laid out the basic tenants of these different religious belief systems in an organized manner. At a hundred and fifty pages; this book was quick and pleasurable read. Recommended.
