The Universal Polytheism and the Case of the Jews

Matthew V. Novenson

Jump to Content

Chapter 3 The Universal Polytheism and the Case of the Jews

In: Monotheism and Christology in Greco-Roman Antiquity

Author:

Matthew V. Novenson

Matthew V. Novenson
Search for other papers by Matthew V. Novenson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 32–60

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004438088_004

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

This essay considers Robert Parker’s theory of “the universal polytheism” in relation to the case of ancient Jews, who are widely thought to have excepted themselves from the cross-cultural translation of gods (most famously in Jan Assmann’s influential account). Here, however, Novenson surveys the mass of ancient evidence for interpretatio or translation of the Jewish god (as Zeus, Dionysus, Helios, Ouranos, Physis, and more), and conversely for the interpretatio or translation of gentile gods by Jewish writers (as the divine council, angels, demons, and more). It is argued that ancient Jews did participate, in their own way, in Parker’s universal polytheism.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004438088/BP000013.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Monotheism and Christology in Greco-Roman Antiquity

Series: Novum Testamentum, Supplements, Volume: 180

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004438088

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 13 Aug 2020

Subjects

Front Matter

Back Matter

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	581	258	26
Full Text Views	54	7	0
PDF Views & Downloads	137	27	1

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Chapter 3 The Universal Polytheism and the Case of the Jews

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Monotheism and Christology in Greco-Roman Antiquity

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics