Dreams in Late Antiquity

Rating:
Summary: Dreams and religion in ancient times
Review: In the first half of this book, Dr. Miller carefully goes through how Graeco-Roman people in late antiquity thought about dreams: where they thought dreams came from, how they interpreted them, and how they used them. The second half of book is a set of five essays about specific individuals from late antiquity whose dreams have been recorded and preserved. These dreamers are: Hermas (of "The Shepherd of Hermas"); Vibia Perpetua, a young aristocratic women executed on the charge of being Christian; Aelius Aristides, author of the "Sacred Tales"; Jerome, translator of the Bible, a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity; and the "two Gregorys", Gregory Nazianzen and Gregory of Nyssa, both bishops and leading theologians of the fourth century. In all five essays, the themes of religion and spirituality play heavily; indeed, in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, the essential relationship between dreams and spirituality was self-evident. This fascinating, superbly researched, and well written book really gives the "taste" of that period in history, especially because dreams are such an intimate aspect of the human being. This book would be of immense interest to anyone interested in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, as well as to anyone interested in the relationship between dreams and spirituality.

Rating:
Summary: Dreams and religion in ancient times
Review: In the first half of this book, Dr. Miller carefully goes through how Graeco-Roman people in late antiquity thought about dreams: where they thought dreams came from, how they interpreted them, and how they used them. The second half of book is a set of five essays about specific individuals from late antiquity whose dreams have been recorded and preserved. These dreamers are: Hermas (of "The Shepherd of Hermas"); Vibia Perpetua, a young aristocratic women executed on the charge of being Christian; Aelius Aristides, author of the "Sacred Tales"; Jerome, translator of the Bible, a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity; and the "two Gregorys", Gregory Nazianzen and Gregory of Nyssa, both bishops and leading theologians of the fourth century. In all five essays, the themes of religion and spirituality play heavily; indeed, in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, the essential relationship between dreams and spirituality was self-evident. This fascinating, superbly researched, and well written book really gives the "taste" of that period in history, especially because dreams are such an intimate aspect of the human being. This book would be of immense interest to anyone interested in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, as well as to anyone interested in the relationship between dreams and spirituality.