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Cumont, After Life in Roman Paganism, 1922

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A masterful survey of eschatological beliefs from around the ancient Mediterranean world. Ultimately, they are all linked only in that they chart the variety of responses the Roman world offered to the problem of death.

The book belongs to the history of eschatology in the west, in that it refers at least 29 times to beliefs and practices concerning the afterlife as "eschatology" or "eschatological."

Because of my studies of Early Christian Literature, I tend far too often to think of this term primarily as applying to cosmological and collective eschatologies, such as those of of apocalyptic Judaism or modern day science fiction.

For that reason it would have been interesting if Cumont had included more Jewish and early Christian eschatology directly in his discussion, even though it is not "paganism." (He does mention Christians and Jews here and there when their views appear to be in continuity with a "pagan" informant.)

But Cumont, like others with a background in the division of subjects in 19th century theological studies, understands the term "eschatology" primarily the way it is used in late protestant and catholic theology: as referring to the end of individual lives.

The main question he is seeking to answer here is: what did traditional and philosophical religion in the ancient (Roman) Mediterranean have to teach about "the soul" and its fate after death?

The answer he provides is interesting but not quite compelling. Cumont stresses consensus and agreement as well as a tangible historical development concerning afterlife beliefs among far too broad a swath of quite distinct cultural groups and historical periods. One way he begins to set aside criticism of this project is with the misleading title, which implies he is only speaking of Romans. He clearly has a wider landscape in his viewfinder. But is it in focus?

There are so many fascinating and informative tidbits and citations in this book it would take a lifetime to chase them down. I'll update here when I make use of the book again (which I will surely do, as I continue to investigate The Cult of the Dead in Western Antiquity).