Uncovering the vibrant spiritual life of Late Antiquity
In Late Antiquity (ca. 200–600 CE), the world was alive with unseen forces-divine agents who influenced every aspect of daily life. For most ordinary people, religion was not found in temples, synagogues, and churches, but in lived experience as they interacted with the supernatural in a world of uncertainty and danger. In An Enchanted World, Michael Satlow uncovers a shared spiritual landscape that stretched beyond the confines of Judaism, Christianity, and the pantheon of Greek and Roman deities. From healing rituals to protective amulets, spiritual practices were a matter of necessity, transcending religious labels. To get by in the world required being on good terms with the right supernatural beings and being able to ward off the bad ones.
Rejecting traditional narratives that focus on institutional religion and theological divisions, Satlow presents a compelling case for viewing the period through the lens of "lived religion." This was not a religion of abstractions formulated by rabbis and priests, but an enchanted world populated by divine beings who had as much-if not more-agency as any person. Drawing on archaeological evidence, historical documents, and a rich trove of magical texts, Satlow vividly reconstructs how ordinary people lived in a world that crackled with the energy of the supernatural. His account reimagines the spiritual history of Late Antiquity, centering shared human fears and aspirations and challenging preconceived notions about religious boundaries. With An Enchanted World, Satlow offers a fresh perspective on a transformative period-one that has much to teach us even today about the role that spirituality can play in the secular world. Michael L. Satlow is professor of religious studies and Judaic studies at Brown University. He is the author of How the Bible Became Holy; Creating Judaism: History, Tradition, Practice; and Jewish Marriage in Antiquity (Princeton). "Gods, sons of god, angels, demons, heroes, spirits, saints: Michael Satlow introduces us to them all as they bestride the spiritual landscape of Roman antiquity. And he introduces us as well to their human contemporaries-'pagans,' Jews, and Christians-who negotiated life while in constant contact with these numinous beings. An Enchanted World conjures the unceasing interactions of these two populations, human and superhuman, while offering arresting insights into the human condition, both past and present. 'Lived religion' in his pages truly comes alive."-Paula Fredriksen, author of Ancient Christianities: The First 500 Years
"In this engaging introduction to the world of late antique religions, Satlow places Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman practices (as well as places, theologies, and ritual equipment) alongside each other to show their shared religious worlds. Avoiding both Christian/Rabbinic triumphalism and conflict narratives, this book is a great advance in thinking about the religious history of Late Antiquity."-David Frankfurter, author of Christianizing Egypt: Syncretism and Local Worlds in Late Antiquity
"Finally a book that does not focus on identities but on what people actually did, regardless of those professionals whose very task was to make boundaries. Lived ancient religion is brought down to earth in a world full of divine agents."-Jörg Rüpke, author of Pantheon: A New History of Roman Religion "Satlow leads the reader into a world rich with spiritual awareness and assumptions of the supernatural. . . . [He] provides an accessible and intriguing glimpse into an era of sometimes tumultuous change, challenging the reader's understanding of religion and of identity. An interesting look at faith during a pivotal time in history." "With a cogent structure, drilling down from large categories of religion, identity, and ethnicity into the detailed landscape of individual experience, Satlow employs a tho
