The Pagan World: Ancient Religions Before Christianity

Explores the ways in which the ancient Mesopotamian people tried to understand, worship and cultivate supernatural forces in the world around them.

The early religions of India are still thriving; exploring the ancient Rigveda, one of the four sacred texts of modern Hinduism; an ancient collection of Sanskrit hymns, it is alive with riddles and paradoxes that leave room for speculation.

How the Egyptian Book of the Dead and a pyramid inscription reveal the existence of the creator god Atum; what happens to Atum when the cities of Memphis and Karnak rise to power; how political power and religion are interwoven in ancient Egypt.

Greek gods and goddesses form the basis of religion in ancient Greece; learning about this relationship between myth and religion; exploring the puzzle of Zeus; whether Zeus could be a single god with many "persons" or many different gods.

The daily life of the ancient Athenian family is dominated by the gods who protect and bless their homes; the many ways in which these household gods are woven into the fabric of daily life; who is responsible for the household religious activities.

Animal sacrifice plays a central role in the relationship between people and their gods; the required elements for an honorific, atoning or sacramental animal sacrifice; how the sacrifice benefits those involved; what the gods require of the animal.