RLBcKA009 Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean and Near East

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Iva Doležalová (lecturer)
Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Dalibor Papoušek, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Matouš Vencálek
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 90 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/90, only registered: 0/90
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course outlines main religious traditions which took part in the civilizational development of the ancient Mediterranean. Based on chronological order, it provides the fundamental characteristics covering their broader socio-cultural context, mythological background and ritual practices. Finally it offers the cross-cutting topics devoted to the comparative study of cosmogonic myths, tranformations of ritual practices and to the concept of axial age.
Learning outcomes
After the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
  • demonstrate the basic factual knowledge of the most representative religions of the ancient Mediterranean;
  • apply the basic terminology used in the study of the ancient religions;
  • interprete selected literary sources connected with the topic;
  • compare main cosmogonic myths of the ancient Mediterranean;
  • characterize the typological category of ancient religions and distinguish specific features in religious development of the ancient Mediterranean.
    • Syllabus
    • Introduction to the course. General characterization of ancient religions (Dalibor Papoušek)
    • Religions of the ancient Mesopotamia: The order of the world in the particularity of local centers (Dalibor Papoušek)
    • Ancient Egyptian Religion: Mythical establishment of the state (Dalibor Papoušek)
    • Religions of the ancient Syria-Palestine: A way toward monotheism (Dalibor Papoušek)
    • Religion of the Ancient Iran: Zoroastrism (Aleš Chalupa)
    • Greek religion: Archaic and Classical Periods (Iva Doležalová)
    • Roman religion: From the republic to the empire (Aleš Chalupa)
    • Hellenistic Religions: A quest for unity in the alienated world (Iva Doležalová)
    • The comparative study of ancient cosmogonies (Dalibor Papoušek)
    • Transformations of ritual practice within the ancient societies: Sacrifice, mysterium, magic (Iva Doležalová)
    • The axial age (Aleš Chalupa)
    • Final test
    Literature
      recommended literature
    • HELLER, Jan. Starověká náboženství : náboženské systémy starého Egypta, Mezopotámie a Kenaanu. 3. vyd. Neratovice: Verbum, 2010, 413 s. ISBN 9788090392021. info
    • HRŮŠA, Ivan. Bohové, chrámy, obřady a lidé : náboženství staré Mezopotámie. Vydání první. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2015, 286 stran. ISBN 9788074295386. info
    • BAINES, John, Leonard H. LESKO and David P. SILVERMAN. Náboženství ve starověkém Egyptě : bohové, mýty a náboženská praxe. Edited by Byron E. Shafer. 1. vyd. Neratovice: Verbum, 2009, 237 s. ISBN 9788090392014. info
    • HOŠEK, Radislav. Náboženství antického Řecka. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2004, 239 s. ISBN 807021516X. info
    • RÜPKE, Jörg. Náboženství Římanů. Translated by David Sanetrník. Vydání první. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2007, 341 stran. ISBN 9788070218075. info
    • Helénistická náboženství. Edited by Luther H. Martin, Translated by Iva Doležalová - Dalibor Papoušek. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1997, xx, 161 s. ISBN 80-210-1702-3. info
    • ČERNÁ, Zlata. Duchovní prameny života : stvoření světa ve starých mýtech a náboženstvích. Vyd. 2., rozš. Praha: Vyšehrad, 1997, 543 s. ISBN 8070212233. info
    Teaching methods
    Lectures; home readings examined electronically in semestral minitests; class discussions; final written test.
    Assessment methods
    Requirements for the colloquium (recommended for students in the fields other than religion)
  • five electronic minitests in the assigned texts;
  • final written test in the basic knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean religions.
    The final assessment includes: five minitests and final test (200 points = 100%, limit 120 points), participation in the classes (extra points added to the total of tests).

    Requirements for the oral examination (compulsory for students of religion)
    Prerequisites for the examination:
  • five electronic minitests in the assigned texts;
  • final written test in the basic factual knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean religions.
    Requirements for the oral examination:
  • to prove the knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean religions according to the given list of topics;
  • to prove the interpretative ability in a given field.
    The final grade includes: five minitest and final test (200 points = 50%, limit 120 points), oral examination (200 points = 50%, limit 120 points), participation in the classes (extra points added to the total of tests).

    Detailed schedule of the course and topics for the examination with recommended reading are available in the ELF (e-learning environment of the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University).
    • Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
    The course is taught once in two years.
    The course is taught: in blocks.
    Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hod./sem.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2023.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/RLBcKA009