The Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism [1911] - Get a Free Blog

NOTES ASIA MINOR. 223
gressive differentiation of the ecclestiastic and lay functions is
one of the characteristics of religious evolution. In this re
gard Rome was far behind the Orient.
35. An essential result of the researches of Otto (op. cit.)
is the proof of the opposition existing in Egypt since the
Ptolemies between the hierarchic organization of the Egyptian
clergy and the almost anarchical autonomy of the Greek
priests. See our remarks on the clergy of Isis and the Galli.
On the Mithraic hierarchy see our Mysteries of Mithra, Chi
cago, 1903, p. 165.
36. The development of the conceptions
of "salvation" and
"saviour" after the Hellenistic period has been studied by
Wendland, Swnjp (Zeitschrift fur neutestam. Wissensch., V,
1904, pp. 335 ff.). See also Lietzmann, Der IVcllliciland, Bonn,
1909. \V. Otto, "Augustus -wrr/p," Hermes, XLV, TQTO, pp.
448 ff.
37. Later on we shall expound the two principal doctrines,
that of the Egyptian religions (identification with Osiris, god
of the dead), and that of the Syrian and Persian religions
(ascension into heaven).
38. At that time man s fate after death was the one great
interest. An interesting example of the power of this idea is
furnished by Arnobius. He became converted to Christianity
because, according to his peculiar psychology, he feared that
his soul might die, and believed that Christ alone could protect
him against final annihilation (cf. Bardenhewer, Gcsch. der
altkirchlichcn Literatur, II, 1903, p. 470.
39. Lucretius had expressed this conviction (II, U7off.).
It spread to the end of the empire as disasters multiplied;
cf. Rev. dc philologie, 1897, P- 152.
40. Boissier, Rcl ram., I
s
, p. 359; Friedlander, Sittcngesch.,
I 8
, pp. 500 ff.
III. ASIA MINOR.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jean Reville, La religion a Rome sous les
Sevcres, pp. 62 ff. Drexler in Roscher, Lcxikon der Mythol.,
s. v. "Meter," II, 2932. Wissowa, Religion und Cultus der
Romer, pp. 263 ff., where the earlier bibliography will be found,