Against the Christians gathers some of the most consequential pagan and non-Christian critiques of early Christianity, situating polemic within the wider intellectual world of classical historiography, philosophy, and imperial culture. Ranging from historical testimony and ethnographic notice to philosophical rebuttal and satirical invective, the volume illuminates the contested emergence of Christianity in the Greco-Roman world. The arguments associated with Celsus, Porphyry, and Emperor ...

This essential volume presents two of the most influential philosophical texts of the Neoplatonist thinker Porphyry, a towering figure in late antiquity whose writings helped bridge the gap between Platonic metaphysics, classical religion, and early Christian theology. In On Abstinence from Animal Food, Porphyry lays out a sweeping ethical, metaphysical, and theological argument for vegetarianism, rooted in the belief that nonviolence toward all living beings is a condition for spiritual p...

The Old Testament Interpreted: 20 Analytical Books assembles a capacious inquiry into biblical meaning, reception, and controversy. Across historical synopsis, devotional exposition, critical analysis, and polemical reflection, the volume places scriptural narrative beside its Jewish, Christian, classical, and skeptical afterlives. Its range is especially significant: ancient historiography and critiques of biblical tradition stand in productive tension with modern explanatory and pedagogi...

This volume gathers some of Porphyry's most significant philosophical writings: the four books On Abstinence from Animal Food, the subtle allegorical essay On the Homeric Cave of the Nymphs, and the Auxiliaries to the Perception of Intelligible Natures, supplemented by an appendix on the wanderings of Ulysses. Together they display the range of late antique Neoplatonism, uniting ethical discipline, metaphysical ascent, and symbolic exegesis. Porphyry writes in a learned, analytic style, ye...

Against the Christians: Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry and the Emperor Julian is a masterful anthology that captures the intellectual vigor and poignant contestations of early Christian thought in antiquity. The collection is a testament to the profound critiques penned by some of the sharpest minds of the classical era against the nascent Christian faith. Spanning a diverse array of literary styles, from philosophical treatises to historical narratives, the anthology brings to light the mu...

In the anthology *Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians*, readers are thrust into the fervent ideological debates of the ancient world, rich with the clashing perspectives that defined early Christian and pagan dialogues. This collection serves as an intellectual tapestry showcasing a range of literary styles from rigorous rhetorical treatises to impassioned polemics, reflecting the heated exchanges of the time. Each piece stands out as a testament t...

Against the Christians: Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian is a profound exploration of late antiquity's intellectual opposition to burgeoning Christian ideologies. This riveting collection weaves together a tapestry of philosophical musings, historical critiques, and rhetorical prowess. The anthology underscores major anti-Christian polemics of the era, offering a spectrum of criticism towards Christian doctrines while proposing alternative perspectives and venerating t...

Writings Against Christians is a compelling anthology that delves into the intellectual, cultural, and religious confrontations between early Pagan philosophy and the nascent Christian movement. This rigorously assembled collection offers a profound examination of the tensions that shaped ancient thought, presenting a spectrum of rhetorical and philosophical approaches. From critiques of Christian doctrine to discourses on morality and divinity, the anthology showcases a remarkable array o...

In 'Arguments Against the Christians: Celsus, Porphyry and the Emperor Julian,' readers encounter a profound exploration of ancient critiques against early Christian doctrines through an array of philosophical and rhetorical styles. This anthology brings together the incisive works of noted critics of Christianity from the early centuries, providing a unique insight into the intellectual confrontations that shaped religious thought. The collection spans from the sophisticated polemics of C...

An entertaining and enlightening anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings on animals—and our vital relationships with themHow to Care about Animals is a fascinating menagerie of passages from classical literature about animals and the lives we share with them. Drawing on ancient writers from Aesop to Ovid, classicist and farmer M. D. Usher has gathered a healthy litter of selections that reveal some of the ways Greeks and Romans thought about everyt...

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians gathers some of antiquity's most consequential pagan and non-Christian challenges to the rising Christian movement. Ranging across historiography, philosophical polemic, imperial invective, and antiquarian testimony, the volume situates fragments such as the True Discourse and Against the Galileans within a broader literary culture of debate, skepticism, and religious contestation in the Roman world. Its assemble...

A delightful anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings celebrating country living—ranging from a philosophy of compost to hymns to the gods of agricultureWhether you farm or garden, live in the country or long to move there, or simply enjoy an occasional rural retreat, you will be delighted by this cornucopia of writings about living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote to the ...