A collection of innovative essays on major topics in ancient Greece and Rome, first published in 2004.

This book examines how sleep and dreams were approached in early Greek thought, highlighting the theories of the Presocratic and Hippocratic writers on both phenomena as more varied, complex, and substantial than is usually credited. It explores how the Presocratic natural philosophers and early Hippocratic medical writers developed theories which drew from wider investigations into physiology and psychology, the natural world and the self, while also engaging with wider literary depictions and established cultural beliefs. Although the focus is predominantly on Presocratic and Hippocratic ideas, this is not exclusive: attention is devoted from the outset to sleep and dreams in Homer and the mythic tradition, as well as to depictions across lyric, drama, and historiography. Sleep and Dreams in Early Greek Thought provides a fascinating study of this topic which will be of interest to students and scholars of ancient medicine and the history of science, Greek philosophy, and classical culture more broadly. It is accessible to students with or without knowledge of the classical languages, and also to anyone with a general interest in the beliefs of the classical world.

Explore the fascinating world of dreams, with this comprehensive reference that examines 276 dream-related topics, from art to history to science, plus insights into the great thinkers, dreamers, and researchers—and interprets more than 1,000 symbols and explanations. This is the ultimate dreamer's companion! Dreams have fascinated the human mind throughout recorded history. Some believe that dreams have healing powers, spark creative inspiration, or warn us of things to come. The Dream Encyclopedia ponders these ideas and much more. Learn how how factors such as self-healing, ESP, literature, religion, sex, cognition and memory, and medical conditions can all have an effect on dreams. Dream symbolism and interpretation is examined in detail, while a special section—with over 1,000 symbols and explanations—interprets dream symbols and helps readers understanding the phenomena of dreaming. Among the dream symbols unraveled are: Airplane dreams may mean you have the power to “rise above” a situation or have the desire to break free of restrictions. Falling dreams often reflect a sense that one has failed or “fallen down” in life. Horse riding dreams most probably mean that the dreamer feels in control of his or her life. Teeth in a dream may indicate control issues. Zoo dreams may mean that a dreamer needs to tidy up some situation. James R. Lewis is a professor of philosophy, and a recognized authority on nontraditional religious movements, and has written the ultimate dreamer’s companion. This resource is unique in its in-depth exploration of dreams, the latest scientific research on dreaming and dream-related topics. Whether one is a serious student of dreams, or wishes merely to peruse the subject for pleasure, The Dream Encyclopedia explores the historical, cultural, and psychological significance of dreams. With more than 120 photos and illustrations, this tome is richly illustrated, and its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

Hellenism is the living culture of the Greek-speaking peoples and has a continuing history of more than 3,500 years. The Encyclopedia of Greece and the HellenicTradition contains approximately 900 entries devoted to people, places, periods, events, and themes, examining every aspect of that culture from the Bronze Age to the present day. The focus throughout is on the Greeks themselves, and the continuities within their own cultural tradition. Language and religion are perhaps the most obvious vehicles of continuity; but there have been many others--law, taxation, gardens, music, magic, education, shipping, and countless other elements have all played their part in maintaining this unique culture. Today, Greek arts have blossomed again; Greece has taken its place in the European Union; Greeks control a substantial proportion of the world's merchant marine; and Greek communities in the United States, Australia, and South Africa have carried the Hellenic tradition throughout the world. This is the first reference work to embrace all aspects of that tradition in every period of its existence.

This investigation focuses on divinely-sent dreams in early Judaism and discusses their literary forms and socio-religious functions. It examines Jewish dreams in the Bible, Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Josephus, setting them in the wider context of antecedent and contemporary dream cultures. Part One grounds the project in the dream traditions of the ancient Near East, Hebrew Bible, Greece, and Rome. Part Two investigates the unique emphases of early Jewish dreams, including: a priestly and scribal milieu, access to various planes of reality, new roles for dream messengers, and incubation rituals. Part Three explores implications for several related topics of study, including the rise of apocalypticism and early Jewish mysticism, and the social history of early Judaism.

This volume offers a comparative, cross-cultural history of dreams. The essays examine a wide range of texts concerning dreams, as culled from a rich variety of religious contexts: China, India, the Americas, classical Greek and Roman antiquity, early Christianity, and medieval Judaism and Islam. Taken together, these pieces constitute an important first step toward a new understanding of the differences and similarities between the ways in which different cultures experience the universal yet utterly unique world of dreams.