Roman Dynamism: Studies in Ancient Roman Thought, Language and Custom by Hendrik Wagenvoort
$100.00
Roman Dynamism: Studies in Ancient Roman Thought, Language and Custom by Hendrik Wagenvoort, published in 1947. An influential contribution to the study of ancient Roman religion and mentality, in which Wagenvoort explores the underlying concepts of power, presence, and efficacy embedded within Roman language, ritual, and social custom. Drawing upon philology, comparative religion, and the history of ideas, the author argues that many aspects of Roman thought may be better understood through the concept of an impersonal sacred force akin to the anthropological notion of mana. Through a series of detailed studies, he examines such fundamental Roman concepts as contactus, imperium, numen, gravitas et maiestas, contagio, and vis genitalis, illuminating how Romans perceived authority, sanctity, transmission of power, and the dynamic forces believed to reside in persons, objects, and institutions. Originally published under the title Imperium, the work has been recognized as a significant contribution to the study of Roman religion, combining meticulous linguistic analysis with broader questions concerning the nature of sacred power in antiquity. Uncommon. Hardcover. With original dust jacket, showing some loss. Original owner’s gift inscription and calling card pasted to endsheet.
