Indo-European Sacred Space: Vedic and Roman Cult (Traditions)

This book proposes an ambitious comparative study between the religious topography of Rome and the ritual construction of space destined for the celebration of Vedic sacrifices. R. D. Woodward (hereinafter W.), following in the footsteps of G. Dumézil (and E. Benveniste), highlights the Indo-European inheritance in Roman rites. The first chapter presents the question of the Indo-European show more inheritance in Rome as it was left by Dumézil on his death in 1986; chapter two examines Terminus in his dual aspect as a divine figure and marker stone; the third chapter explores the rites that define the ager romanus, and the fourth examines these same rites in comparison with Vedic rituals for the organization of sacrificial space. In the final chapter W. offers a summary of his conclusions. show less