Mystery cults are one of the most intriguing areas of Greek and Roman religion. In the nocturnal mysteries at Eleusis, participants dramatically reenacted the story of Demeter’s loss and recovery of her daughter Persephone; in the Bacchic cult, bands of women ran wild in the Greek countryside to honor Dionysus; in the mysteries of Mithras, men came to understand the nature of the universe and their place within it through frightening initiation ceremonies and astrological teachings.

These cults were an important part of life in the ancient Mediterranean world, but their actual practices were shrouded in secrecy. Mystery Cults in the Ancient World makes plentiful use of artistic and archaeological evidence, as well as ancient literature and epigraphy, to reconstruct the sacred rituals and explore their origins. Greek painted pottery, Roman frescoes, inscribed gold tablets from Greek and Southern Italian tombs, and the excavated sites of religious sanctuaries all contribute to our understanding of ancient mystery cults. Not only is this clearly written book a significant contribution to the study of these cults, it is also accessible to a general readership. More than any other book on ancient religion, it allows the reader to understand what it was like to participate in these life-altering religious events.

Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding, this selection of Native American quotations is the perfect compact volume of quotes to inspire readers.

“What is Life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.”— Black Elk, Oglala Sioux Founded on stories and myths told orally, the wisdom of Native American peoples has been passed down through generations, revealing the origins of a tribe, chronicling the heroes who fought the gods, showing how to reach Wakan-Taka(the Great Spirit), exploring the nature of the True Peace and reflecting on the changing landscape with the arrival of European settlers. Beautifully produced in traditional Chinese binding, Native American Wisdom offers more than 80 thought-provoking proverbs on the spirit world, family, fathers and sons, animals and plants, and the changing seasons, in the words of the people who have inhabited the North American continent for thousands of years – the Iroquois, Algonquin, Cheyenne, Hopi, Dakota and Sioux – to name a few. Many quotes are from well-known Native American leaders, such as the Blackfoot warrior Crowfoot, the legendary Apache leader Geronimo, and famous Oglala Lakota medicine man Black Elk.

What will happen to us next? From the earliest beginnings of human civilization, people have searched for signs, patterns, and clues to address the last unanswerable question. Looking into the future has obsessed human beings since written records began. As soon as communities could conceive of higher powers, they tried to look into the future. Prophets and priests have delivered divine messages. Shamans and seers have channeled spirits and interpreted visions, portents, revelations, and signs.

This unique and richly illustrated volume reveals the long history of prophecy in every human society—from Egyptian oracles, Roman augurs, and Aztec omens to Japanese divination and the active magic of Norse seers. It traces the parallels in different traditions and cultures, exploring the signs and images found in antique documents, rare books, imaginative projections, and divinatory paraphernalia.

In nine chapters, art historian Chrisopher Dell explores extraordinary oracles from ancient Greece and western Africa to Mesopotamia and the mountains of Tibet; omens, portents, and auspicious signs in indigenous societies in Asia; Zoroastrian priests of Iran and astrologers of China; dreams and visions from Australia to North America; and finally reckons with the many predictions of the end of the world, from ancient days to our present moment.