{"product_id":"the-roman-goddess-ceres","title":"The Roman Goddess Ceres","description":"\u003cp\u003eInterest in goddess worship is growing in contemporary society  as women seek models for feminine spirituality and wholeness. New cults are developing around ancient goddesses from many cultures  although their modern adherents often envision and interpret the goddesses very differently than their original worshippers did. In this thematic study of the Roman goddess Ceres  Barbette Spaeth explores the rich complexity of meanings and functions that grew up around the goddess from the prehistoric period to the Late Roman Empire. In particular  she examines two major concepts  fertility and liminality  and two social categories  the plebs and women  which were inextricably linked with Ceres in the Roman mind. Spaeth then analyzes an image of the goddess in a relief of the Ara Pacis  an important state monument of the Augustan period  showing how it incorporates all these varied roles and associations of Ceres. This interpretation represents a new contribution to art history. With its use of literary  epigraphical  numismatic  artistic  and archaeological evidence  The Roman Goddess Ceres presents a more encompassing view of the goddess than was previously available. It will be important reading for all students of Classics  as well as for a general audience interested in New Age  feminist  or pagan spirituality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44986719141941,"sku":"ByrdShop_0292776934","price":31.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780292776937_28cdf896-79c1-419c-8ed4-4e174688b8cf.jpg?v=1772671273","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-roman-goddess-ceres","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}