From good goddess to vestal virgins : sex and category in Roman religion

London : Routledge, 1998. 1st edition. Hardcover. Fine cloth copy in a near-fine, very slightly edge-nicked and dust-dulled dust-wrapper, now mylar-sleeved. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and strong. Physical description: x, 207 p ; 23 cm. Notes: Revised version of author's doctoral dissertation. Bibliography: p.188-199. Includes index. Contents: Book Cover; Title; Contents; Preface; INTRODUCTION; INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 1; THE CULT OF BONA DEA; Hercules and Cacus; Hercules and Bona Dea; The women's goddess; 'A rite so ancient'; Bona Dea and the mysteries of Mithras; Opertanea Sacra; Wine, milk and honey; INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 2; CERES AND FLORA; Uneasy misogyny; Wife and prostitute in myth; Wife and prostitute in ritual; INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 3; VENUS; Venus Verticordia; Venus Obsequens and Venus Erycina; Venus and Bona Dea; INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 4; THE USES OF VIRGINITY: THE VESTALS AND ROME; The transvaluation of virginity: Virginity and the ritual representation of Roman integrityCONCLUSION; Notes; Bibliography; Index. Subjects: Ancient; Women and religion Rome. Sex Religious aspects; Women history; Religion and Sex; History; Ancient history; History of religion; Ancient World; Rome Religion.