Dreams and Dreaming in the Roman Empire
January 1, 2013 Juliette Harrisson
Dream reports from the Roman Empire were not merely personal experiences but culturally significant records that helped shape group identity. This volume analyzes dream prophecies, ghosts, and gods in historical and imaginative literature from the first two centuries AD as objects of cultural memory. The author introduces the concept of 'cultural imagination' to examine ancient myth and religion without relying on the modern notion of 'belief,' which stems from creed-based religions. The conclusion compares Roman attitudes toward dreams with contemporary views, highlighting distinctive features of both cultures.