Old Age in Ancient Judaism, Early Christianity, and Their Contexts

The collection of essays in this volume explores the significance of old age for Jews and Christians as well as Greeks and Romans in antiquity. By examining a diverse range of sources, the authors in this volume elaborate on the manifold ways that old age functioned as a social discourse in ancient Jewish, Christian, Greek, and Roman contexts. Chapters demonstrate how perceptions of old age were closely intertwined with notions of authority and wisdom, gender and social dynamics, social and familial anxieties, and the body and disability. They show that conceptualizations of old age are far more prevalent and significant to ancient social and political structures, rhetorical discourse, and religious imagination than one might expect. By including studies on old age in different religious and cultural contexts, the volume highlights the commonalities, as well as the many differences, that existed among various communities in antiquity. The volume is of interest for students and scholars of religion, particular those working on Jews, Christians, Greeks, and Romans in the ancient Mediterranean, as well as scholars in classical studies and ancient history. It is also a valuable resource for gerontologists who wish to explore the historical background of present-day notions of old age.