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What did the ancient Hellenistic worshippers actually believe about the Gods? Written during the fourth century CE, Sallustius's On the Gods and the Kosmos presents one of the most concise surviving explanations of Hellenistic pagan theology. In a remarkably short work, Sallustius addresses the nature of the Gods, the meaning of myth, the structure of the Kosmos, Providence and Fate, the soul, virtue, religious practice, and humanity's relationship with the divine. THD 1010 — Sallustius: On the Gods and the Kosmos is a guided study of this important theological text. Moving proposition by proposition, students learn not merely what Sallustius says, but how his arguments fit together into a coherent philosophical theology. Through readings, visual explanations, instructor commentary, reflection exercises, and knowledge checks, the course develops the skills necessary to read Sallustius carefully and to understand his work within the philosophical and religious world from which it emerged. No previous study of Neoplatonism or ancient philosophy is required. The course begins by establishing the methods and concepts needed to approach the text and progressively develops them throughout the program.
