Encountering ancient religions. What is ancient Mediterranean religion? / Fritz Graf -- Monotheism and polytheism / Jan Assmann -- Ritual / Jan Bremmer -- Myth / Fritz Graf -- Cosmology: time and history / John J. Collins -- Pollution, sin, atonement, salvation / Harold W. Attridge -- Law and ethics / Eckart Otto -- Mysteries / Sarah Iles Johnston -- Religions in contact / John Scheid -- Writing and religion / Mary Beard -- Magic / Sarah Iles Johnston. Histories. Egypt / Jan Assmann and David Frankfurter -- Mesopotamia / Paul-Alain Beaulieu -- Syria and Canaan / David P. Wright -- Israel / John J. Collins -- Anatolia: Hittites / David P. Wright -- Iran / William Malandra and Michael Stausberg -- Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations / Nanno Marinatos -- Greece / Jon Mikalson -- Etruria / Olivier de Cazanove -- Rome / John North -- Early Christianity / Harold W. Attridge -- Epilogue / Bruce Lincoln.