Prayer From Alexander To Constantine presents a diverse selection of prayer chosen by over 40 different historians, all specialists in their respective areas of Graeco-Roman literature. This collaboration gives the book a range and depth that no individual author could hope to rival. Each selection includes an introductory essay, followed by a new English translation of the prayer, accompanied by critical notes and biography. In this way the reader is able to gain an insight into the variety of subjects and styles involved in people's communications with their gods in antiquity. The volume will be a key text for students engaged in courses which explore the period's history and theologies. There is no comparable anthology available in English. The volume will also be of value to the general reader interested in the history of this period and anyone interested in the forms of prayer.

Table of Contents:
Introduction, Mark Kiley; Part 1 Judaica; Chapter 1 An Introduction to Prayer at Qumran, Esther G. Chazon, Moshe J. Bernstein; Chapter 2 A Thanksgiving for God’s Help (4Q434 II–III), Edward M. Cook; Chapter 3 Apostrophe to Zion (11Q Psalms Scroll 22:1–15), Lawrence H. Schiffman; Chapter 4 Dibre Hamme\Orot, Esther G. Chazon; Chapter 5 Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice, Carol A. Newsom; Chapter 6 Hymn on Occasions for Prayer (1QS 10:8b–17), Moshe J. Bernstein; Chapter 7 Prayers in the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, Randall D. Chesnutt, Judith Newman; Chapter 8 In Misery, Tobit Prays for Death (3:1–6), Carey A. Moore; Chapter 9 God Condemns the Arrogance of Power, Judith Newman; Chapter 10 Prayer of Noah, John C. Endres, S.J.; Chapter 11 Judith Prays for Help (Judith 9:1–14), Toni Craven; Chapter 12 Prayer of a Convert to Judaism (Joseph and Aseneth 12–13), Randall D. Chesnutt; Chapter 13 The Song of Hannah in Pseudo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities, Joan E. Cook; Chapter 14 2 Baruch 54:1–22, F. W. Dobbs-Allsopp; Chapter 15 Josephus and Philo, Mark Harding; Chapter 16 The Prayer of Moses in Josephus, Antiquities 2.335–7, Mark Harding; Chapter 17 Philo of Alexandria, Gregory E. Sterling; Chapter 18 The Shema and the Amidah, Reuven Kimelman; Part 2 Greeks and Romans; Chapter 19 Prayer in Greco-Roman Religions, Larry J. Alderink, Luther H. Martin; Chapter 20 Cato the Elder, C. Robert Phillips, III; Chapter 21 Cleanthes – Hymn to Zeus, William Cassidy; Chapter 22 Catullus 34, Frederick W. Danker; Chapter 23 The Oath of Aeneas, Frances Hickson-Hahn; Chapter 24 A Prayer of Scipio Africanus, Frances Hickson-Hahn; Chapter 25 The Isis Hymn of Diodorus of Sicily (1.27.3), Mark Gustafson; Chapter 26 Written in Stone, Dan Schowalter; Chapter 27 A Secret Hymn About Rebirth, Philip Seilew; Chapter 28 Prayer in Chariton’s Chaereás and Callirhoe, Mary Lynnette Delbridge; Chapter 29 An Ephesian Tale, Agneta Enermalm; Chapter 30 A Prayer to Sarapis in P. Oxy. 1070, Robert F. Hull, Jun; Chapter 31 The Prayer in Menander Rhetor 2.445.25–446.13, Edgar Krentz; Chapter 32 Orphic Hymn 13, Larry J. Alderink; Chapter 33 Hymn to Selene–Hecate–Artemis from a Greek Magical Handbook ( PGM IV 2714–83), Christopher A. Faraone; Chapter 34 The Hermetic Prayer of Thanksgiving, Nag Hammadi Codex VI, 7: 63, 33–65, 7, Richard Valantasis; Part 3 Christ Traditions; Chapter 35 Prayer in the New Testament, Bonnie Thurston; Chapter 36 A Jesus Tradition Prayer (Q 11:2b–4; Matt 6:9b–13; Luke 11:2b–4; Didache 8.2), R. Conrad Douglas; Chapter 37 Luke 1:46–55 the Magnificat, Seung Ai Yang; Chapter 38 Jesus’ ‘High Priestly Prayer’, L. William Countryman; Chapter 39 Acts 4:24–30, Marie-Eloise Rosenblatt; Chapter 40 Philippians 2:6–11, L. W. Hurtado; Chapter 41 Colossians 1:15–20, Bonnie Thurston; Chapter 42 Revelation 4:8–11; 5:9–14, Jean-Pierre Ruiz; Chapter 43 Post New Testament Christian Prayers, Barbara E. Bowe, John Clabeaux; Chapter 44 1 Clement 59.3–61.3, Barbara E. Bowe; Chapter 45 The Eucharist Prayers from Didache 9 and 10, John Clabeaux; Chapter 46 Ignatius Ephesians 19.1 – 3, Harry O. Maier; Chapter 47 Ode of Solomon 5, James H. Charlesworth; Chapter 48 Acts of Paul and Thecla 28–31, Jeffrey A. Trumbower; Chapter 49 Polycarp’s Final Prayer ( Martyrdom of Polycarp 14), Frederick W. Weidmann; Chapter 50 Prayer of the Apostle Paul from the Nag Hammadi Library, Deirdre Good; Chapter 51 Hymn of the Holy Clement to Christ the Saviour, Annewies van den Hoek; Chapter 52 Origen’s Prayer to Jesus the Footwasher, Angela Russell Christman; Chapter 53 Shepherd Prayer – Acts of Peter 10, Robert Stoops; Chapter 54 The Ph?s Hilaron, R. Garland Young;