Revised versions of papers given at the conference "Women in the Religious and Intellectual Activity of the Ancient Mediterranean World : an Interdisciplinary and International Conference in Honor of Adela Yarbro Collins" held March 15-17, 2009 at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and The Ohio State University": Introd. p. [1]

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Pt. I: Narrative: The Virgin and the Goddess : women and religion in the Greek romance / Loveday Alexander -- The portrayal of Aseneth in Joseph and Aseneth : women's religious experience in antiquity and the limitations of ancient narratives / Patricia D. Ahearne-Kroll -- Roman Imperial family values and the Gospel of Mark : the divorce sayings (Mark 10:2-12) / Mary Rose D'Angelo -- A tale of two Markan characterizations : the exemplary woman who anointed Jesus' body for burial (14:3-9) and the silent trio who fled the empty tomb (16:1-8) / James A. Kelhoffer -- Motherhood and making of fathers in antiquity : contextualizing genetics in the Gospel of John / Turid Karlsen Seim -- Embryology, plant biology, and divine generation in the fourth gospel / Clare K. Rothschild -- Blamint the women : women at Herod's court in Josephus' Jewish Antiquities 15.23-231 / Jan Willem van Henten -- To bear or not to bear : the argument for abstinence in the Greek Gospel of the Egyptians / Robert Doran -- Blood ties : martyrdom, mothehood, and family in the Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas / Candida R. Moss -- A new web for Arachne and a new veil for the temple : women and weaving from Athena to the Virgin Mary / Jeremy F. Hultin --

Pt. II.: Ritual: Victimology : or, how to blame someone for an untimely death / Fritz Graf -- Blaming the witch : some reflections upon unexpected death / Radcliffe G. Edmonds III -- Forget me not : memory and the female subject in ancient binding spells / Stephen J. Davis -- Women and Eros in Greek magic and the Acts of Paul and Thecla / Matt Jackson-McCabe -- Holding the line : women, ritual, and the protection of Rome / Carin M. C. Green --

Pt. III: Logos: Gender and grief : Seneca's Ad Marciam and Ad Helviam matrem / Paul A. Holloway -- Religious experience, the religion of Paul, and women in the Pauline churches / Christopher N. Mount -- The example of Thecla and the example(s) of Paul : disputing women's roles in Early Christianity / Outi Lehtipuu -- S ophrosyn e for women in Pythagorean texts / Annette Bourland Huizenga -- Becoming the perfect man : Clement of Alexandria on the philosophical life of women / Judith L. Kovacs -- The Spirit as Mother in early Syriac-speaking Christianity / Susan E. Myers