The published work of Mikhail Sergeevich Korelin (1855-1899), medievalist historian, professor at Moscow University, is based on a course of public lectures he gave. The topic of the work is made clear by the title itself. The author’s goal was to convey to the listener not so much the factual side of the events that took place at the turn of the millennium in the society, life and souls of people whom we now call representatives of ancient civilization, but to show how painful and difficult it is always the time when the seemingly to this day, the inviolability of the spiritual norms of the past, what bright, unforgettable personalities the time of search can give rise to. Table of contents: P. Yu. Trokhachev. M. S. Korelin - historian-encyclopedist 5N. Ya. Kareev. Preface to the first edition 13Introduction 15I. Distinctive features ancient Roman religion. — Reasons for its decline. — Influence of Greek mythology and oriental cults. - Consequences of foreign influences. — The state of the Roman religion at the end of the Republic 19II. Pagan religious movement of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. —Religious policy of Augustus. — The imperial cult and its religious meaning. — Rise of piety in society. - Theocrasia. — The cult of Isis and the reasons for its prevalence. — New religious needs in a pagan society 30III. Abuses in Ancient Religion. — Alexander from Abonoteikh and his successes. - Manifestations of dissatisfaction with the old religion. - Emperor Hadrian. — Greek and Roman traits in his character. — His attitude to science, literature and art. — Adrian's government activities and his personal character. — Source of suffering Adriana. —His wanderings and last years of life. — The meaning of Hadrian's biography 46IV. Attempts by philosophy to reform paganism. — Stoics; their religious teaching and attitude towards the cult. - Stoic morality. — The doctrine of virtue. - Attitude towards suicide. — Moral duties. — Preachers of Stoicism. — Demonakt and Dion Chrysostom. — Stoic confessors. — Demetrius and Epictetus. — The influence of Stoicism on the individual and on society. — Stoicism and Christianity 63V. The Disadvantages of Stoicism and Its Decline. - The unsatisfactory nature of his religion and the unnaturalness of his morality. — Marcus Aurelius 79VI. Epicureanism. — Religion and morality of the Epicureans. The influence of Epicureanism and its shortcomings. — The relationship of Epicureanism to Stoicism and Christianity. - Lucian of Samosata 96VII. Religious Reform III century. — The attitude of philosophy to religion in this era. Neoplatonism. — Theological system of Plotinus and the amendment to it by Iamblichus. — The attitude of Neoplatonists to myths. - The shortcomings of their theology. — The doctrine of the cult of Plotinus, Porphyry and Iamblichus. — Neoplatonist morality and its relation to Stoicism. — Plotinus' doctrine of the afterlife. — The relationship of Neoplatonism to Christianity and to modern social needs 112VIII. Neopythagorean reform of pagan morality. — Julia Domna’s salon and its character. — “Life of Apollonius of Tyana” by Philostratus. — Birth and upbringing of Apollonius; his stay in Babylon and journey to India. — Religious teaching and moral preaching of Apollonius. —His miracles and prophecies. - The suffering and death of Apollonius. — Historical significance of the book of Philostratus 128IX. Result of pagan reforms. — Reasons for the clash between paganism and Christianity. — Attitude to Christianity of the crowd. — Slanders against the first Christians. — Reasons for state intolerance towards the Christian religion. — Political reasons for persecution. — Difference between early and late persecutions. — Reasons for their cruelty 145X. Reasons for hostility towards Christianity in educated society. - Family discord. — Prejudices of the educated classes. "Caecilius" Minucius Felix. Attitude to Christianity of philosophical schools. - Lucian. Celsus and the reasons for his controversy. — The relationship of Christianity to ancient culture 160Notes 177Index of names 181Bibliography of works by M. S. Korelin 188