Travel and Religion in Antiquity, Philip A. Harland (Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion, Wilfrid Laurier University Press,) xii, 289pp., hardback, £70.99, ISBN 978 1 55458 222 8

This is the 21^st volume in the Studies in Christianity and Judaism series.  Philip Harland is an associate professor in humanities and ancient history at York University, Toronto.  This volume has 11 contributors and represents the first fruit of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies seminar which began in 2005.  Harland's introduction puts the subject in context and demonstrates that while travel in antiquity has been well explored, this book is probably the first to review in depth the interaction of religion and travel in the period. 

The book is arranged around five overlapping areas - travel related to honouring deities, travel to communicate the efficacy of god as a way of life, travel to explore and encounter foreign peoples and cultures, travel to engage in an occupation or vocation.  The essays are interdisciplinary and make a significant addition to the literature.  End-notes are provided to each of the twelve chapters and the list of works cited includes articles in learned journals and theses as well as books, quoting works from the 1950s and the 21^st century.  There is a map of the ancient Mediterranean.  There is however no index as such regrettably.

It is also a matter of regret that the book costs even more than usual these days for an academic work.  It is to be hoped that a way will be found for it to reach a readership outside libraries.