Introduction The Terminology of Martyrdom The Ancient Theologies of Martyrdom 1: The Psychoanalytic Study of Martyrdom The Psychoanalytic Analysis of Political Power The Specific Family Romance of Second Maccabees 2: The Family Romance as Victory Story Second Maccabees as Triumphalist History Persecution as a Triumphalist Strategy 3: Theologies of Martyrdom Recast Authority and Cult The Problem of Too Many Kings Temple Cult in Second Maccabees: Hierarchies of Sacredness and Power 4: Rereading Sacrifice: Human Blood as a Sign How Did Blood Become a Sign? 5: The Martyr¿s New Sacrifice: Solving the Maccabean Sacrifice Crisis Killing within the Family: Reworking Priestly Taboos 6: The Happy Ending of Two Wishes Fulfilled Wish #1: Male Mothers and Child-bearing Fathers Wish #2: The Family Reunites Conclusions Appendix 1: 2 Maccabees 7 Appendix 2: A Speculative Note on Displacing Women in Religious Myths and Rites Bibliography Index.