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Explore how the early Romans saw Christians, their founding myths, values, connection to Roman religion, and the prejudice they faced under Nero's rule.
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Early Roman Founding Myths Aeneas Romulus and Remus Rape of the Sabines Rape of Lucretia Themes: 1. Duty to Rome above all else 2. Rome is destined to be great 3. The Gods established Rome and have a destiny for its success 4. Sacrifice for Rome 5. Virtue of the ideal Roman woman
Early Republican Values Farmer/Soldier Frugal Loyal to Rome Hardworking Service to Roman Government "Porridge Eaters"
Cato the Elder "He gained, in early life, a good habit of body by working with his own hands, and living temperately, and serving in war; and seemed to have an equal proportion troth of health and strength." "His manner of life was yet more famous and talked of. For oratorical skill was, as an accomplishment, commonly studied and sought after by all young men; but he was very rare who would cultivate the old habits of bodily labor, or prefer a light supper, and a breakfast which never saw the fire; or be in love with poor clothes and a homely lodging, or could set his ambition rather on doing without luxuries than on possessing them."
Roman Religion and the State Local Deities State Deities Importance of Sacrifice and the State Connection to the Success of Rome
Augustus Restoration of the Republic Moral Legislation Res Gestae Pax Romana
Res Gestae The Romans presented Augustus with the Golden Shield that represented the four virtues of an ideal Roman man. They were: 1. Virtus = Virtue 2. Clementia = Clemency 3. Institia = Institution, Justice, Equity, 4. Pietas = Piety. Near the end of his life, Augustus commissioned the Res Gestae, “things done,” in Latin, or Divine Deeds of Augustus. He had them inscribed on pillars placed in Rome as a record, and propaganda, of what he had accomplished in life. They were meant to reinforce his influence and greatness of Rome. The events he chose to inscribe in the Res Gestae reinforce the four virtues of the ideal Roman man found on the Golden Shield and provide a look at what was valued in a leader in Roman society and by Augustus.
Early Christianity and Rome Connection to the Jewish Tradition Jesus and Break from Jewish Sect Early Churches Death and Transition
Nero General Life The Great Fire Use of Christians as Scapegoat
Nero TACITUS, The Annals of Imperial Rome Book XV, chapter 47 (A.D. 64) [during the Great Fire of Rome] "...neither human resources, nor imperial generosity, nor appeasement of the gods, eliminated the sinister suspicion that the fire had been deliberately started. To stop the rumor, NERO, made scapegoats--and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved CHRISTIANS (as they were popularly called). Their originator, CHRIST, had been executed in Tiberius' reign by the Procurator of Judaea, PONTIUS PILATUS (governor from 26 to 36 A.D.). But in spite of this temporary setback, the deadly superstition had broken out again, not just in Judaea (where the mischief had started) but even in Rome. All degraded and shameful practices collect and flourish in the capital. First, NERO had the self-admitted Christians arrested. Then, on their information, large numbers of others were condemned--not so much for starting fires as because of their hatred for the human race. Their deaths were made amusing. Dressed in wild animals' skins, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or crucified, or made into torches to be set on fire after dark as illumination.... Despite their guilt as Christians, and the ruthless punishment it deserved, the victims were pitied. For it was felt that they were being sacrificed to one man's brutality rather than to the national interest."
Views of the Early Christians SUETONIUS, Life of the Emperor Claudius, chapter 25: "Since the Jews were constantly causing disturbances at the instigation of CHRESTUS, he expelled them from the city..." SUETONIUS, Life of the Emperor Nero, chapter 16: "[After the Great Fire]...punishments were also inflicted on the CHRISTIANS, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief ...."
Views of the Early Christians To the Commissioners of Sacrifice of the Village of Alexander’s Island: From Aurelius Diogenes, the son of Satabus, of the Village of Alexander’s Island, aged 72 years: ---scar on his right eyebrow. I have always sacrificed regularly to the gods, and now, in your presence, in accordance with the edict, I have done sacrifice, and poured the drink offering, and tasted of the sacrifices, and I request you to certify the same. Farewell. -----Handed in by me, Aurelius Diogenes. -----I certify that I saw him sacrificing [signature obliterated]. Done in the first year of the Emperor, Caesar Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius Pius Felix Augustus, second of the month Epith. [June 26, 250 A.D.]
Early Christian Images "Alexamenos worships [his] God" Fish Symbol Funerary Inscriptions Other Symbols
Pliny the Younger to Trajan "I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no difference between the very young and the more mature; whether pardon is to be granted for repentance, or, if a man has once been a Christian, it does him no good to have ceased to be one; whether the name itself, even without offenses, or only the offenses associated with the name are to be punished." "Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome."
Evolving Views of the Christians Policies of the Romans against the Christians Local Policies Magistrates' Roles Accusation and Sacrifice 1. Illegal and Foreign Associations 2. Superstitious 3. Subversive
Minucius Felix: Octavius "They have collected from the lowest possible dregs of society the more ignorant fools together with gullible women (readily persuaded, as is their weak sex); they have thus formed a rabble of blasphemous conspirators, who with nocturnal assemblies, periodic fasts, and inhuman feasts seal their pact not with some religious ritual but with desecrating profanation; they are a crowd that furtively lurks in hiding places, shunning the light; they are speechless in public but gabble away in corners." "How amazingly stupid, unbelievably insolent they are. Tortures of the present they scoff at, but they live in dread of the uncertain tortures of the future; they are afraid to die after they are dead, but meantime they have no fear of death. So effectively are they beguiled of alarm by the comforting expectation of a renewal of life hereafter."
Roman Views of Christians "They recognize each other by secret marks and signs; hardly have they met when they love each other, throughout the world uniting in the practice of veritable religion of lusts. Indiscriminately they call each other brother and sister, thus turning even ordinary fornication into incest by the intervention of these hallowed names. Such a pride does this foolish, deranged superstition take in its wickedness." "They despise our temples as being no more than sepulchers, they spit after our gods, they sneer at our rites, and, fantastic though it is, our priest they pity – pitiable themselves; they scorn the purple robes of office, though they go about in rags themselves." "Christians alone are permitted to say nothing that would clear their name, vindicate the truth, and aid the judge to come to a fair decision. One thing only is what they wait for; this is the only thing necessary to arouse public hatred: the confession of the name Christian, not an investigation of the charge."
Importance of Sacrifice and Roman Ideals of Duty Sacrifice and the State Roman Ideals Christianity's Refusal to Participate "The only other group to have worshipped one god is the wretched tribe of the Jews, but they did so in the open, with temples and altars, with sacrifice and ceremonial. "
Constantine and Christianity Constantine and Conversion Dual Role as Pontifex Maximus and Head of the Church Christian Policies Changes for the Christian Church
