Latin Epics of the New Testament: Juvencus, Sedulius, AratorLatin Epics of the New Testament is about the growth of Christianity, and in particular the challenge of engaging with the Roman intellectual elite and its highly sophisticated Graeco-Roman tradition. In this culture epics like those of Vergil and Lucan were highly valued for their language, their 'heroic' themes, and their Rome-centred ideologies. Roger Green examines each of these epics in detail, showing how the three authors Juvencus, Sedulius, and Arator repackage the New Testament as epic, and try to make a bridge between two very different cultures. He explores the fascinating questions of how these authors exploit epic themes such as gods, heroes, war, and fate, without playing down the very real theological concerns of their times. All these poets were popular in the Middle Ages and later, and are the pioneers of poetry that leads to Renaissance epic and the famous poems of John Milton. |
From inside the book
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Page 4
... divine law in my verses happily assumes the earthly embellishments of language. It is the peace of Christ that has bestowed this on me, and the peace graciously fostered by Constantine, the ruler of the wide world, who is deservedly ...
... divine law in my verses happily assumes the earthly embellishments of language. It is the peace of Christ that has bestowed this on me, and the peace graciously fostered by Constantine, the ruler of the wide world, who is deservedly ...
Page 16
... divine gift to the peoples which is immune from the charge of falsehood. Nor do I fear that the conflagration of the world will snatch away this work with it; indeed it will perhaps rescue me from the flames at the time when Christ, the ...
... divine gift to the peoples which is immune from the charge of falsehood. Nor do I fear that the conflagration of the world will snatch away this work with it; indeed it will perhaps rescue me from the flames at the time when Christ, the ...
Page 17
... divine aid. But unlike Homer, Vergil, Lucan, Statius, and others, Juvencus does not offer a synopsis; not so much, perhaps, because the details were familiar—they may have been to some readers, at least86—or because Juvencus is ...
... divine aid. But unlike Homer, Vergil, Lucan, Statius, and others, Juvencus does not offer a synopsis; not so much, perhaps, because the details were familiar—they may have been to some readers, at least86—or because Juvencus is ...
Page 23
... divine master. Juvencus does not say that Christ is the new Apollo—he would probably have shrunk from doing so—but we recall that Phoebus was a god of prophecy, a god of healing, and a god of music. All these things, in their Christian ...
... divine master. Juvencus does not say that Christ is the new Apollo—he would probably have shrunk from doing so—but we recall that Phoebus was a god of prophecy, a god of healing, and a god of music. All these things, in their Christian ...
Page 24
... divine warnings, and makes no mention of the death of Herod (Matt. 2: 19–23). This may be purely for the sake of economy,121 but dramatic considerations may underlie the second: unless he. 116 Doignon (1975). 117 See pp. 183–4. 118 To ...
... divine warnings, and makes no mention of the death of Herod (Matt. 2: 19–23). This may be purely for the sake of economy,121 but dramatic considerations may underlie the second: unless he. 116 Doignon (1975). 117 See pp. 183–4. 118 To ...
Contents
1 | |
2 Sedulius | 135 |
3 Arator | 251 |
4 Reception and Influence | 351 |
Conclusion | 373 |
Appendix 1 Juvencus and the Text of the New Testament | 385 |
Appendix 2 The Official Record of the Presentation of the Historia Apostolica | 391 |
Bibliography | 393 |
Index of Passages | 419 |
General Index | 432 |
Other editions - View all
Latin Epics of the New Testament:Juvencus, Sedulius, Arator: Juvencus ... Roger P. H. Green No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
Acts Aeneas allusion already appear Arator Arator’s baptism begins Book called century certainly Christ Christian classical clear clearly close common context death described detail direct disciples divine early epic episode especially evidence example explain expression fact follows given gives gospels Greek healing heaven Herzog implied important influence interesting interpretation Italy Jesus John Juvencus kind known later Latin least less letter light Lucan Luke manuscripts Mark Matt meaning mentioned miracles narrative original paraphrase particular passage Paul perhaps Peter phrase poem poetic poets possible present problem Prudentius question quoted readers reason recalls reference rhetorical Roberts Rome says Schwind scripture Sedulius seems seen sense shows similar speak speech spiritual story suggested taken Testament theme theological things tradition various Vergil Vergilian verse words writing