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 xii
... fascinating trio. Juvencus, we are told on reliable evidence, was an aristocrat and a priest, an intriguing double identity appropriate for the one who first ventured to present the gospels in epic style. Almost xii Introduction.
... fascinating trio. Juvencus, we are told on reliable evidence, was an aristocrat and a priest, an intriguing double identity appropriate for the one who first ventured to present the gospels in epic style. Almost xii Introduction.
Page xiii
... evidence that makes him a priest who lived and worked in Italy, and the somewhat stronger indications of a date in the second quarter of the fifth century. He was well educated before joining what looks like a small Christian community ...
... evidence that makes him a priest who lived and worked in Italy, and the somewhat stronger indications of a date in the second quarter of the fifth century. He was well educated before joining what looks like a small Christian community ...
Page xv
... evidence that they were written for educational purposes, for one's overriding impression is that Christians thought but little of a bespoke school curriculum (that was an idea of Julian, the so-called apostate), and that they might ...
... evidence that they were written for educational purposes, for one's overriding impression is that Christians thought but little of a bespoke school curriculum (that was an idea of Julian, the so-called apostate), and that they might ...
Page xvii
... evidence and proceeds to argue that our poets work on their basetexts according to its methods of abbreviation, amplification, and transposition, using techniques common to an advanced schoolboy and a well-trained orator. Further evidence ...
... evidence and proceeds to argue that our poets work on their basetexts according to its methods of abbreviation, amplification, and transposition, using techniques common to an advanced schoolboy and a well-trained orator. Further evidence ...
Page 1
... evidence of Christian achievement1—he highlights the noble ancestry of Juvencus and the accuracy of his work, and links him with the reign of Constantine. He also mentions various other works, no longer extant. The entry is as follows ...
... evidence of Christian achievement1—he highlights the noble ancestry of Juvencus and the accuracy of his work, and links him with the reign of Constantine. He also mentions various other works, no longer extant. The entry is as follows ...
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