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 xiii
... theme to outlive Vergil's, but anxiously hoping too that it will save him from hellfire. Sedulius is less easy to connect, reliably, with the wider world. I incline to follow the evidence that makes him a priest who lived and worked in ...
... theme to outlive Vergil's, but anxiously hoping too that it will save him from hellfire. Sedulius is less easy to connect, reliably, with the wider world. I incline to follow the evidence that makes him a priest who lived and worked in ...
Page 2
... themes as diverse as that of the poem on the Phoenix (De Ave Phoenice) ascribed to Lactantius, which compared this bird to the resurrected Christ, at one extreme, or more straightforward treatises on Christian doctrine or practice at ...
... themes as diverse as that of the poem on the Phoenix (De Ave Phoenice) ascribed to Lactantius, which compared this bird to the resurrected Christ, at one extreme, or more straightforward treatises on Christian doctrine or practice at ...
Page 6
... theme.30 Constantine's humility reflects that of Christ, whose entirely justified claim to be called rex is underplayed, in Juvencus as in the gospels.31 Constantine is also implicitly contrasted with Diocletian, often called rex ...
... theme.30 Constantine's humility reflects that of Christ, whose entirely justified claim to be called rex is underplayed, in Juvencus as in the gospels.31 Constantine is also implicitly contrasted with Diocletian, often called rex ...
Page 17
... theme of the 'praise of the ruler' is not present until the Epilogue—though there is a danger of speaking as if Juvencus felt obliged to include all the usual themes and shunts them around more or less mechanically. The meditative ...
... theme of the 'praise of the ruler' is not present until the Epilogue—though there is a danger of speaking as if Juvencus felt obliged to include all the usual themes and shunts them around more or less mechanically. The meditative ...
Page 18
... theme that can make the poet glorious and not the reverse, as is implied, for all their affectation of modesty, in the classical poets. At the same time, it is humble in a theological perspective when, with its remarkable importation of ...
... theme that can make the poet glorious and not the reverse, as is implied, for all their affectation of modesty, in the classical poets. At the same time, it is humble in a theological perspective when, with its remarkable importation of ...
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 |
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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