I noticed the connections between Revelation and Dante are really strong, especially when you get to Paradiso, back as an undergrad. As for John having read Virgil, I haven't heard any speculation on that (doesn't mean someone hasn't published a paper in a religious studies journal somewhere, though). It strikes me as unlikely that there was any direct connection. The author (whether the Apostle John or someone from eastern Anatolia/upper Mesopotamia) almost certainly didn't know Latin and doesn't appear to have been overly invested in Hellenistic cultural referencing. Furthermore, there was a wealth of Jewish apocalyptic literature available for him.

On Mon, Apr 18, 2016 at 4:11 AM, Rosemary Hayes-Milligan and Andrew Milligan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

I hope you will forgive an idle query borne out of the fact that I was reading the second reading at Mass yesterday (Revelation 7:9-17)

When I reached the bit that that begins 'who are those, robed in white...' it rang bells with the recent Radio 4 reading of Seamus Heaney's translation of the Aeneid Book 6 (Aeneas's journey into the underworld). We know that Dante was inspired by Virgil. Was he also inspired by Revelation and has anyone suggested that St John may have read Virgil?

Forgive me if this is something that has been much rehearsed, or is totally silly. Does anyone have thoughts?

Best,

Rosemary

Dr RCE Hayes
18 Murrayfield Drive
Edinburgh
EH12 6EB

0131 337 1385
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