medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>The main source for the Neronic persecution is Tacitus, which
>amounts to "contemporary" in premodern terms (Tacitus would have
>been ten or so in 64). It's an interesting account. He clearly
>thinks that the Christians are the scum of the earth, but speaks of
>how their executions provoked sympathy among the Romans, who thought
>they were being scapegoated. It is, I believe, the earliest
>non-Christian mention of Christianity:
"But neither human resources, nor imperial munificence, nor
appeasement of the gods, eliminated sinister suspicions that the fire
had been instigated. To suppress this rumour, Nero fabricated
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
governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilatus. But in spite of this temporary
setback the deadly superstition had broken out afresh, not only in
Judaea (where the mischief had started) but even in Rome. All
degraded and shameful practices collect and flourish in the capital."
(Annals, XV.42 or 43; the translation doesn't make the section
divisions clear, trans. Michael Grant)
Phyllis
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
>Phyllis G. Jestice wrote:
>
>>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>>
>>Today (30. June) is the feast day of:
>>
>>the martyrs of Rome under Nero (d. 64-68). This feast commemorates
>>all the martyrs of the Neronic persecution who weren't either Paul
>>or Peter. Apparently the feast existed previously, but in 1969 was
>>moved to the day after the feasts of P&P. It started with the
>>great fire of Rome, which burned down about 2/3 of the city. Nero
>>apparently started denouncing Christians to avert the suspicion
>>that he had started the fire himself. Christians were hunted down
>>and killed in nasty ways, including being smeared with wax and lit
>>as candles during a party, crucifixion, and beast shows. The
>>number of victims is unknown.
>
>
>Are there contemporary non-Christian sources for this?
>
>DW
>
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--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
Associate Professor & Chair
History Department
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr. #5047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
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