Ancient Christian Martyrdom: Diverse Practices, Theologies, and Traditions

271 Pages·2012·2.162 MB·English

by  Candida R. Moss

Ancient Christian Martyrdom
The Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library is a project of international and interfaith scope in
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so cio log i cal and literary criticism.
John J. Collins
General Editor
the anchor yale bible reference library
CANDIDA R. MOSS
Ancient Christian
Martyrdom
DIVERSE PRACTICES,
THEOLOGIES, AND
TRADITIONS
New Haven &
London
Published with assistance from the foundation established in memory of
William McKean Brown.
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Copyright © 2012 by Yale University.
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Set in Sabon type by Westchester Book Group.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Moss, Candida R.
Ancient Christian martyrdom : diverse practices, theologies, and traditions /
Candida R. Moss.
p. cm.—(The Anchor Yale Bible reference library)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 978-0-300-15465-8 (alk. paper)
1. Martyrdom—Christianity—History. 2. Persecution—History—Early
church, ca. 30–600. 3. Church history—Primitive and early church, ca.
30-600. I. Title.
BR1604.23.M67 2012
272'.1—dc23
2011044938
A cata logue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO NISO Z39.48- 1992
(Permanence of Paper).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Adela
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Contents
Ac know ledg ments ix
List of Abbreviations xiii
Introduction 1
1 Cultural Contexts: The Good Death and the Self- Conscious
Sufferer 23
2 Asia Minor: Imitating Christ 49
3 Rome: Contesting Philosophy 77
4 Gaul: The Victors of Vienne and Lyons 100
5 Roman North Africa: Apocalyptic Ascent 122
6 Alexandria: Clement and the True Martyr 145
Conclusion 163
Notes 169
Bibliography 205
General Index 231
Index of Modern Authors 241
Index of Ancient Sources 248
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Ac know ledg ments
I owe many debts— both great and small—t o institutions, friends, family,
and colleagues who supported this project. John J. Collins, the editor of the
Anchor Yale Bible series, invited me to write this book, and I am thankful to
him for the opportunity to sharpen my ideas. I am similarly indebted to Jennifer
Banks, of Yale University Press, who worked with me over the course of sev-
eral years and saw the project to completion. The research for this book was
supported by grants from the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts in
the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame and by the
generosity of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
My editor, Bert Harrill, has gone above and beyond what could reason-
ably be expected of him. I am grateful for his careful and dedicated work,
humbled by his vast knowledge, and inspired by his excellent scholarship.
His careful eye has saved me from many mistakes, and I know that this book
is greatly improved for his involvement in it. The two anonymous readers for
Yale University Press made numerous suggestions for improvement that have
proved most useful. Rona Johnston Gordon was a tower of strength when it
came to editing the manuscript. My research assistant Mary Young checked
numerous references with good humor and great effi ciency, and the whole
pro cess would have fallen to pieces without Jessie Dolch, my copyeditor for
Yale University Press.
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