Dying for GodDying for God

The Roman historian Tacitus mentions Christians in his The Roman historian Tacitus mentions Christians in his AnnalsAnnals::

They got their name from Christ, who was executed by They got their name from Christ, who was executed by sentence of the procurator, Pontius Pilate, in the sentence of the procurator, Pontius Pilate, in the Reign of Tiberius. That checked the pernicious Reign of Tiberius. That checked the pernicious

superstition for a short time, but it broke out afresh superstition for a short time, but it broke out afresh --not only in Judea, where the plague first arose, but --not only in Judea, where the plague first arose, but in Rome itself, where all the horrible and shameful in Rome itself, where all the horrible and shameful things in the world collect and find a home. (things in the world collect and find a home. (AnnAnn. .

15.44)15.44)

Dying for GodDying for God

The Roman historian Suetonius on the The Roman historian Suetonius on the Christians:Christians:

““a body of people addicted to a novel and a body of people addicted to a novel and mischievous superstition.” mischievous superstition.”

Dying for GodDying for God

The Christian apologist Tertullian on The Christian apologist Tertullian on Christian scapegoatism:Christian scapegoatism:

“…“…if the Tiber reaches the walls, if the Nile if the Tiber reaches the walls, if the Nile does not rise to water the fields, if there is no does not rise to water the fields, if there is no rain, or if there is earthquake or famine, if rain, or if there is earthquake or famine, if there is plague, the cry at once arises, ‘The there is plague, the cry at once arises, ‘The Christians to the lions!’”Christians to the lions!’”

• rise of Christian apologists (a model of accommodation?):

– Aristides the Athenian (d. 134 CE)

– Quadratus of Athens (ca 124 CE)

– Epistle to Diognetus (ca. 180 CE)

– Justin Martyr (100-165 CE)• First Apology• Second Apology

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• No organized persecution of Christians until the second century

• No imperial policy on the persecution of the Christians before the third century

• Persecuting emperors:– Nero– Domitian– Trajan– Hadrian– Antoninus Pius– Marcus Aurelius– Decius– Valerian– Diocletian

Dying for GodDying for God

Nero (54-68 CE)

Domitian (81-96 CE)

Diocletian (284-305 CE)

“Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be

ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my tomb, and

may leave nothing of my body; so that when I have fallen asleep [in death], I may be no trouble to any one. Then shall I truly be a disciple of Christ,

when the world shall not see so much as my body.”

“Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let

cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole

body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain

to Jesus Christ.”

“They broke out all her teeth with blows on her jaws, and

piling up a pyre before the city threatened to burn her alive, if

she refused to recite along with them their blasphemous sayings. But she asked for a

brief space, and, being released, without flinching she

leaped into the fire and was consumed.”

Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiae, 6.43.11)

FOUQUET, Jean.

The Martyrdom of St Apollonia

1452-60.

Musee Condee, Chantilly

GIOTTO di Bondone. The Stefaneschi Triptych: Martyrdom of St Paul.

c. 1330. Pinacoteca, Vatican

St. Agatha and St. Apollonia. Francisco de Zurbaran,1630-33.

Oil on canvas. Musée Fabre, Montpellier and the Louvre, Paris

Francesco del COSSA, St Lucy (Griffoni Polyptych)1473. National Gallery of Art, Washington

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Domenico BECCAFUMI, St Lucy.1521. Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena

ASIP, Vicente. Martyrdom of St Agnes. 1540s,Prado, Madrid

MORAZZONE, Martyrdom of Sts

Seconda and Rufina. 1620-25.

Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan

Paolo Veronese, The Martyrdom of St. Justina. 1573. Galleria di Uffizi, Florence.

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, The Martyrdom of

St. Agatha. 1756. Staatsmuseum, Berlin

Sebastiano Piombo, The Martyrdom of St. Agatha, 1520.

Saint Cecilia, by Stefano Maderno, 1600. Church of St. Cecilia, Rome