CLAS / PHIL 2610. Paganism to Christianity

Lecture 25. Temple Bashing and Pagan Bashing

I. Living Religion

A. Paganus

-Country Dweller (lives in pagus = village); civilian (not soldier)

-Native: believes in native customs and gods

-Hellen = Greek

B. Where were the pagan Gods?

-Public: Social reinforcement = festivals; offices

-Private: Personal connection of Julian to Zeus

C. The Christians and the Pagan Gods?

Augustine The Divination of Demons: pagan gods = demons

II. Imperial Attitudes Toward Pagan Practice

A. Ambivalence: Constantine and Sons

-Only professional divination forbidden

-353-4 forbid all sacrifice

B. Breathing Room: Julian and Followers

-Julian (AD 361-63) pagan revival?

C. Onslaught: Theodosius and Sons

-Theosodius (Spanish Christian; Eastern Emperor 379-95)

-Cynegius destroys temples in east (386)

-Laws forbid sacrifice, incense, libation (391-2)

-Laws call for temple destruction (399, 407)

III. Holy Men and Temple Bashing

A. Libanius for the Temples

Monks destroy Syrian temples with impunity

B. The Role of the Bishop

Local Authority: mix of political and religious power

East:

Theophilus of Alexandria and the Serapeum (391)

Porphyry of Gaza and the temple of Marnas (402)

West:

Martin of Tours = Gaul (372-97)

Ambrose of Milan (374-97): The Altar of Victory and Symmachus, “Not by one avenue only can we arrive at so tremendous a secret”

-Theodosius and Thessalonica

C. Violent Reaction?

Eugenius and the Battle of Frigidus (394)

IV. Conversion and Coercion

A. Force?

B. Benefactions?

C. Authority!