Acta Martyrum Scillitanorum. A literary commentary
By: Vincent Hunink
Series: Giornale Italiano di Filologia - Bibliotheca (GIFBIB) -- 24; Giornale Italiano di Filologia - Bibliotheca (GIFBIB) -- 24.
Publisher: Brepols
Published: 2020
Place of publication: Turnhout
Language: eng
Number of pages: 138
ISBN-13: 9782503590950
Subjects: Christian martyrs in literature; Martyrologies; History and criticism
Description: The 'Acta Martyrum Scillitanorum' is the first martyr text in Latin, and one of the earliest documents in Christian Latin. This short text presents a group of young Christians facing trial in Carthage before a Roman judge on July 17th, 180 A.D. This is the first full commentary on this important text in English. It studies the fiery altercation between the defendants and the Roman proconsul, highlighting the rhetorical and narrative aspects of the original Latin (and the Greek translation from late antiquity). Throughout the book, much attention is paid to the communication, or miscommunication, between antagonists. For this dramatic and narrative approach to the text, the 'Acta Martyrum Scillitanorum' may be taken as it is: a coherent body of text, describing an altercation that either took place exactly like that, or was deemed by the author to be probable and natural, that is, a plausible and convincing dialogue between contrasting characters in a Roman judicial context.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.