The exposure of infants among Jews and Christians in antiquity
By: Erkki Koskenniemi
Series: The Social world of biblical antiquity series -- 2nd ser., 4; Social world of biblical antiquity series -- 2nd ser., 4.
Publisher: Sheffield Phoenix Press; Sheffield Phoenix Press Ltd
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Sheffield [England]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 192
ISBN-13: 9781906055127
Subjects: Kind; Judaism; Christentum; Infanticide; Judentum; Christianity; Kindestötung; Religion; Antike; Aussetzung; Exposure (Criminal law); History
Description: In this novel and penetrating study Koskenniemi reviews the evidence for the practice from Graeco-Roman, Jewish, and Christian sources, and then, in the major part of the book, examines the rejection of the custom by Jewish authors like Philo and Josephus and by Christian writers such as Clement, Justin, Tertullian, Origen, Chrysostom and Augustine, many of whom adopted the arguments of their Jewish counterparts.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 160-173) and indexes.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: The Greco-Roman practice ; Jewish and Christian texts and their interpretation ; The task and the method; title: Early Judaism. Texts and preliminary notes ; Notes on argumentation ; Medical questions ; Only sweet dreams? : social and juridical questions ; Contrary evidence?; title: Early Christianity. Texts and preliminary notes ; Notes on argumentation ; Contrary evidence?; title: The practice banned. The church ; the state; title: Conclusions.