Pagans and Christians in Late Antique Rome
Conflict, Competition, and Coexistence in the Fourth Century

This book sheds new light on the religious and consequently social changes taking place in late antique Rome.

Michele Renee Salzman (Edited by), Marianne Sághy (Edited by), Rita Lizzi Testa (Edited by)

9781107110304, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 November 2015

436 pages, 30 b/w illus. 1 map
23.7 x 15.5 x 2.8 cm, 0.82 kg

This book sheds new light on the religious and consequently social changes taking place in late antique Rome. The essays in this volume argue that the once-dominant notion of pagan-Christian religious conflict cannot fully explain the texts and artifacts, as well as the social, religious, and political realities of late antique Rome. Together, the essays demonstrate that the fourth-century city was a more fluid, vibrant, and complex place than was previously thought. Competition between diverse groups in Roman society - be it pagans with Christians, Christians with Christians, or pagans with pagans - did create tensions and hostility, but it also allowed for coexistence and reduced the likelihood of overt violent, physical conflict. Competition and coexistence, along with conflict, emerge as still central paradigms for those who seek to understand the transformations of Rome from the age of Constantine through the early fifth century.

Part I. Senatorial Politics and Religious Conflict in Rome: 1. Constantine and the Roman senate: conflict, cooperation, and concealed resistance Michele R. Salzman
2. Beyond pagans and Christians: politics and intra-Christian conflict in the controversy over the Altar of Victory Robert Chenault
3. Were pagans afraid to speak their mind in a Christian world? The correspondence of Symmachus Alan Cameron
Part II. The Construction of New Religious Identities: 4. Christians and the invention of paganism in late antique Rome Thomas Jürgasch
5. Late antique divi and imperial priests of the late fourth and early fifth centuries Douglas Boin
6. Artis heu magicis: the label of magic in the fourth-century conflicts and disputes Maijastina Kahlos
7. Crowd behavior in late antique Rome Daniëlle Slootjes
Part III. Pagans and Christians: Coexistence and Competition: 8. Re-interpreting the cult of Mithras Jonas Bjørnebye
9. Making difference: the Carmina contra Paganos and the invention of late Roman paganism Dennis E. Trout
10. Poetry and pagans in late antique Rome: the case of the senator 'converted from the Christian religion to servitude to the idols' Neil McLynn
11. Professiones gentiliciae: the collegia of Rome between paganism and Christianity Francesca Diosono
12. Reinterpreting pagans and Christians from Rome's late antique mortuary evidence Nicola Denzey Lewis
13. On the form and function of Constantine's circiform funerary basilicas in Rome Monica Hellström
14. Romanae Gloria plebis: Bishop Damasus and the traditions of Rome Marianne Sághy
15. Storytelling and cultural memory in the making: celebrating pagan and Christian founders of Rome Gitte Lønstrup Dal Santo
16. Rome and imagery in late antiquity: perception and use of statues Caroline Michel d'Annoville
17. What to do with Sacra Antiqua? A reinterpretation of the sculptures from S. Martino ai Monti in Rome Silviu Anghel
18. Hercules representations in fourth-century Christian context Levente Nagy
Concluding remarks: VRBS ROMA between pagans and Christians Rita Lizzi Testa.

Subject Areas: Ancient religions & mythologies [HRKP], Christianity [HRC], History of religion [HRAX], Religious intolerance, persecution & conflict [HRAM9], Interfaith relations [HRAF], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1]