Roman Empire - Blood Sacrifice

ꕤ Article ROMAN EMPIRE | BLOOD SACRIFICE SOURCE PRIMARY - EXTRACTS / SUMMARIES http://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1267&context=honors_theses OTHER SOURCES - AS MARKED *Yeshua inserted where 'Jesus' appears, as this would be the Hebrew given name Likewise, *Saul inserted where 'Paul' appears Rome imperial cult worship a state duty EXTRACTS & SUMMARIES Roman Death Rituals sacrifice in ritual & munus munus - gladiator 1. (ancient Rome) man compelled to fight to death in a public arena for entertainment of spectators. usually professional combatant, a captive, or a slave, trained to entertain public by engaging in mortal combat with another person or a wild animal http://www.thefreedictionary.com/munus Romans viewed purposeful death as purifying, salvific, & regenerative agent spilling of blood gods appeased, honoured dying purified / ready to be received by ancestors honour could be restored or shame avoided blood in the amphitheatre nourished the gods / placated gods' anger petition to the gods symbolic magic that purified the empire (and/or the individual), preparation for regeneration Decimation "removal of a tenth" military discipline Roman Army to punish units guilty - eg mutiny or desertion those convicted subjected to the fustuarium (beating to death with a cudgel) "There is some injustice in every great precedent, which though injurious to individuals, has its compensation in the public advantage."  -- Tacitus Tacitus (b. perhaps in southern Gaul, c.55-c.120) Roman historian, author of a/o Histories Annals father wealthy man belonged to the second tier of the Roman elite knights (equestrian order) sent to Rome to study rhetorics grand cultural education included everything a magistrate need know Tacitus a quaestor (magistrate, investigator) 81 or 82 admitted to the Senate afterwards Tactius served as a as praetor (magistrate) b/w  89 & 93 must have commanded a legion or governed a province Senate was weak Emperor and the Senate were on bad terms Tactius may have been glad to be away appointed consul for 97 http://www.livius.org/articles/person/tacitus/ Praetor  {L. to go before} -- annually elected magistrate of the ancient Roman Republic, ranking below but having approximately the same functions as a consul. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/praetor public death by decimation *not as common as spectacles {gladiatorial}   or even mors vuluntaria *also not revered or anticipated mors vuluntaria - suicide Rome - Warrior State PUBLIC DECIMATION did provide foundational tool for the warrior state that was Rome DISCIPLINE & TRAINING of LEGIONS owe much to practice of decimation recruits comply to harsh military conditions not only b/c honourable & ingrained in psyches but also b/c of whispered threat of fustuarium & legends that surrounded it Such soldiers not afraid of death in battle death was inevitable to all men but death by decimation was dishonourable death decimation itself not consequences of military crimes dishonour that came with decimation is the consequence fustuarium from the Latin fustis, a branch or rod) Roman military form of execution by cudgeling (clubbing) *Also associated with running the gauntlet -- captive to run b/w two rows (a gauntlet)    of soldiers who repeatedly strike running captives Cohort 480 soldiers divided into groups of 10 drew lots (sortition) all who drew lot subject to punishment, regardless of fault, rank or distinction execution by:  stoning or clubbing remaining soldiers given inferior rations & quarters for few days 471 BC Wars against Volsci {Italic tribe who settled south of Rome} army had scattered culprits punished for desertion scourged & beheaded remainder drew lots & were stoned or clubbed Professional soldiers cooperating with indiscriminate execution of comrades doomed 3rd Century AD Entire Thebian Legion refused Whole legion was killed:  Martyrs of Agaunum [comment:  sensible thing.  disobedience cannot go unpunished, where discipline & obedience is everything] SECOND BATTLE OF BREITENFELD aka First Battle of Leipzig Battle of Breitenfeld 1642 Field Marshal Lennart Torstenson v. Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire  command of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria near Leipzig, Germany Protestants vs Catholics Imperial army 15,000 casualties, 5,000 were taken prisoner 4,000 Swedes were killed or wounded Result:   enabled Sweden to occupy Saxony Empire fighters fled without fighting Archduke narrowly escaped capture Court-martial in Prague Six regiments:  cowardice & misconduct Ordered to lay down arms ensigns torn deleted from register of imperial troops council of war sentence pronounced:  decimation rolling dice chosen by 90 day 1:  cords were broken [backs?] day 2:  beheadings (some accounts: shootings) & hanging from trees mass grave:  Black mound in Rokycany Other: Emperor inclined to peace Shortly thereafter: preliminaries of peace Hamburg confirmed. Victory ensured German states would not be forcibly reconverted to Roman Catholicism ---------------------------------- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Breitenfeld_%281642%29 http://memim.com/battle-of-breitenfeld-1642.html Gladiatorial Events originated as a component of funeral games in BC264-3 at the funerary rites of Decimus Junius Brutus Pera ludi funebres (funeral games) funerary games transitioned into full-blown gladiatorial spectacles of the high empire Ancient Mediterranean Societies were honour - shame cultures. Honour was everything. Ultimate sin to be judged lacking. Suicide was the only honourable method of reparation. Alternative: shameful death would affect one’s afterlife deceased would not be permitted to join the Di Manes (or ancestors) -- cult of the ancestors Honourable death eased passage to afterlife blood was the conduit of purification Burial was important: factor for deceased's ability to reach afterlife. Martyr (martyros), in Greek, means “witness.” 2nd Century Christian literature - meaning shifts. Portion of Christian martyrs: were voluntary suicides. Theory: Christian martyrs had a link to Roman death rituals. Romans executed *everyone* -- not just Christians -- ie everyone who refused to participate in     rituals for safety of the emperor & empire -- declared themselves enemies of the state Early convergence of Christianity & rabbinic Judaism Christianity inextricable relationship to its parent religion-- Judaism 66 – 70 CE Roman annihilation or weakening of number of Jewish sects Zealot groups gone / made inconsequential Temple in Ruins Pharisees remained Rabbinic Judaism grew out of this group Pauline Christianity sprang from rabbinic Judaism From this group martyrs born Saul / Paul of Tarsus the apostle to the apostles ie Saul of Tarsus became the apostle Paul Tarsus (West Syrian Diocese) Tarsus, famed in Christian tradition as the birthplace of Saint Paul =  metropolis of the Chalcedonian ecclesiastical province of Cilicia Prima Saul / Paul of Tarsus =  Jew who had Roman citizenship =  tried to stamp out Christianity =  until, we are told, he had a "vision on the Road to Damascus." SAUL OF TARSUS (known as Paul, the Apostle of the Heathen) founder of the Christian Church Not a Hebrew scholar; a Hellenist. Saul (whose Roman cognomen was Paul) was born of Jewish parents in the first decade of the common era at Tarsus in Cilicia http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11952-paul-of-tarsus Cognomen =  third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Cognomen started as a nickname, but lost that purpose when it became hereditary. =  Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name (the family name, or clan name) in order to identify a particular branch within a family or family within a clan. =  otherwise, surname (esp. a nickname) eg.   Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus cognomen Magnus earned after his military victories under Sulla's dictatorship Today, we refer to prominent Romans by only their cognomen eg.  Caesar for Gaius Julius Caesar http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/cognomen jewishencyclopedia: NO indication in Paul's writings or arguments that he had received the rabbinical training ascribed to him by Christian writers, ancient and modern. His quotations from Scripture, which are all taken, directly or from memory, from the Greek version, betray no familiarity with the original Hebrew text. Affliction =  "a thorn in the flesh," and as a heavy stroke by "a messenger of Satan" = likely epilepsy "may have greatly impressed some of his Gentile hearers, but could not but frighten away and estrange from him the Jew, whose God is above all the God of reason" "The conception of a new faith, half pagan and half Jewish, such as Paul preached, and susceptibility to its influences, were altogether foreign to the nature of Jewish life and thought. For Judaism, religion is the hallowing of this life by the fulfilment of its manifold duties." "Paul shrank from life as the domain of Satan and all his hosts of evil; he longed for redemption by the deadening of all desires for life, and strove for another world which he saw in his ecstatic visions. The following description of Paul is preserved in "Acta Pauli et Theclæ," an apocryphal book which has been proved to be older and in some respects of greater historic value than the canonical Acts of the Apostles (see Conybeare, "Apollonius' Apology and Acts, and Other Monuments of Early Christianity," pp. 49-88, London, 1894): "A man of moderate stature, with crisp [scanty] hair, crooked legs, blue eyes, large knit brows, and long nose, at times looking like a man, at times like an angel, Paul came forward and preached to the men of Iconium: 'Blessed are they that keep themselves chaste [unmarried]; for they shall be called the temple of God. Blessed are they that mortify [deny] their bodies and souls; for unto them speaketh God. Blessed are they that despise the world; for they shall be pleasing to God. Blessed be the souls and bodies of virgins; for they shall receive the reward of their chastity.'" It was by such preaching that "he ensnared the souls of young men and maidens, enjoining them to remain single" [comment:  Saul / Paul -- philosophy doesn't hold much appeal ... chastity, self denial, estrangement from the material world (I presume), and virginity:  holds zero attraction.  lol  ... What did anyone see in Christianity?] "Anti-Jewish Attitude. Whatever the physiological or psychological analysis of Paul's temperament may be, his conception of life was not Jewish. Nor can his unparalleled animosity and hostility to Judaism as voiced in the Epistles be accounted for except upon the assumption that, while born a Jew, he was never in sympathy or in touch with the doctrines of the rabbinical schools. For even his Jewish teachings came to him through Hellenistic channels, as is indicated by the great emphasis laid upon "the day of the divine wrath." [comment:  big issue for the ancient Hebrews was Hellenisation of their culture; hence the resistance and rebellions that eventually led to the destruction of the Temple by the Romans (as I understand it).] "His Personality. To judge from those Epistles that have all the traits of genuineness and give a true insight into his nature, Paul was of a fiery temper, impulsive and impassioned in the extreme, of ever-changing moods, now exulting in boundless joy and now sorely depressed and gloomy. Effusive and excessive alike in his love and in his hatred, in his blessing and in his cursing, he possessed a marvelous power over men; and he had unbounded confidence in himself. He speaks or writes as a man who is conscious of a great providential mission, as the servant and herald of a high and unique cause. The philosopher and the Jew will greatly differ from him with regard to every argument and view of his; but both will admit that he is a mighty battler for truth, and that his view of life, of man, and of God is a profoundly serious one. The entire conception of religion has certainly been deepened by him, because his mental grasp was wide and comprehensive, and his thinking bold, aggressive, searching, and at the same time systematic. Indeed, he molded the thought and the belief of all Christendom." "Jewish Proselytism and Paul. Before the authenticity of the story of the so-called conversion of Paul is investigated, it seems proper to consider from the Jewish point of view this question: Why did Paul find it necessary to create a new system of faith for the admission of the Gentiles, in view of the fact that the Synagogue had well-nigh two centuries before opened its door to them and, with the help of the Hellenistic literature, had made a successful propaganda, as even the Gospels testify? ... and others, in order that they may reserve the claim of universality for Christianity, deny the existence of uncircumcised proselytes in Judaism, and misconstrue plain Talmudic and other statements referring to God-fearing Gentiles (Bertholet, l.c. pp. 338-339); whereas the very doctrine of Paul concerning the universal faith of Abraham (Rom. iv. 3-18) rests upon the traditional interpretation of Gen. xii. 3 (see Kuenen, "Prophets and Prophecy in Israel," pp. 379, 457) and upon the traditional view which made Abraham the prototype of a missionary bringing the heathen world under the wings of the Shekinah (Gen. R. xxxix., with reference to Gen. xii. 5; see Abraham; Judaism; Proselyte). As a matter of fact, only the Jewish propaganda work along the Mediterranean Sea made it possible for Paul and his associates to establish Christianity among the Gentiles, as is expressly recorded in the Acts (x. 2; xiii. 16, 26, 43, 50; xvi. 14; xvii. 4, 17; xviii. 7); and it is exactly from such synagogue manuals for proselytes as the Didache and the Didascalia that the ethical teachings in the Epistles of Paul and of Peter were derived (see Seeberg, "Der Katechismus der Urchristenheit," 1903, pp. 1-44). [comment:  not sure what the deal is with 'uncircumcised proselytes,' (as in, were there any uncircumcised heathen among Hebrews?), but trying to find out, I came across 'we are all sons of Abraham' ...  That sounds deluded to me.] The answer is supplied by the fact that Jewish proselytism had the Jewish nation as its basis, as the names "ger" and "ger toshab" for "proselyte" indicate. The proselyte on whom the Abrahamic rite was not performed remained an outsider. It was, therefore, highly important for Paul that those who became converted to the Church should rank equally with its other members and that every mark of distinction between Jew and Gentile should be wiped out in the new state of existence in which the Christians lived in anticipation. The predominating point of view of the Synagogue was the political and social one; that of the Church, the eschatological [Last Judgement doctrine] one. May such as do not bear the seal of Abraham's covenant upon their flesh or do not fulfil the whole Law be admitted into the congregation of the saints waiting for the world of resurrection? This was the question at issue between the disciples of Jesus and those of Paul; the former adhering to the view of the Essenes, which was also that of Jesus; the latter taking an independent position that started not from the Jewish but from the non-Jewish standpoint. Paul fashioned a Christ of his own, a church of his own, and a system of belief of his own; and because there were many mythological and Gnostic elements in his theology which appealed more to the non-Jew than to the Jew, he won the heathen world to his belief." [Essenes -- freaky ancient Jewish sect; monastic living males (excluded women); property in common; while they adopted beliefs that diverge from Judaism, they followed Mosaic law to the letter  - here ] "Paul's Conversion [ ... ] Paul was a young man charged by the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem with the execution of Stephen and the seizure of the disciples of Jesus. The statement, however (ib. xxii. 8-9), that, being a zealous observer of the law of the Fathers, "he persecuted the Church unto death," could have been made only at a time when it was no longer known what a wide difference existed between the Sadducean high priests and elders, who had a vital interest in quelling the Christian movement, and the Pharisees, who had no reason for condemning to death either Jesus or Stephen. In fact, it is derived from the Epistle to the Galatians (i. 13-14), the spuriousness of which has been shown by Bruno Baur, Steck, and most convincingly by Friedrich Maehliss ("Die Unechtheit des Galaterbriefs," 1891). The same is the case with Phil. iii. 5. Acts xxii. 17-18 speaks of another vision which Paul had while in the Temple, in which Jesus told him to depart from Jerusalem and go with his gospel to the Gentiles. Evidently Paul entertained long before his vision those notions of the Son of God which he afterward expressed; but the identification of his Gnostic Christ with the crucified Jesus of the church he had formerly antagonized was possibly the result of a mental paroxysm experienced in the form of visions." "Paul’s Church versus the Synagogue. In order to understand fully the organization and scope of the Church as mapped out by Paul in his Epistles, a comparison thereof with the organization and the work of the Synagogue, including the Essene community, seems quite proper. Each Jewish community when organized as a congregation possessed in, or together with, its synagogue an institution (1) for common worship, (2) for the instruction of young and old in the Torah, and (3) for systematic charity and benevolence. This threefold work was as a rule placed in charge of men of high social standing, prominent both in learning and in piety. The degree of knowledge and of scrupulousness in the observance of the Torah determined the rank of the members of the Synagogue. ..." " ... Little value can be attached to the story in Acts xviii. 18 that Paul brought a Nazarite sacrifice in the Temple, since for him the blood of Christ was the only sacrifice to be recognized. Only at a later time, when Pauline and Judean Christianity were merged, was account again taken, contrary to the Pauline system, of the Mosaic law regarding sacrifice and the priesthood; and so the Epistle to the Hebrews was written with the view of representing Jesus as "the high priest after the order of Melchizedek" who atoned for the sins of the world by his own blood (Heb. iv. 14-v. 10, vii.-xiii.). However, the name of Paul, connected with the epistle by Church tradition, was not attached to it in writing, as was the case with the other epistles." Epistle to the Hebrews, Yeshua / Jesus assumes the role of High Priest once and for all Melchizedek is venerated as a saint in Latin & in Eastern Orthodox tradition Melchizedek aka Malki-Tzedek Ch.14 Bk Genesis fm.  melek(h) "king"  +  ṣedeq "righteous(ness)" name literally translates to "my king is righteousness" (or "my king is Ṣedeq") king of Salem and priest of El Elyon ("God most high") El Elyon ("God most high") associated with Jebusite god (pre-Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem) = astral deity / assoc. with Salem (Sali or Shalem) identified with evening star in Ugaritic (now Ras Shamra, Syria) mythology. Šalim would be the city of Salim, the Jebusite astral deity. Name also preserved in Phoenician. Deity identified with Roman Jupiter. Melchizedek prototype of the messiah name of the Archangel Michael, interpreted as a heavenly priest Contrasts with: Belial -- who is given the name of Melchi-resha "king of wickedness" Dead Sea Scrolls Melchizedek = divine being = Hebrew title applied to him: Elohim Melchizedek = first person in the Torah to be titled a Kohen (priest) = medrash records:  he was preceded in priesthood (kehuna) by Adam Torah Laws require that the Kohen (priest) must be a patrilineal descendant of a prior Kohen. [Melchizek not patrilineal descendant -- so it doesn't make sense that he was a kohen. Explanation too confusing for me, re this & who got the high priesthood.] Identification of Melchizedek with the Messiah pre-dates Christianity & developed during the Second Temple period. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchizedek The Chief Angelic Priest? In the mystical Qumran documents known as “Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice” (originally called “The Angelic Liturgy”), Melchizedek appears to be a superior angel. The texts are broken up too badly to be sure of this identification. ...  “Songs” depict a hierarchy of angelic priests who serve in the heavenly temple. They are surrounded by other divine beings known as elim or elohim (gods, divine beings) or holy ones, spirits, princes, and ministers. And Melchizedek seems to be a leader of this assembly of servants. In the so-called “War Scroll” ..., Melchizedek appears to be the archangel Michael, who is “the prince of light” ... and “the angel of [God's] truth” (1QS 3:24). Scrolls scholar Carol Newsom says, “it would seem most plausible that Melchizedek is to be identified with the seventh and highest of the chief princes, as Michael is customarily identified with the highest of the archangels.” Dead Sea Scrolls Translation http://www.hebrew-streams.org/works/qumran/melchizedek-dss.html   "... brought the teachings of the monotheistic truth and the ethics of Judaism, however mixed up with heathen Gnosticism and asceticism, home to the pagan world in a form which appealed most forcibly to an age eager for a God in human shape and for some means of atonement in the midst of a general consciousness of sin and moral corruption.  ..." Gnosticism - material world shunned. asceticism - abstinence in worldly pleasures.   "... Paul with his austerity made Jewish holiness his watch word; and he aimed after all, like any other Jew, at the establishment of the kingdom of God, to whom also his Christ subordinated himself, delivering up the kingdom to the Father when his task of redemption was complete, in order that God might be all in all (I Cor. xv. 28). He was an instrument in the hand of Divine Providence to win the heathen nations for Israel's God of righteousness." His System of Faith. On the other hand, he construed a system of faith which was at the very outset most radically in conflict with the spirit of Judaism: (1) He substituted for the natural, childlike faith of man in God as the ever-present Helper in all trouble, such as the Old Testament represents it everywhere, a blind, artificial faith prescribed and imposed from without and which is accounted as a meritorious act. (2) He robbed human life of its healthy impulses, the human soul of its faith in its own regenerating powers, of its belief in its own self and in its inherent tendencies to goodness, by declaring Sin to be, from the days of Adam, the all-conquering power of evil ingrained in the flesh, working everlasting doom; the deadly exhalation of Satan, the prince of this world, from whose grasp only Jesus, the resurrected Christ, the prince of the other world, was able to save man. (3) In endeavoring to liberate man from the yoke of the Law, he was led to substitute for the views and hopes maintained by the apocalyptic writers the Christian dogma with its terrors of damnation and hell for the unbeliever, holding out no hope whatsoever for those who would not accept his Christ as savior, and finding the human race divided between the saved and the lost (Rom. ii. 12; I Cor. i. 18; II Cor. ii. 15, iv. 3; II Thess. ii. 10). (4) In declaring the Law to be the begetter of sin and damnation and in putting grace or faith in its place, he ignored the great truth that duty, the divine "command," alone renders life holy; that upon the law of righteousness all ethics, individual or social, rest. (5) In condemning, furthermore, all human wisdom, reason, and common sense as "folly," and in appealing only to faith and vision, he opened wide the door to all kinds of mysticism and superstition. (6) Moreover, in place of the love greatly extolled in the panegyric in I Cor. xiii.—a chapter which strangely interrupts the connection between ch. xii. and xiv.—Paul instilled into the Church, by his words of condemnation of the Jews as "vessels of wrath fitted for destruction" (Rom. ix. 22; II Cor. iii. 9, iv. 3), the venom of hatred which rendered the earth unbearable for God's priest-people. Probably Paul is not responsible for these outbursts of fanaticism; but Paulinism is. It finally led to that systematic defamation and profanation of the Old Testament and its God by Marcion and his followers which ended in a Gnosticism so depraved and so shocking as to bring about a reaction in the Church in favor of the Old Testament against the Pauline antinomianism. Protestantism revived Pauline views and notions; and with these a biased opinion of Judaism and its Law took possession of Christian writers, and prevails even to the present (comp., e.g., Weber, "Jüdische Theologie," 1897, where Judaism is presented throughout simply as "Nomismus"; Schürer's description of the life of the Jew "under the law" in his "Gesch." 3d ed., ii. 464-496; Bousset, "Religion des Judenthums in Neu-Testamentlichen Zeitalter," 1903, p. 107; and the more popular works by Harnack and others; and see also Schechter in "J. Q. R." iii. 754-766; Abrahams, "Prof. Schürer on Life Under the Jewish Law," ib. xi. 626; and Schreiner, "Die Jüngsten Urtheile über das Judenthum," 1902, pp. 26-34). an antinomian is "one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to salvation"  [here] http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11952-paul-of-tarsus Roman death rituals  & Christian martyrdom Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Christians within the empire overarching theme of blood sacrifices and the use of death as a purification ritual Martyrdom itself was a tool of assimilation bridged the communities of the Empire together [not clear to me how so] Blood and death were fixtures of Roman society spilling of blood was protective and life-giving promised longevity and created new beginnings spilling of blood purifying aspect of death rituals / animal & human Roman death was integrated into everyday life 'Public deaths' incl: Military deaths meted out as a warning or as punishment among deaths:  that chose the mors voluntaria -- voluntary death -- forced to commit suicide public deaths daggers, knives,and swords -- later drama:  wild animals & theatrical productions gens (tribe or clan sharing a common name) Human sacrifice in most every ancient society’s religious and funerary rituals supported through literary and archaeological records Revisionists attempt to distance Rome claiming foreign influence re barbaric practices do not ring true Bloodshed Rituals appease gods petition gods -- for safety or victory blood of captives, slaves, and gladiators shed at the tombs to appease deities & assist deceased's journey in afterlife Acts of bloodshed at very heart of munera seeding the empire, society, gens, and religio of the Roman people ['munera' must be plural for 'munus'] bloodshed through rituals allowed for continuation of: *deceased's existence in afterlife *continuation of Rome (& by extension, the empire) Blood-letting shows homage (submissive) relationship between gods & men. 'obeisance' fm Old French:  to obey *submission* Other scholars: for a sacrifice to be true, the victim must be willing Gladiators unflinching [comment:  'slaves'] trained to consider nothing but giving satisfaction to their masters unflinching deaths force  of  practice,  deliberation,  & custom. NOTE blood-letting via public spectacles instil bravery and fear into the citizens who attended the game Law of the Twelve Tables introduction of magic 657 -- decree forbidding human sacrifices was passed by the Senate 77AD -- writing Livy gladiatorial combat via funeral games morphed into political and entertainment value 96BC -- Pliny sacrifice permitted & used in ritual -- stands to reason also part of funerary rites,  incl. ludi funebres (funeral games) Blood was offered: to the land on which it was spilled  for the longevity of the empire to the shades (spirits/ghosts) of the deceased to ease passage into Nether World to the gods for their nourishment to the gods for protection or victory Public death and blood-letting ingrained in Roman culture -- symbolism of regeneration & purification Despite shift to spectacular entertainment, sacrificial element of gladiatorial games was blood offering to screaming masses Arena was the centre of the public spectacle Colosseum seated 45,000  +  standing room for thousands more. Gladiatorial battles Roman beginnings in a religious, funerary setting First funeral games 264BC -- Livy, wrote Sibylline books decemviri [ten magistrates] inspect the Sibylline books /  prophetic books rarely decreed If the war should proceed favourably & state continue in the condition it was in before the war, then: vow which made to Mars great games must be vowed to Jupiter temples must be vowed to Venus Erycina & Mens entreaty/petition lectisternium [feast of the gods] must be made a sacred spring must be vowed Gladiatorial games leaders & sponsors of the games       curried favour of Roman people no matter their station People had begun to demand bigger and better shows That spectacles grew in exoticism & size (& length of days – some lasting months at a time) suggests another purpose: the games were a financial success / substantial economic resource in city hosting games Games that began as religious or funerary shifted towards public / civic orientation & included more than just gladiatorial combat *chariot races *wild beast hunts *execution of criminals *re-enactments historical battles *divine rituals Bulls, lions, tigers,bears, & elephants forced to fight each other to the death, & pitted against gladiators, athletes in arena competitions damnatio ad bestias (damnation to the beasts) was reserved for military traitors, conquered foes, and convicted criminals bound for execution, incl. Christians accused of sedition & treason Gladiator Status despite marginalised social status respected for: skill in killing willingness to die {rather like modern-day soldiers?} Gladiator Class = slaves = criminals = prisoners of war = some free men {who accepted a degraded social position for the pay} Gladiators - Celebrity received celebrity Nobles & Emperors who performed arena combat sought like public awareness / approval Gladiator vs Beast Gladiator plays part of:  hero & god - vs - Enemies of Rome (other gladiators or condemned criminals) For public who would never see live battle in honour of Rome gladiatorial spectacles represented:  military virtue For public with no real power in civic life or politics rush of literally owning for an instant, power of life and death Mercy or Death?  crowd’s opinion could sway the host’s response {gesture to receive blade or not} -- esp. if he was: *in need of popular opinion on current issue*   *in need of reversal of opinion* {if he was despised} What were the games without the spectators? Public deaths must be witnessed by humans & by gods offering from host to spectators witnessing end of those who bravely met death allowed the audience to pretend they were far from the spectre of death Link between deaths of polytheistic Romans & early Christian martyrs: honour and shame components of suicide philosophical & religious ideologies of such acts clear that blood —  that is blood-letting  — was most often required to make the death an honourable one Scire mori sors prima viris, sed proxima cogi “Man’s first fate is to know how to die –  but the second, to be forced to die.” - Lucan, 1st Century AD Ancient Greco-Roman world suicide was a means of maintaining honour & status What is known about prevailing philosophies, religio (religion),and death practices in ancient Rome shows suicide as a conventional way of preserving individual and family honour, of representing freedom, and of repairing the stains of shame. Honour =  automatically assigned      to the elite & noble class (as a birthright) If honour was lost or damaged, so was the status of the individual Latin word for shame, pudor, had a societal assignment also Pudor entailed the lower classes rarely was there a chance for honour to be earned, although there were exceptions – eg. if one had citizenship granted to them or were esteemed members of an upper class household Word pudor itself has several uses: =  sense of shame or shyness, disgrace or humiliation =  blush, to be chaste, scrupulous, or decent Pudor / shame implies emotional distress –  even when the use implies “decency” b/c  the principal definition in this set [to blush], pudor refers to a physiological response Blushing has minor sting of pain & shame Pudor also entails exclusion / detachment from the community at large, the Populus Romanus Honour & shame were not present simply in the military arena, but in every area of life Religion was an important part of the honour/shame society of ancient Rome Romans were exceedingly devout, loyal to their local deities, and to the cult of their ancestors. Honoured their gods, the emperor (after the shift from republic to empire in 31AD) & their ancestors with worship, ritual, and libations {from libatare -- to pour out liquid as an offering} No separation of church & state, all Romans were required to participate in traditional rituals to maintain a good working relationship with their gods, thus religio took on a social aspect. Strong belief in the afterlife Honourable suicides: there were conversations with friends, relatives, or troops that sometimes lasted hours last words written down instructions given to the bereaved on how to go on living Laws were made in order to protect the city & state from the dead Illegal to cremate or bury a body within the city fires of crematorium could spread easily to the wooden structures over narrow alleyways & destroy the city, or perhaps b/c of spread of disease from open pits that contained the corpses Romans typically believed soul travelled to Hades upon death,  & depending on the type of life & death  of the deceased, appropriate rewards awaited Romans did believe in spirits – malevolent and benign,  welcome and unwelcome, who wandered their old haunts. souls of ancestors could be counted on to communicate with the living / in Nether World, whether buried or cremated Communicate with the living from the Nether World, had to be libations of blood, wine, milk, or honey offered to the spirits souls could then advise the living so as to avoid punishment of living in after life Roman afterlife as an extension of the natural world, thus, however death may occur whether by suicide or otherwise souls would continue If dishonourable death might be forced to wander the earth as shades (formless apparitions who were allowed no contact with the human world or peace in the Nether World) If the deceased left this life with honour intact would be worthy of veneration in ancestral cult Stoicism & suicide went deeper than just practical advantage Marcus Porcius Cato (d. 46 AD), a noted Stoic chose suicide as a political statement against the expected tyranny of Julius Caesar /  loss of republican ideal citizens of Utica admired Cato b/c he died a free man suicide entwined in Roman society as a tool of control Like Cato the Younger, who would control his freedom through his death, others chose the same liberty. Blood-Letting / Blades disembowelment or the cutting open of arterial vein = for honourable & quick death Swords, daggers, or poison might = facing execution, interrogation, or political anarchy    & the like Starvation starving to death = old & ill Hanging / Jumping Shame attached to hanging or jumping b/c only elite or members Roman army could afford the swords & daggers used in suicide Hanging = dishonourable jumping from a high place was =  considered crude Lethal Potion Only the nobility had access to pharmacists or doctors who could prepare a lethal potion Crucifixion {a form of hanging} though not a form of suicide was reserved for the lowest caste of degenerate criminals and traitors or non-citizens of the empire Goddess Fortuna Fortuna herself had set forth Ortho's destiny, and that he accepted it "Others may have held the throne for a longer time, but no one can have left it with such fortitude.” fortitude from fortitudo from fortis (strong) clemency of which Ortho speaks is not only for him but for troops who chose to fight for him / common for the conquering general to execute those who had been most loyal to the losing general Otho’s willingness to commit suicide, assured his family’s honor, safety, & status Fell upon his sword.  Loyal among his troops committed suicide on finding he had done so. Became common practice in other castra (military encampments) 65AD emperor Nero former mentor {teacher and tutor}, Seneca had been implicated in conspiracy without proof of any wrongdoing Nero had an execution decree sent to Seneca at his home Seneca chose to die by poison ordered from his doctor. Poison did not do its job Nor did slitting his wrists with a dagger Suffocated in a steam bath hours later in this forced suicide, Seneca met the requirements of a noble suicide met it bravely (due to its inevitability) choose the time, manner, & place of death Seneca wrote much on Stoic philosophy  & how death relates to virtus (virtue) and libertas (freedom) DISAPPROVERS OF SUICIDE:  Epicureans Followers of:  Epicurus (341–270 BCE) believed  true happiness was in the current life nothing (even pain) should make a man despair of life /  no belief afterlife death a true end Death is the privation of all sentience understanding that death is nothing to us makes the mortality of life enjoyable / not by adding to life a limitless time / but by taking away the yearning after immortality Epicureans importance placed on attaining peace in this lifetime through moderation In early years of Roman Empire Epicureans were the only opposition to honourable & voluntary deaths based on a disbelief in afterlife Hebrews Jewish acceptance of suicide / siege of Masada in Judaea c. 67 AD Flavius Josephus an eyewitness of the Siege of Yodfat / Jotapta (67 AD) / wrote an account suicide pact made in the fortress at Masada Image Attrib: Ailngd אילןגד Replica Roman ballista at Gamla (Golan Heights) {a catapult type device - 'ancient missile/projectile weapon - here'} Gamla is a symbol of heroism for the modern state of Israel Gamla -- one of only 5 cities in the Galilee & Golan who stood against Vespasian's legions  -- here Image Attrib:  Oren Rozen Breached Wall -- Gamla (Golan Heights)  [comment:  Gamla looks amazing / hills are beautiful  ... I could handle living there] Other Josephus lead defender of Yodfat Subsequent collaboration with Romans Servitude to Flavians Yodfat never settled or built over more on Siege of Yodfat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Yodfat Reason for the mass suicides / to avoid capture &  indignities at the hands of the Roman soldiers who had spent nearly 1 year trying to take the town from the Zealot Jews Early Christians many early Christians chose to die willingly through martyrdom – by definition, a voluntary death Jews and Christians of the empire would make suicide taboo, and cast a sinful essence upon it Romans placed the utmost importance on interpersonal relationships, family and state bonds, and truth –  all building blocks of their society. Ancient Romans, the mors voluntaria often first &  only choice to repair to reputation or to choose freedom (Seneca & Cato) or to preserve personal/family honour (short-lived Emperor Otho) Role of mors voluntaria / voluntary death / allowed the Romans a semblance of control in the honour-shame society of ancient Rome Martyrdom in Early Christianity Christian Blood-letting through martyrdom {voluntary or not} dual parentage: 1  via Judaism 2  Greco-Roman traditions    {prevalent in cities where Christian churches grew} partial offshoot of imperial mores Saul / Paul of Tarsus (c.5 – c.67AD) went against the mandates of the Council of Jerusalem (c. 50 CE) / and had an open, & divisive, dispute with Peter over the matter Saul / Paul accused Peter and other apostles of being afraid of the circumcision faction after Peter backed away from sharing meals with Gentile Christians in Antioch. Saul / Paul’s view diverged from Christianity against Jewish parentage & inclined in important ways toward Greco-Roman ideals thus:  more Pauline the movement was, the more martyrs Martyr: What Does it Mean? Greek word μάρτυς (martyros) “witness” context of the word “martyr” began to mutate, --  foundational aspect of Christianity itself {after adherents to the Yeshua/Jesus movement   were called as witnesses before   local magistrates and judges} current definition, a martyr =  willing and/or sacrificial victim, =  sufferer for a cause, an idealist Suggestions re martyrdom: *product of Greek literary devices *exaggerated to advocate the spread of Christianity *Jewish context emerged because of the Maccabean rebellion 1 Maccabees {Hebrew text} rationale willingly & innocently dying at the hands of the enemy, as: “heaven and earth testify for us that you are killing us unjustly” *crucifixion of Yeshua/Jesus of Nazareth martyrdom, in its complexity, cannot be owned by any one culture, or defined by a rigid set of rules martyrdom in Christian context can be seen as purification ritual Modern connotation re 'martyr' loss of life or freedom in defence of religious social political beliefs cause {put on mantle of public self-sacrifice to gain attention for a cause} Modern is far removed from 2nd Century AD & original Greek 'martyros' meaning & its equivalents in New Testament (as it appears -- “witness”) Meaning of word shifts *not witnesses in the Athenian legal sense *rather:  witnesses of suffering, of another’s death, or of glory of God eg   stoning of Stephen  {written c.85AD} Stephen died at the hands of fellow Jews for the crime of blasphemy Saul / Paul remanded to Rome to defend re crimes against Jewish Law, the Temple, and the emperor / held in Rome for two years at his own expense late in the reign of Nero –  probably in the wake of the Great Fire in 64 (54 – 68 AD) -- rumours that he was released    after his trial and travelled to    Spain & Britain -- no proof -- widely accepted Saul/Paul was martyred   during Nero’s persecution    in mid AD60s,     as part of Nero’s sweeping retaliation     of Christians’ perceived part in     Great Fire of 64 CE (cf. Tacitus, Annales) Martyr Witness to Persecuted Many Christians executed first 300 years of Church *NOT UNTIL mid 3rd Century -- Christians *as a group* legally persecuted "They will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. ... You will be hated by all because of my name ... By your endurance you will gain your souls. "  -- c. 85AD - Luke re Yeshua (Jesus) NOTE: indicates even before imperial edicts of Decius (250 AD) & Diocletian (303-304 AD) against Christians, apostolic communities (early as 85 AD) were aware of &  writing re tensions b/w themselves & Empire *mere 20 years earlier Emperor Nero had placed blame for Rome burning on Christians *emperor Claudius had ordered an exile of Jews from Rome during his reign (r. 41– 54AD) 70AD -- Titus  destroyed & looted the temple in Jerusalem Luke’s intention in this gospel more than just educating his patron, Theophilus re Yeshua / Jesus Luke wrote for a political reason also Beginning Luke portrayed Christians as descendants of the Jews and Yeshua/Jesus as a practising Jew who obeyed the Law. Later Luke deionizing Pharisaical Jews as the persecutors of Jesus, while exonerating Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate, and by extension, Rome, of the guilt of Jesus’s execution. Pauline Speech first time, makes a connection between the Jews’ rejection of Yeshua's/Jesus’ messiah-ship & Saul/Paul’s subsequent mission to the Gentiles Saul / Paul own writings in Romans (3.19-20) and Galatians (3.24-28) blur lines between Jewish & non-Jewish peoples condemning separatist rhetoric & the notions of the Jews’ unique and singular chosen-ness & arguing that the Yeshua/Jesus Movement should rightly include Gentiles Members of the Sanhedrin took Yeshua/Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate Sanhedrin assembly or council 20-23 men, every city of biblical Land of Israel court dealing with religious matters / the judges have powers that the lower religious courts do not eg. power to try king,  extend boundaries of Temple extend boundaries of & Jerusalem etc a 'supreme court' [comment:  that number (20-23) must be out.  Jewish accounts indicate 71 members of council, as I understand] High Priest before 191BC High Priest acted as ex officio head of Sanhedrin 191BC confidence lost in High Priest Office of Nasi created Nasi invariably descendent of Hillel the Elder By end of Second Temple period Sanhedrin reached its pinnacle of importance -- legislating all aspects of Jewish religious and political life {within limits of Biblical and Rabbinic tradition} Final binding decision of Sanhedrin in 358 =  Hebrew calendar was adopted Thereafter Sanhedrin dissolved after continued persecution from Roman Empire Revivals since attempted: eg. Grand Sanhedrin convened by Napoleon Bonaparte legal sanction to principles expressed by the Assembly of Notables in answer to 12 questions submitted to Assembly by the govt 1806, the Assembly of Notables issued a proclamation to all the Jewish communities of Europe, inviting them to send delegates to the Sanhedrin proclamation, written in Hebrew, French, German, and Italian, speaks in extravagant terms of the importance of this revived institution and of the greatness of its imperial protector. While the action of Napoleon aroused in many Jews of Germany the hope that, influenced by it, their governments also would grant them the rights of citizenship, others looked upon it as a political contrivance. When in the war against Prussia (1806–7) the emperor invaded Poland and the Jews rendered great services to his army, he remarked, laughing, "The sanhedrin is at least useful to me."[citation needed] David Friedländer and his friends in Berlin described it as a spectacle that Napoleon offered to the Parisians. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Sanhedrin Napoleon Bonaparte Sanhedrin - 1806 6 October 1806 Jewish Assembly of Notables convened by Napoleon Bonaparte issued a proclamation to all the Jewish communities of Europe inviting them to send delegates to a Grand Sanhedrin (20th Oct) Sanhedrin would rule re answers given by the Assembly of Notables to 12 questions posed by Bonaparte back in April, including: Is it lawful for Jews to have more than one wife? Does Jewish law order that the Jews should only intermarry among themselves? Do  Jews born in France, and treated by the law as French citizens, acknowledge France as their country? Are they bound to obey the laws and follow the directions of the civil code? What kind of police jurisdiction do the rabbis exercise over the Jews? Postponed until February, the Sanhedrin ruled (without discussion) that the Assembly’s assimilationist responses to these questions were authoritative in Jewish life. Bonaparte then promulgated three decrees concerning Jews in France in March, 1808 ... ... emancipated Jews from discriminatory laws and made France their homeland, but also obliterated many aspects of Jewish life that had preserved Jewish communal identity. http://jewishcurrents.org/october-6-napoleons-sanhedrin-7418 [1843 -- Karl Marx -- 37 years later -- dissatisfaction with German status quo.  Seeks emancipation.  Need to get back to reading that Marx paper ... not sure what that was about.  Found paper hard to focus on.] Sanhedrin members took Yeshua/Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate Accused him of “perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”  Luke 23:3 Charges treason sedition Death penalty in Roman Empire Not primarily religiously motivated were politically motivated Yeshua's / Jesus’ execution result of prosecution, but not Roman persecution [it is argued by author other than one of article] Argued that: Christians invented the “myth of persecution” to prove their superiority over their enemies & to demonise: providing foil to substantiate Christian persecution Argued that Christians were not: *consistently* persecuted by Romans is astute However, author of source article argues to contrary: "We cannot discount sources simply because of bias.  Understanding an author’s bias allows the reader to understand how to read a source and place it in its proper context." whether victims were persecuted or prosecuted, or by whom, the result was the same somebody was going to die. Perception of why ppl being killed that scholars are at odds on certain positions; but to the masses, perception is reality. Source article author argues: persecution & martyrdom were interwoven into fabric of history of the Church, and that, for good or ill, is what is promoted. Persecution & martyrdom intrinsic to very framework of early Church / belief that if one suffered for the name of Yeshua/Jesus, that suffering led to the glorification of God & proved that the victim was a genuine believer Early Church promoted their reputation of being persecuted, which, no matter what terminology is used, ultimately equates to martyrdom [Yeah, but that doesn't mean that they actually *were* persecuted] see --Stephen (c. 35–40 AD) see -- reign of Constantine (r. 306–337 CE) & beyond Martyrs -- began to transition from being mere legal witnesses to something more, something akin to dying for God Role of the Jews Saul / Paul,  Pharisaic Jew earlier life in Judaism saw himself as a defender of purity of Judaism upholding the strict interpretation of Mosaic law Forbidden to: perform idolatry, intermingle with foreigners,  ignore the tiniest facet of Law punishment, divine retribution = subjugation of the Jews by enemies Rome Conquers Syria-Palestine - 63BC General Pompey (Roman) conquered Syria-Palestine annexing 'Jewish homeland' to Roman Empire 63BC Jewish community already in Rome & most large imperial cities therefore:  Romans familiar with Judaism Romans see Judaism as: Jewish constituents’ religion as archaic & ancestral, as mos maiorum (the custom of the ancestors) Thus for Romans: kinship with the Jews in revering traditions of one’s ancestors  =   a key component in initial tolerance Jewish communities in empire given special dispensation: to send monetary assistance to Temple in Jerusalem Jews were not required to participate in imperial cult worship    as it went against their mandate to worship only their god Jews exempt “from going into the army” (see Josephus (were later conscripted into the military) Jews permitted to assemble: “use the customs of their forefathers in assembling together for sacred and religious purposes, as their law requires and for collecting oblations necessary for sacrifices.” [comment:  I thought sacrifices were only to be performed at the consecrated Temple in Jerusalem.] Proclamation suggests: Jews had a certain amount of autonomy in their communities, re religious responsibilities. Jews in various imperial cities, like Antioch even with rights of full citizenship status remained ambiguous among their neighbours “Their strict monotheism, their ‘imageless’ worship, the strong cohesion of their communities won admiration among many of their pagan neighbors, leading some to become outright proselytes, others to become sympathizers or even formal adherents to the synagogue,” Same qualities caused resentment If the Jews were to be politai (citizens) rather than katoikountes (alien residents), they should worship the local gods and keep all monies within the city rather than send it to other provincial towns. Resentments arose from neighbours throughout empire. Jewish elite in Judaea had close ties with imperial Rome. Judas Maccabeus (c. 161 BCE) initiated a political alliance with Rome to gain leverage against Seleucids Hasmonean priests supported:   Julius Caesar support  returned when Caesar proclaimed certain Syrian & Judean cities as “free” cities, with Roman citizenship bestowed on inhabitants. Herodian dynasty = established through friendship = with the Julio-Claudian emperors. Herod the Great’s own sons were fostered at the imperial court in Rome, sent there to “enjoy the company of Caesar” Regardless of above, Jewish-Roman relationship =  completely peaceful After death Herod the Great, successors incapable of satisfying both the Roman govt  & Jewish population thus: restoration of Roman power in Judaea & Rome appointed governors and procurators as direct rulers Zealot faction of the Judean Jewry rebelled re slights local governors & pagan neighbours committed against the Jewish population. ultimately led to the Great Revolt (66-78) [here] 70 AD, under Titus Romans sacked & destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Important to note that in spite of the Jewish Roman wars, Jewish communities spread throughout the empire did not suffer a loss of rights as Roman citizens, religious privileges were not rescinded -- eg  right to assemble & to decline participation in imperial sacrifices Jews, as a whole, still received same special dispensations as before Except: after Temple’s destruction Vespasian created a tax, the fiscusiudaicus on all Jews throughout the empire. New tax took Jewish financial support previously earmarked for the Temple at Jerusalem, transferring the funds to Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in Rome. minor reparation cannot be truly considered a punishment since Rome already had taxes placed on the provinces, /  removing one of the complaints other communities had against the Jews. Note: Jewish communities were large, had wealth, & political clout ties were still strong ties between Rome & certain sects, like the Pharisees, of Second Temple Judaism. Jerusalem’s landscape - no Temple (destroyed), result: Sadducean Jews (Temple elites and powerful members of the Sanhedrin) found themselves without a power base. Judaism was a topocosmic religion:  the Temple in Jerusalem was its physical centre with the Sadducees as its moral centre Pharisaic Jews  =  rising in power b/c they were less Temple-centric,  belief Jews could stay true to Judaism anywhere  (if 632 admonitions of Mosaic Law were kept) [comment:  no wonder the Jewish-Christian sect eventually ditched the Mosaic Laws for the heathens.  Nobody would adopt that many rules and regulations.   lol] Pharisees  = gain in cooperating with imperial edicts  in Judaea; or  in large communities all throughout the empire. Understanding relationship b/w Jews & Romans = foundation for understanding why Jews are considered to be Christians’ first persecutors. Jewish communities =  first to hear messianic message.  Some accepted Yeshua/Jesus = messiah But: “most Jews found the Christian claims about [Jesus’ messiah-ship] unbelievable & ludicrous, or even blasphemous.” Yeshua/Jesus movement viewed as:  a wicked new superstition (at best) Jewish-Christian sect beliefs & blatantly radical actions created enmity b/w themselves & their communities. Jewish communities’ connection with these Christian-Jews =  climate dangerous for Jewish leaders relationship with the imperial house strained due to:  Ongoing tensions b/w: privileged and populous Jewish communities Greek neighbours throughout the Empire + other zealot factions which remained hostile to Rome Romans and the Christiani Christians reportedly met in large groups for teaching, promoting strange new customs at odds with Roman and Jewish traditionalism. "Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the  most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.  Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular." -- Tacitus Tacitus says only Christians in Rome were arrested so this persecution was not empire-wide. Any sympathy re excessive punishments came only after the executions had become gruesome & ruthless to extent deaths viewed as: “one man’s brutality rather than the national interest.” Burned as human torches in Nero’s garden dressed as Danaids and Dirce to perform in deadly circus games torn apart by wild dogs Tacitus specifically calls this group “Christians,” which points to a marked distinction between the Christians  within and outside of  Jewish communities in Rome by 64AD Emperor Nero responsible for first recorded Roman persecution of Christians in 64 CE Christians in Rome were singled out for their anti-social behaviour + unsubstantiated rumours surrounding activities Punishment for suspicious & separatist behaviour that stemmed from their religious beliefs, but not from those beliefs themselves [comment:  that doesn't make sense, given separatist behaviour of Jewish communities.  Jewish community must have been the exempted religion, permitted to meet openly (see below)] As early Christians were unpopular and despised for keeping themselves apart from their communities, Nero could choose them as the guilty party and, whether or not true, citizenry would not care enough to seek out the truth. Christians’ crimes were in:  assembling together since {secret societies were forbidden} Only approved clubs guilds religions permitted to meet openly. Pliny thought them harmless, if having “depraved, excessive superstition.” Main problem (Pliny’s perspective), =  their growing number, which he deemed dangerous. Christians were being pointed out to authorities, some anonymously. Reason dictates anonymous accusations would come from those with something to gain property & fortunes, most likely if accused were found guilty & stripped of belongings. Emperor’s statement of acceptance of anonymous accusations as inappropriate has its basis in pietas and philosophia. Justice and honour =  hand-in-hand with piety & philosophy Law breaking (assembling & refusing to submit to imperial sacrifices) prosecutable offences & execution acceptable BUT not religious beliefs Historical sources make clear prosecution for behaviour as separatists anti-social and anti-imperial, and for cleaving to their illogical superstitio (as opposed to religio), but we cannot ignore the reason behind this behaviour: their beliefs & doctrines. In very real sense, Christians were being persecuted for beliefs. Romans see invented group, Christians, as atheists, literally “without the gods.” [But the Jewish community is also 'without the gods'] Refusal to sacrifice to imperial & local cults, or even to pray for the safety of the emperor, viewed as dangerous to provinces & to Empire [But the Jewish community was exempt]  Every citizen had to submit to local gods to ensure safety of town [But the Jewish community was exempt]   to deny deities, tantamount to turning back on city, empire & tradition [But the Jewish community was exempt] talk of 'new king' & coming 'kingdom to supplant' this one secretive meetings consumption of body during meals = distrust Order in Roman Empire kept through: military governors in provinces systemisation on balance of:     # lex (law); and     # religio (religion) with     # pietas (piety)     # gens (family) and     # the state         at the foundation of honour-shame society No separation of church & state externo religionibus (foreign religions) =  considered inferior Roman Empire & Religion “Religion and the preservation of the Roman state were intimately connected.”  [Frend] Romans would take issue with: Christians Jews Bacchanals Druids or any number of religious cults if disturbance of peace or 'immoral behaviour' and Romans would seek to eradicate. Christianity cannot claim exclusivity re martyrdom or persecution/prosecution. Christian Acts on a Roman Stage By the end of 2nd Century, persecution & martyrdom different than when the Jews experienced it in the first Jewish war and the mass suicide at Masada & by Jews in 1st Century or when when the priests and priestesses of externorum religionum pagan cults in the Roman provinces experienced it Author goes on to say: it was different to when the Christians were specifically targeted in the 2nd to 4th Century [does not make sense to me] Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch in Syria,  was arrested (c. 110AD) / sent to Rome for trial. knew by dying in a sacrificial manner it would bear witness to the truth of the religion therefore, would be instrumental in spreading the gospel Circa 110AD accounts of Christians in Rome Gaul urban cities North Africa urban cities Asia Minor urban cities executions 155 - bishop burned at the stake 177 - group Christians various tortures, finally being thrown to the beasts in the amphitheatre (Gaul – Lyons and Vienne) 180 - Christians in Scillium were beheaded. 202 - group of Christians placed in the arena with wild beasts Accounts of: solicited martyrdom in other parts of Empire Carthage order of Christians came forward to demand martyrdom at the hands of the Romans, reportedly with nooses already tied around their necks   [ ... lol, those crazy Christians] Wanted to die a martyr’s death  -- not arrested, not on trial Antoninus responded, “Wretches, if you simply must die do you not have cliffs and ropes?” Following invited consequences of actions: seen teaching doctrine in the agora (marketplace) seen assembling with known Christians visiting condemned Christians being held in prison displaying obstinate behaviour towards their captors soon caused rancor (would quicken sentence & execution) NOTE None of these 'please martyr us' accounts were reported in rural areas or small towns. All in major urban centres, most commonly in Asia Minor & North Africa +  scattered throughout the provincial cities in Europe & Greece. “an urban manifestation of Christian zeal.” No courts or trials were held in small territories. [So is lack of provincial courts why it was only an urban Christian zeal?] If crime seen as detrimental to empire, Christian and non-Christian sentenced alike: non-lethal punishment; or in case of sedition or treason, execution. Martyrs & church did not hesitate to use executions / martyrdom to own purpose Christian ethos reflected a growing desire to stand against pagan idolaters of the Empire very openly through martyrdom Blood Baptism Tertullian blood shed during executions catalyst for: 1.  purification of the victim 2.  attraction to the religion Christians deemed as 'other' & their role in the games only served to unite the already hostile Jews &  polytheists against them hostility of some turned to curiosity then admiration led some to embrace Christianity “sight of condemned Christians provoked some volunteers [to martyr themselves]   [... lol that'd be the Christian era leftie, hippie types] Tertullian believed it was duty of Christians to suffer and die in emulation of Yeshua/Jesus’ suffering and death [check this:  think he was just a historian.  Could be error.] Voluntary Martyrdom caused much debate b/w pre-Augustinian Christian theologian schools of philosophy, Platonism, for one, as parallel to Christian doctrine in that “both [Christians and Platonists] were radically other-worldly: Yeshua/Jesus had said:, ‘My kingdom is not of this world’  Plato  said the same of his realm of ideas. Platonists uniformly against idea of self-destruction. Many Stoics & Epicureans saw the morality & nobility of the mors voluntaria. [comment:  check 'morality'] Clement Belief that purposefully seeking a martyr’s death =  tantamount to suicide, Clement claimed martyr-suicides were not truly Christians. Tertullian was violently opposed to idea that any Greco-Roman ideals or philosophies could truly influence Christianity yet he employed noble pagan deaths of the past as justification that “if these courageous people destroyed themselves for a false way of life, should Christians not do the same for the true way?” In debate re voluntary martyrdom b/w Christian sophists (teachers, philosophers, scholars, thinkers) & theologians (students of religion) strong a connection to Greco-Roman ethos. Core of both Greco & Roman cultures: complex system of beliefs & rituals associated with every type of death Romans relatively short life spans closely tied to cycles of nature tied to land cycles of fertility blood death blood, birth blood, spilled blood, hunting blood, food blood, religious rites blood, war blood, funerary traditions -- admission afterlife Christians preoccupation with death exchange of life by shedding of blood as sacrifice for better more peaceful afterlife Roman Death + Christian Martyrdom tied symbolically by idea that: spilling of blood entailed a ritual of purification Author says: close antecedent to spilling of blood  as ritual purification =  Roman death rituals PRIMARY SOURCE (ABOVE) -- OTHER, AS MARKED http://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1267&context=honors_theses SACRIFICES -- JUDAISM 'For the LIFE of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul', Lev. 17. 11. "Capital punishment is by express divine command, Gen. 9. 4-6."  -- penalty for shedding blood of man. "... emphatic prohibition against eating blood or flesh with the blood undrained from it. The prohibition was heavily enforced upon the Israelites" "The blood belonged to God and was to be poured out before the Lord. Under law, disobedience meant the death penalty." Sacrificial Offerings "Abel slew the firstling of his flock and offered this, including the richest element, the fat, Gen. 4. 4" "Noah opened the new era by offering clean beasts and birds and these were burned with fire on the altar, Gen. 8. 20. " "Abraham ... four altars which he built, climaxed on Mount Moriah when he offered his son Isaac in a figure and then a substitutionary sacrifice of a clean animal, a ram, Gen. 22" "Isaac and Jacob built and worshipped at altars at critical points in their lives, Gen. 26. 25; 35. 3, 7. " "Job likewise offered burnt sacrifices on behalf of his family in case they had sinned against God, Job 1.5." substitutionary sacrifice man to god innocent substitute dying in the place of the sinner no mention of the blood of the sacrifices *YET:   blood poured out at the altar means vicarious death "blood of the passover lamb, the Levitical offerings, and the Day of Atonement all point forward to the final fulfillment of the pouring out of the precious blood of Christ for rebels and for sinners on Calvary's cross" Sacrificial blood is mentioned 18 times in the book of Exodus re Passover re blood covenant made with Israel at Mount Sinai Moses built an altar and offered upon it burnt and peace offerings. Half of the blood was sprinkled on the altar and the rest upon the people, after they had committed themselves to do and obey the law written in the book. Leviticus atoning blood occurs about 60 times in relation to the sacrifices, the consecration of the priesthood, and the ritual of the Day of Atonement. Verbs are used relating to the application of the blood including i) poured out, at the altar (5 times); ii) sprinkled, (12 times); iii) wrung out (twice); iv) offered (once); v) presented (twice). Role of Blood - Judaism Cleansing, Lev. 14. 14, Sanctification, Num. 19. 1-6; Heb. 9. 13. Consecration,  a) the priesthood. Exod. 29. 20-21; b) the leper on the 8th day of his cleansing, Lev. 14. 14. covenant of blood, Exod. 24. 4-8. cf. Gen. 15. 7-21; Jer. 34. 18, 19 http://www.ternestwilson.com/sac9.html Sacrifices - Judaism Abraham passed the test, and human sacrifice has never become a part of our heritage. Once the Holy Temple was built Hebrews longer permitted to bring sacrifices anywhere else. King Solomon Holy Temple (1 Kings 8:46-49) King Solomon prayed that if the Jews get captured and taken away from the land of Israel, they should be able to pray and their god should hear their prayers, even when they are not at the Holy Temple (1 Kings 8:46-49) explicitly says *pray*, because outside of the Holy Temple we may not offer any sacrifices. Laws of all previous eras and situations were no longer relevant -- clock could not be moved back. That is what the Torah commands. Forgiveness through repentance, confession and prayer But when it is possible to bring sacrifices, we are required to, and we must. King David "Do good, as You see fit, to Zion. May You rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then will You desire the sacrifices brought by the righteous, burnt offerings and whole offerings; bullocks will then be offered upon Your altar" (Psalms 51:20-21). 70 years of Babylonian Exile -- exile ends -- return to Holy Land -- Temple rebuilt -- forbidden to bring sacrifices anywhere else 420 years later -- Temple destroyed by Romans -- exile once more -- when Messiah comes, the Holy Temple will be rebuilt -- once again Hebrews will bring sacrifices on the Holy Altar -- still forbidden to bring sacrifices outside of the Holy Temple -- pray conducted without bringing sacrifices In summary: Hebrews no longer bring Sacrifices because the Torah forbids us to bring any Sacrifices outside of the Holy Temple (since we have no Holy Temple, and it is impossible for us to rebuild it at this time) http://www.beingjewish.com/unchanged/sacrifices.html [comment:  may have something to do with the Muslim invasions and the building of mosques on top of Hebrew holy sites] More -- reasons no sacrifice: precise area where the Holy Temple used to be is ritually impure (entry is violation of Biblical prohibition, punishable by death). exact location must be determined & altar must be built. then there's difficulty appointing a High Priest: Mosaic Ordination ceased to exist in the year 358AD Sanhedrin (body of 71 ordained rabbis as Supreme Court of People of Israel) cannot be assembled because Sanhedrin must be composed of rabbis ordained under Mosaic traditions (which was passed from rabbi to rabbi since Moses). return of the Ten Tribes is also a requirement.  [comment:  ten tribes aren't coming back.  they've assimilated.] http://www.beingjewish.com/unchanged/rebuild.html ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT I really enjoyed looking at this material. ꕤ

Video ... Ooops

Ooops ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Keep publishing my templates instead of saving them. Unpleasant feeling of being observed naked. Im Nin'Alu Ofra Haza ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Normally don't dream.  If I do, I cannot remember that I do. Nightmare Dr Death Diagnosis Death Prescription Poison Choice Suicide End Uncertain Death or Living Burial Feeling Absence / Helplessness / Guilt not fully aware / did not prevent Rang Dr Death Asked the name of the poison Two words Something Latin Dr Death confirmed prescription kills Not Reassured. ꕤ

Britian Refused to Play By Own Rules -- 112,000 Petition Calling for Arrest of Netanyahu for War Crimes - Not Debated In Parliament

ꕤ Article SOURCE PRESS TV http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/18/429735/UK-Parliament-Netanyahu-Arrest-Petition UK parliament under fire for declining Netanyahu arrest petition Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:46PM The British Parliament has come under increasing fire over its decision to skip a debate on a petition calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It’s quite disappointing that the Parliament has refused to play by its own rules. The fact is that it’s a particular issue which receives over 100,000 signatures that ultimately allows to be debated on the floor of the House. The fact that it has been declined, gives rise to many questions,” said Anas al-Tikriti, chief executive of the Cordoba Foundation.     “It seems to me that the Parliament has failed in its duty. It seems to me that this is the continuation of the pro-Israel lobby in its attempt to sweep under the carpet the crimes committed by Israel,” he told Press TV’s UK Desk on Friday. ‘Important petition’ Al-Tikriti described the petition as an important bid, which shows the British people want an end to their government’s support for the Israeli regime. “I think that 112,000 signatures means that there is a quite tremendous disgust in British government’s continuous relationship with Israel… It demonstrates that there is a huge gap between what the British public feels and wants and how the British government and its politicians behave,…” he underscored. Earlier this week, the British parliament announced that it will not debate the petition calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes. The petition has already received over 112,000 signatures, well above 100,000 signatures necessary to qualify the motion for a debate in parliament. It was uploaded on the UK Parliament’s official website on August 7. Those signing the petition wanted Netanyahu to be brought to justice for the crimes committed against Palestinian people during Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip last year. However, the House of Commons’ Petitions Committee announced Wednesday that it is not possible, neither under the international law, nor the UK law, to take action against the Israeli prime minister over Tel Aviv’s war crimes against the people of Gaza. ‘Staunch support for Israel’ The British government, which is seen as one of the staunch supporters of the Israeli regime, had already rejected the bid. “Under UK and international law, visiting heads of foreign governments, such as Prime Minister Netanyahu, have immunity from legal process, and cannot be arrested or detained,” the government said on the petition website. Earlier this month, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that his country “remains staunch" in its "defense of Israel". Cameron made the pledge while meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 10 Downing Street in London on September 10.   Anti-Israel sentiments Netanyahu’s two-day visit to London provoked anger among many Britons with a number of them gathering outside Downing Street on to demand his arrest for war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Last year, Tel Aviv launched a 50-day war on the besieged coastal territory, killing nearly 22-hundred people, most of them civilians. Thousands more were injured and some 100-thousand houses were damaged during the indiscriminate attacks. The war drew global condemnation and prompted many people across the world to join campaigns against the Israeli regime, including BDS Movement (boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel). http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/09/18/429735/UK-Parliament-Netanyahu-Arrest-Petition ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT "... announced Wednesday that it is not possible, neither under the international law, nor the UK law, to take action ..." It must depend on who's doing the bombing. If it was Serbia, I'm sure the Brits would oblige -- swiftly. But I guess US-NATO doesn't need Gaza for a Middle Eastern military base, as Israel has that strategic market cornered. So, the post WWII international laws were never intended to be respected by the US and its allies. It was just some humanitarian / international 'super-league' farce, passing a  fantasy benchmark of military propriety, intended to be imposed on minor players and targets only. PressTV Needs to upload audio to YouTube.  Found their audio difficult listening.  Constant stop-start.  Gave up. ꕤ

Transcript - Assange - Transnational Security Elite, Carving Up the World Using Your Tax Money

ꕤ Video SOURCE Harry Fear TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijTEQxR07Iw&feature=youtu.be JULIAN ASSANGE OCT8 Antiwar Mass Assembly (2011) ꕤ  Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- TRANSCRIPT [for quotation purposes, confirm audio] Julian Assange - OCT8 Antiwar Mass Assembly (2011) Mass Assembly in London 10th anniversary of the Afghan war and the formation of the Stop the War Coalition Anas Altikriti Assembly chair Brothers & Sisters, Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen: Our next speaker is someone who changed the face of the landscape of news reporting, forever. Our next speaker struggled to get here today, because for 306 days he's been placed under house arrest, with no charge. Someone we all know. Someone we respect. Someone we admire for what he has done for the truth and for news around the world. Please welcome:  Julian Assange. [applause] Julian Assange Editor, WikiLeaks Thank you.  Thank you. Well, what a wonderful crowd. It's not a crowd that I often get to see. It's very heartening to see that so many people care about the values that I hold dear. And there's something I want to talk about. What can we do with our values?  What can we do at all, in relation to this war?  Because the reality is Margaret Thatcher had it right:  there is no society anymore. What there is, is a transnational security elite that is busy carving up the world, using your tax money. To combat that elite, we must not petition:  we must take it over. We must form our own networks of strength and mutual value, which can challenge those strengths and self-interested values of the warmongers in this country, and in others, that have formed, hand in hand, an alliance to take money from the United States -- from every NATO country, from Australia -- and:  launder it through Afghanistan; launder it through Iraq; launder it through Somalia; launder it through Yemen; launder it through Pakistan; and wash that money in peoples' blood. I don't need to tell you the depravity of war.  You are all too familiar with its images, with the refugees of war, with information that we have revealed showing the everyday squalor and barbarity of war. Information such as the individual deaths of over 130,000 people in Iraq. Individual deaths that were kept secret by the US military who denied that they ever counted the deaths of civilians. Instead, I want to tell you what I think is the way that wars come to be and that wars can be undone. In democracies, or the pseudo democracies that we are evolving into, wars are a result of lies. The Vietnam War and the push for US involvement was the result of the Gulf of Tonkin incident:  a lie. The Iraq War, famously, is a result of lies. Wars in Somalia are a result of lies. The Second World War and the German invasion of Poland was the result of carefully constructed lies. That is war by media. Let us ask ourselves of the complicit media -- which is the majority of the mainstream press -- what is the average death count attributed to each journalist? When we understand that wars come about as a result of lies peddled to the British public, and the American public, and the publics all over Europe and other countries, then who are the war criminals? It is not just leaders, it is not just soldiers:  it is journalists. Journalists are war criminals. And while one might think that that should lead us to a state of despair, that the reality that is constructed around us is constructed by liars, is constructed by people who are close to those that they are meant to be policing:  it should lead us also to an optimistic understanding, because if wars can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth. [applause] So that is our task and it is your task. Go and get the truth. Get into the ballpark and get the ball, and give it to us and we'll spread it all over the world. [applause] Anas Altikriti Assembly chair Julian Assange. [applause] --- end 6:52 --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijTEQxR07Iw&feature=youtu.be ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- McNamara admits:  It didn't happen Gulf of Tonkin Incident ꕤ Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. The black art of news management John Pilger, Investigative Journalist 3 June 2010 EXTRACTS ONLY How do wars begin? With a “master illusion”, according to Ralph McGehee, one of the CIA’s pioneers in “black propaganda”, known today as “news management”. In 1983, he described to me how the CIA had faked an “incident” that became the “conclusive proof of North Vietnam’s aggression”. This followed a claim, also fake, that North Vietnamese torpedo boats had attacked an American warship in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964. “The CIA,” he said, “loaded up a junk, a North Vietnamese junk, with communist weapons - the Agency maintains communist arsenals in the United States and around the world. They floated this junk off the coast of central Vietnam. Then they shot it up and made it look like a fire fight had taken place, and they brought in the American press. Based on this evidence, two Marine landing teams went into Danang and a week after that the American air force began regular bombing of North Vietnam.” An invasion that took three million lives was under way. FULL @ SOURCE http://johnpilger.com/articles/the-black-art-of-news-management 30-year Anniversary:  Tonkin Gulf Lie Launched Vietnam War By Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon Thirty years ago, it all seemed very clear. “American Planes Hit North Vietnam After Second Attack on Our Destroyers; Move Taken to Halt New Aggression”, announced a Washington Post headline on Aug. 5, 1964. That same day, the front page of the New York Times reported: “President Johnson has ordered retaliatory action against gunboats and ‘certain supporting facilities in North Vietnam’ after renewed attacks against American destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.” But there was no “second attack” by North Vietnam — no “renewed attacks against American destroyers.” By reporting official claims as absolute truths, American journalism opened the floodgates for the bloody Vietnam War. A pattern took hold: continuous government lies passed on by pliant mass media…leading to over 50,000 American deaths and millions of Vietnamese casualties. EXTRACT ONLY - FULL AT SOURCE [scroll down at source] https://archive.is/injay POLITICAL PERSECUTION JULIAN ASSANGE Australian Journalist FAQ & Support https://justice4assange.com/ [Figure valid: early January 2016] the WORLD'S Most WANTED Publisher 5 YEARS DETAINED NO CHARGE COLLATERAL MURDER WikiLeaks VIDEO  |  IRAQ (2010) | here LATEST BOOK Assange, Co-Author: The WikiLeaks Files (2015) | here *Collateral Murder link updated. ꕤ

Blogger: Scroll Box

ꕤ Blogger Code:  Scroll Box http://www.spiceupyourblog.com/2014/02/blogger-labels-archive-gadgets-in-scroll-box.html Found this while searching for code to give me post link lists of desired number / description etc.  It took me a couple of shots to get it to work, because I didn't enlarge the video to see what was being typed. Thought he was typing:  'Parse Code here!' and that this formed part of the command. Finally figured what the go was when I enlarged the video. It was:  'paste code here'.  lol ------------------------ #Label1 .widget-content{height:200px; width:auto;overflow:auto;} #BlogArchive1 .widget-content{height:200px; width:auto;overflow:auto;} It works!!!!!! ------------------------ Codes go here: >>Template >>Customize >>Advanced >>Add CSS >>Paste code into CSS Section >>'APPLY TO BLOG' {top right-hand corner screen} ------------------------ Intend to use this again elsewhere.  As I'm worried this guy's blog might not always be online, I've updated this post for future reference, indicating where the codes are to be pasted.  31/10/2015 ꕤ

DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE - Edward Gibbon

ꕤ Decline and Fall ROMAN EMPIRE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE Edward Gibbon, Esq. With notes by the Rev. H. H. Milman Vol. 1 1782 (Written), 1845 (Revised) http://www.gutenberg.org/files/731/731-h/731-h.htm Summary & Extracts Wikipedia Entries - Edward Gibbon (author) Edward Gibbon 1737 – 1794 English historian and Member of Parliament The Decline and Fall known for quality and irony of its prose use of primary sources open criticism of organised religion Unusually for 18th century: Gibbon not content with second-hand accounts when the primary sources were accessible  But:  most of these were drawn from well-known printed editions ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Grandfather, also named Edward lost all of his assets result of the South Sea Bubble stock market collapse in 1720 ... but regained much of his wealth in time ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Maternal neglect ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Westminster School https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_School {  Royal College of St Peter in Westminster  } boarder independent school within precincts of Westminster Abbey earliest recorded evidence of the school dates from 1371 in Westminster Abbey's muniments  {land titles records} buildings now used date back to 11th century originally part of the Anglo-Saxon Abbey at Westminster 1540 Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries in England personally ensured the School's survival by royal charter  College of St. Peter carried on with forty "King's Scholars" financed from the royal purse available to members of the public from across the country, so long as they could pay their own costs, rather than private tuition provided to the nobility Mary I's brief reign Abbey was reinstated as a Roman Catholic monastery but the school continued Elizabeth I re-founded the School in 1560 1560 is now gen. taken as date school was "founded" Located primarily in the precincts of former medieval monastery of Westminster Abbey Also at school site: Church House HQ of the Church of England Rooftop Ornament: The phoenix which was placed on the roof of school in the 1950s to commemorate the school's resurgence after World War II. [comment:  phoenix looks a lot like a peacock to me.  must be a Persian thing -- ie the mythical bird and the Yezidis peacock] highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rates of any secondary school or college in the world ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Further education: Magdalen College, Oxford enrolled as a gentleman-commoner Expelled from Oxford for religious subversion [ here ] [Dodgy Wikipedia can't even publish the truth of a dead author's bio.  Got the 'expelled' from Oxford from alternate source.]  ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1753 conversion to Roman Catholicism at Oxford Sent to Switzerland [on expulsion from Oxford] ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Switzerland reconversion to Protestantism father threatened to disinherit him, Christmas Day 1754, re:   reconversion to Protestantism ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- influence of deist or rationalist theologian Conyers Middleton denied Gibbon's claim to having been converted by a reading of Middleton is very unlikely It is claimed: Gibbon fabricated Middleton story retrospectively in his anxiety about the impact of the French Revolution and Edmund Burke's claim that it was provoked by the French philosophes, so influential on Gibbon. further "corrupted" by the 'free thinking' deism: playwright/poet couple David and Lucy Mallet ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1759 - 1770 served on active duty & reserve South Hampshire militia 1762 deactivation coinciding with the militia's dispersal end of Seven Years' War *must have remained a reservist given 1770 date?  ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Father died 1770 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1763 - Grand Tour Grand Tour (of continental Europe) included a visit to Rome Claimed he: first conceived the idea of composing a history Rome later extended to the entire empire incident known as:  the "Capitoline vision" "It was at Rome, on the fifteenth of October 1764, as I sat musing amidst the ruins of the Capitol, while the barefooted fryars were singing Vespers in the temple of Jupiter, that the idea of writing the decline and fall of the City first started to my mind."  [Edward Gibbon] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography disputes this as: "creation of memory" or a "literary invention"  given that Gibbon journal is undated ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- "Ruins of the Forum looking towards the Capitol, 1742, by Carnaletto" image source | roberthorvath30.wordpress.com see also ‘Capitoline Vision’ of Edward Gibbon https://roberthorvat30.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/the-capitoline-vision-of-edward-gibbon-on-this-day-in-history/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Other US Mercantile Empire Modelled on Roman Empire US Mimicry [image source:  wikipedia  - public domain] "Capitol"  Latin   associated with Roman temple to Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Capitoline Hill USA established upon ratification United States Constitution formally began:  Mar. 1789 New York remained home to Congress 1790 - Residence Act passed to pave the way for a permanent capital Philadelphia was chosen as a temporary capital  for ten years (to Dec. 1800) until capital in Washington, D.C. would be ready US Capitol aka called Capitol Hill in  Washington, D.C. is the seat of the US Congress, the legislative branch of the US federal govt original building was completed in the year 1800 subsequently expanded distinctive neoclassical style and has a white exterior War of 1812 Capitol was partially burned by the British - 1814 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- 1774  initiated a freemason of the Premier Grand Lodge of England ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Became the archetypal back-bencher benignly "mute" and "indifferent" support of the Whig ministry invariably automatic ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Decline & Fall well received by public Rapid & lasting fame ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Medical extreme case:  scrotal swelling, prob. hydrocele testis chronic inflammation numerous procedures last of series, caused unremitting peritonitis (inflammation of membrane that lines abdominal cavity) inflammation set in and spread caused death ---------------------- ꕤ ----------------------  Death "English giant of the Enlightenment" died:  12:45 pm, 16 January 1794 - age 56 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Decline & Fall criticised for scathing view of Christianity chapters XV and XVI. ... resulted in the banning of the book in several countries ... alleged crime was disrespecting ... character of sacred Christian doctrine, by: "treat[ing] the Christian church as a phenomenon of general history, not a special case admitting supernatural explanations and disallowing criticism of its adherents" ... the chapters excoriated the church for: "supplanting in an unnecessarily destructive way the great culture that preceded it" and for "the outrage of [practising] religious intolerance and warfare" ... assumed to be entirely anti-religion ... was supportive of religion to extent that work/history Decline and Fall was not influenced and swayed by official church doctrine ... Christianity chapters are heavily ironical & cutting about religion ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Gibbon verdict on the history of the Middle Ages: "I have described the triumph of barbarism and religion." But: ... politically, he aligned himself with the conservative Edmund Burke's rejection of the democratic movements of the time as well as with Burke's dismissal of the "rights of man." Winston Churchill "I set out upon ... Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire [and] was immediately dominated both by the story and the style. ... I devoured Gibbon. I rode triumphantly through it from end to end and enjoyed it all." Modelled his writings on that of Edward Gibbon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Gibbon ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Glad I looked up Edward Gibbon. His history is a history of place and time, and it touches on significant movements of the period -- which contrast with the Dark Ages that followed the Fall of Rome and are relevant to religion etc. Churchill "Democracy is not some harlot in the street," he said in condemning the Greek Communists toward the end of World War II, "to be picked up by some man with a Tommy gun. Democracy is based on reason, a sense of fair play, and freedom and a respect for the rights of other people." [here] On the contrary, both Democracy & Religion are the harlots of the beneficiaries of wealth and privilege and are both probably the 'opium of the people' in a sense  ... in terms of conditions that involve illusion, at least. 1931 Paris - Opium Den Skimming the editor's and author's introductions and noting how Decline and Fall was banned in several countries, as it did not preserve the special protections this harlot of privilege and power enjoyed, filled me with disgust. Very interested in the Fall of the Roman empire, because I see what appears, to me, to be the fall of Europe right now. Not sure how I'll go with reading Decline and Fall seated at a desktop.  It will take me forever. Drawn to the chapters on Christianity.  Do not understand why the beliefs of a break-away religious sect/cult from the Middle East were adopted by Europe:  why this was adopted over one's own traditions.   The worship of a foreign mortal and the blend of foreign religion with pagan religion that resulted is intriguing -- as is the role that religion may have played in the decline of the Roman Empire. Even today, religions receive special protections.  I don't think that should be the case at all.  Organised religion deserves no special regard. It is organised fraud perpetuated perpetrated for political ends, and this organisation is an expression of a host of other things that are tied to personal and group identity, psychology and so much more. Works of Karl Marx 1843 A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right Introduction https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1843/critique-hpr/intro.htm What Carl has to say looks interesting. Might check this out before I launch into the Gibbon's chapters on Christianity. PS Struggling reading what Marx has to say.  Sounds like he's opposed to the old order of the German empire.  Struggling with it because each sentence seems to be packed with so much weight.  The manner of presenting unfamiliar ideas is also hard to follow.  But I guess the more you know the easier that becomes to understand?  lol Might set Marx aside and pop over to visit Christianity destroying the Roman empire.  lol * Even though this book would be outdated, I think it will be an interesting read.  ꕤ