Christian Apologist or Roman Patriot? Dracontius and the Exempla Virorum in His De Laudibus Dei (LD III. 250–467)

Affiliation:
Russian State University for the Humanities
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration
Institute of World History, RAS
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Vestnik drevnei istorii

Edition

Volume 81 Issue 3

Pages

649-658

Abstract

The article deals with the religious poem by Dracontius De Laudibus Dei, particularly its third book, dedicated to the problem of self-sacrifice. Usually, this text is regarded as Christian apology, and its polemic character is linked only to anti-pagan propaganda. However, the examination of the fragment that provides examples of ‘wrong’ behaviour from Greek and Roman mythology and history leads to the conclusion that the author’s view on his pagan heroes’ ethical choices was not so simple and reflected a more complex outlook of the Late Antique poet.

Keywords

Dracontius, apologetics, Christianity, Roman Africa, Vandals

Received

15.09.2021

Publication date

16.09.2021

Number of characters

23362

Cite

GOST	Nikolsky I. Christian Apologist or Roman Patriot? Dracontius and the Exempla Virorum in His De Laudibus Dei (LD III. 250–467) // Vestnik drevnei istorii – 2021. – V. 81. – Issue 3 C. 649-658 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/vdi/s032103910011314-8-1-en (circulation date: 20.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032103910011314-8
MLA	Nikolsky, Ivan "Christian Apologist or Roman Patriot? Dracontius and the Exempla Virorum in His De Laudibus Dei (LD III. 250–467)." Vestnik drevnei istorii 81.3 (2021):649-658. DOI: 10.31857/S032103910011314-8
APA	Nikolsky I. (2021). Christian Apologist or Roman Patriot? Dracontius and the Exempla Virorum in His De Laudibus Dei (LD III. 250–467). Vestnik drevnei istorii 81(3), pp.649-658 DOI: 10.31857/S032103910011314-8

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