I Romanzi Antichi e il Cristianesimo: Contesto e Contatti

by Ilaria L. E. Ramelli

Overview

Ramelli undertakes for the first time a systematic investigation of the possible knowledge of Christianity in a group of novels, all dated between the first and third century CE, and belonging to geographical areas in which Christianity was present at that time. She endeavors to point out the meaning that possible allusions had for the public addressed by those novels. . . . The results of her research are, in my opinion, of the highest interest. . . . Her work seems to me to be most helpful and rich in outstanding results. --Marta Sordi, in Aevum 76 (2002) The book has important qualities. First of all, the author offers a very full synthesis of the results of earlier partial studies, including those by herself. A lot of work must have been invested in its preparation, which entailed studying a variety of areas, literary, historical, and theological . . . Secondly, she always takes a careful stand, and never allows herself to declare certain what is no more than plausible or even most probable; Lucian is the only author about whose direct knowledge of Christianity she is absolutely sure. And finally, the work includes a wealth of bibliographical references, both in the footnotes and in the sixty-eight pages of the bibliography. The book is a mine of information . . . Nowadays, both the literature of the novels and the early Church as an element of society are in the spotlight of scholarly interest. Those wishing to work on the points of contact between the two are well advised to use Ramelli as a guide. They will find the facts, well-balanced discussions, and an exhaustive bibliography. --Anton Hilhorst, in Ancient Narrative 3 (2003) The authors of the classical novels shared their world with Christians--some may have been Christians themselves--and one might expect to find references to Christianity in their works. In this learned and pioneering study, Ilaria Ramelli, an expert in both classical literature and early Christianity, brings to bear her profound knowledge of ancient history and a subtle feel for literary values, and identifies a wide range of possible allusions. Her book is a contribution not only to the study of the ancient novel but also to our understanding of the cross influences between religious cultures in the ancient world. --David Konstan Professor of Classics New York University Ramelli demonstrates enormous meticulousness, learning, and a critical approach to the sources and bibliography . . . The documentation with which the author of this monograph corroborates all of her statements concerning possible parallels (between the ancient novels and Christianity) with respect to the contents or form . . . is absolutely exhaustive. We must also highlight the huge carefulness, erudition, and critical use of literature. --Antonio Artes Hernandez, in Myrtia 19 (2004)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781725230989
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	03/12/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	300
File size:	52 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Language:	Italian

About the Author

Ilaria Ramelli, earned two MAs (Classics with specialization in Early Christianity and Philosophy with specialization in History), a PhD (Classics and Early Christianity), and a postdoctorate (Late Antiquity and Religion), and in the last eighteen years has been Professor of History of the Roman Near East, and Assistant in Ancient Philosophy, with focus on classical and Patristic philosophy (Catholic University, Milan, 2003-present), as well as Senior Research Fellow in Ancient and Patristic Philosophy (Durham University). Ramelli is Professor of Theology and K. Britt endowed chair at the Graduate School of Theology, SHMS, Thomas Aquinas University, the director of international research projects, Onassis Senior Visiting Professor of Greek Thought, as well as Senior Visiting Professor of Church History, and Senior Research Fellow in Religion (Erfurt University). She received, among other prizes, two Agostino Gemelli Awards (1996; 1997), the Marcello Gigante Classics International Award sponsored by the President of the Italian Republic (2006), the inclusion in Great Minds of the 21st Century (2011) and in 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century (2011&2014). Ramelli has authored numerous books, articles, and reviews in scholarly journals and series, on ancient and patristic philosophy, especially Platonism and Stoicism, early Christianity, the New Testament, the reception of Scripture, ancient Religions, Classics, and the relationship between Christianity and classical culture.
Ilaria Ramelli earned two MAs (Classics with specialization in Early Christianity and Philosophy with specialization in History), a PhD (Classics and Early Christianity) a Doctorate honoris causa, a postdoctorate (Late Antiquity and Religion), and some Habilitations to Full Professor - Ordinarius (History of Philosophy, Classics, Greek Language and Literature). In the last twenty years, Ramelli has been Professor of Roman Near Eastern History, Onassis Senior Visiting Professor of Greek Thought (Harvard; Boston University), of Church History (Columbia), of Religion (Erfurt University, Max Weber Center), and Senior Research Fellow (Durham University; Oxford Corpus Christi; Catholic University, Milan; Princeton University).
Ramelli is Full Professor of Theology and K.Britt endowed chair at the Graduate School of Theology, SHMS "Angelicum" University, the director of international research projects, and Senior Research Fellow (Oxford University Christ Church; Durham University, for the second time; Erfurt University, MWK, within a Forschungspreis of the Humboldt Foundation).
She received, among other prizes, two Agostino Gemelli Awards (1996; 1997), the Marcello Gigante Classics International Award sponsored by the President of the Italian Republic (2006), ten SBL Mentions for for Distinguished Scholarly Service (2009-19), the inclusion in Great Minds of the 21st Century (2011) and in 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century (2011&2014), a Marie Curie Prize from the European Commission (2016), a Research Award from the Humboldt Foundation (2017), and many other grants, awards, and nominations.
Besides delivering lectures and seminars, including many invited and main lectures, and and directing editorial endeavours, workshops, seminars, and research projects, Ramelli has authored numerous books, articles, and reviews in leading scholarly journals and series, on ancient and patristic philosophy, especially Platonism and Stoicism, first-millennium Christianity, the New Testament, the reception of Scripture, ancient Religions, Classics, and the relationship between Christianity and classical culture.

Table of Contents

Preface B.P. Reardon 11

Prefazione dell'autrice 13

Introduzione 17

Nota importante 22

Capitoloz 1 Caritone di Afrodisia 23

Capitolo 2 Senofonte di Efeso 45

Capitolo 3 Giamblico 63

Capitolo 4 Achille Tazio 81

Capitolo 5 Longo Sofista 103

Capitolo 6 Eliodoro 125

Capitolo 7 Luciano 143

Capitolo 8 Petronio 163

Capitolo 9 Apuleio 193

Conclusioni 221

Bibliografia 231

Bibliografia su Caritone 233

Bibliografia su Senofonte Efesio 238

Bibliografia su Giamblico 241

Bibliografia su Achille Tazio 244

Bibliografia su Longo Sofista 248

Bibliografia su Eliodoro 256

Bibliografia su Luciano 260

Bibliografia su Petronio e sulla parodia nel mondo classico 266

Bibliografia su Apuleio 277

Bibliografia generate sul romanzo antico 289

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Ramelli undertakes for the first time a systematic investigation of the possible knowledge of Christianity in a group of novels, all dated between the first and third century CE, and belonging to geographical areas in which Christianity was present at that time. She endeavors to point out the meaning that possible allusions had for the public addressed by those novels. . . . The results of her research are, in my opinion, of the highest interest. . . . Her work seems to me to be most helpful and rich in outstanding results.
—Marta Sordi, in Aevum 76 (2002)

The book has important qualities. First of all, the author offers a very full synthesis of the results of earlier partial studies, including those by herself. A lot of work must have been invested in its preparation, which entailed studying a variety of areas, literary, historical, and theological . . . Secondly, she always takes a careful stand, and never allows herself to declare certain what is no more than plausible or even most probable; Lucian is the only author about whose direct knowledge of Christianity she is absolutely sure. And finally, the work includes a wealth of bibliographical references, both in the footnotes and in the sixty-eight pages of the bibliography. The book is a mine of information . . . Nowadays, both the literature of the novels and the early Church as an element of society are in the spotlight of scholarly interest. Those wishing to work on the points of contact between the two are well advised to use Ramelli as a guide. They will find the facts, well-balanced discussions, and an exhaustive bibliography.
—Anton Hilhorst, in Ancient Narrative 3 (2003)

The authors of the classical novels shared their world with Christians—some may have been Christians themselves—and one might expect to find references to Christianity in their works. In this learned and pioneering study, Ilaria Ramelli, an expert in both classical literature and early Christianity, brings to bear her profound knowledge of ancient history and a subtle feel for literary values, and identifies a wide range of possible allusions. Her book is a contribution not only to the study of the ancient novel but also to our understanding of the cross influences between religious cultures in the ancient world.
—David Konstan
Professor of Classics
New York University


Ramelli demonstrates enormous meticulousness, learning, and a critical approach to the sources and bibliography . . . The documentation with which the author of this monograph corroborates all of her statements concerning possible parallels (between the ancient novels and Christianity) with respect to the contents or form . . . is absolutely exhaustive. We must also highlight the huge carefulness, erudition, and critical use of literature.
—Antonio Artes Hernandez, in Myrtia 19 (2004)

Editorial Reviews

Ramelli undertakes for the first time a systematic investigation of the possible knowledge of Christianity in a group of novels, all dated between the first and third century CE, and belonging to geographical areas in which Christianity was present at that time. She endeavors to point out the meaning that possible allusions had for the public addressed by those novels. . . . The results of her research are, in my opinion, of the highest interest. . . . Her work seems to me to be most helpful and rich in outstanding results.
—Marta Sordi, in Aevum 76 (2002)

The book has important qualities. First of all, the author offers a very full synthesis of the results of earlier partial studies, including those by herself. A lot of work must have been invested in its preparation, which entailed studying a variety of areas, literary, historical, and theological . . . Secondly, she always takes a careful stand, and never allows herself to declare certain what is no more than plausible or even most probable; Lucian is the only author about whose direct knowledge of Christianity she is absolutely sure. And finally, the work includes a wealth of bibliographical references, both in the footnotes and in the sixty-eight pages of the bibliography. The book is a mine of information . . . Nowadays, both the literature of the novels and the early Church as an element of society are in the spotlight of scholarly interest. Those wishing to work on the points of contact between the two are well advised to use Ramelli as a guide. They will find the facts, well-balanced discussions, and an exhaustive bibliography.
—Anton Hilhorst, in Ancient Narrative 3 (2003)

The authors of the classical novels shared their world with Christians—some may have been Christians themselves—and one might expect to find references to Christianity in their works. In this learned and pioneering study, Ilaria Ramelli, an expert in both classical literature and early Christianity, brings to bear her profound knowledge of ancient history and a subtle feel for literary values, and identifies a wide range of possible allusions. Her book is a contribution not only to the study of the ancient novel but also to our understanding of the cross influences between religious cultures in the ancient world.
—David Konstan
Professor of Classics
New York University


Ramelli demonstrates enormous meticulousness, learning, and a critical approach to the sources and bibliography . . . The documentation with which the author of this monograph corroborates all of her statements concerning possible parallels (between the ancient novels and Christianity) with respect to the contents or form . . . is absolutely exhaustive. We must also highlight the huge carefulness, erudition, and critical use of literature.
—Antonio Artes Hernandez, in Myrtia 19 (2004)

From the Publisher