![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
Go offline with the Player FM app!
11. Pliny's Letter Part 2. Nero's Persecution a Myth.
Manage episode 298160023 series 2911288
The sinister voice of host Chris Palmero heralds the second part of the renowned effort to make the case that Pliny's letter about the Christians is a forgery. Both Pliny and Trajan seem to accept that Christianity is illegal even before they put pen to paper. For this to make sense, there would have to have been some precedent for the persecution of Christians, such as from the reign of Nero or Domitian.
Anyone who listens to this episode can learn about a major argument against the authenticity of Pliny's letter: it lacks any basis in contemporary Roman law and custom. BORN IN THE SECOND CENTURY also explores the embellished legend of the early persecution of Christians, and shows that the supposed persecution of Christians by the emperor Nero is nothing more than an airy fiction.
Opening reading: A satire of Pliny's letter to Trajan shows us how complicated it actually is to detect the forgery of an ancient writing.
YouTube: @borninthesecondcentury
E-mail: secondcenturypodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pompeii Gray on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud
Chapters
1. Reading: PLINY THE YOUNGER to Trajan, On the Christians. (Parody). (00:00:48)
2. OPENING Remarks. (00:18:32)
3. A Look at Trajan's RESPONSE. (00:26:26)
4. BEGINNING of the Close Reading. (00:35:44)
5. The MYTH of Persecution. (00:38:21)
6. Nero's Persecution: TERTULLIAN and MELITO. (00:56:39)
7. Nero's Persecution: BOOK OF REVELATION. (01:07:21)
8. Nero's Persecution: FIRST CLEMENT. (01:12:08)
9. Nero's Persecution: TACITUS. (01:15:51)
10. Nero's Persecution: SUETONIUS. (01:28:01)
11. CLOSING Remarks. (01:31:44)
38 episodes
Manage episode 298160023 series 2911288
The sinister voice of host Chris Palmero heralds the second part of the renowned effort to make the case that Pliny's letter about the Christians is a forgery. Both Pliny and Trajan seem to accept that Christianity is illegal even before they put pen to paper. For this to make sense, there would have to have been some precedent for the persecution of Christians, such as from the reign of Nero or Domitian.
Anyone who listens to this episode can learn about a major argument against the authenticity of Pliny's letter: it lacks any basis in contemporary Roman law and custom. BORN IN THE SECOND CENTURY also explores the embellished legend of the early persecution of Christians, and shows that the supposed persecution of Christians by the emperor Nero is nothing more than an airy fiction.
Opening reading: A satire of Pliny's letter to Trajan shows us how complicated it actually is to detect the forgery of an ancient writing.
YouTube: @borninthesecondcentury
E-mail: secondcenturypodcast@gmail.com
Music: Pompeii Gray on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud
Chapters
1. Reading: PLINY THE YOUNGER to Trajan, On the Christians. (Parody). (00:00:48)
2. OPENING Remarks. (00:18:32)
3. A Look at Trajan's RESPONSE. (00:26:26)
4. BEGINNING of the Close Reading. (00:35:44)
5. The MYTH of Persecution. (00:38:21)
6. Nero's Persecution: TERTULLIAN and MELITO. (00:56:39)
7. Nero's Persecution: BOOK OF REVELATION. (01:07:21)
8. Nero's Persecution: FIRST CLEMENT. (01:12:08)
9. Nero's Persecution: TACITUS. (01:15:51)
10. Nero's Persecution: SUETONIUS. (01:28:01)
11. CLOSING Remarks. (01:31:44)
38 episodes
All episodes
×Welcome to Player FM!
Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.