Orosius and the rhetoric of history oxford university press. Orosius, the seven books of history against the pagans, translated by roy j. In the aftermath of the sack of rome by the visigoth king alaric in 410 ce, orosiuss work attempted to counter claims that rome had fallen due to imperial adoption of christianity a theory which pagan writers forwarded, suggesting that. Peter van nuffelen is research professor at ghent university, belgium. Proudly powered by wordpress this site is part of humanities commons. Peter van nuffelen drawing on textual and rhetorical analysis, peter van nuffelen proposes a major revaluation of the histories against the pagans of orosius, arguing that it is a much more subtle and complex text. Van nuffelen, peter, orosius and the rhetoric of history oxford. This judgment contrasts with the views of his late antique readers who emphasized his eloquence and rhetorical talent. Vergils imperium sine fine, he also provides a christian alternative. The histories against the pagans of orosius, written in 4167, has been one of the most influential works in the history of western. Philosophical readings of religion in the posthellenistic period cambridge, 2011, two edited volumes with s. As orosius declares at the opening of the first book, his intention is to trace the.
Deferrari, washington, catholic university of america the fathers of the church, 50, 1964, 422 p. Both grapple with the same issue, namely, what difference christianity makes in this world. Peter van nuffelen, orosius and the rhetoric of history oxford 2012, classical journal 108. This is the third modern english translation of orosius seven books of history. This is how orosius can admire rome as his temporal home and be indiverent to it when thinking of the life eternal p. Recent publications include the monograph rethinking the gods. Van nuffelen notes that one of the things they share is the suggestion, illustrated in the present passage from orosiuss work, that the present age knows peace. The histories against the pagans of orosius, written in 4167, has been one of the most influential works in the history of western historiography. Rhetoric and the writing of history, 4001500, by matthew. Reviewed by peter van nuffelen, ghent university peter. Orosius is even less familiar than eusebius, the first church historian, and selfproclaimed confidant of the emperor constantine.
As van nuffelen 58 says regarding orosius treatment of the inevitable fall of rome in book 2, not only does orosius question the pagan master narrative sc vergils imperium sine fine, he also provides a christian alternative. Education and religion in late antique christianity. Peter van nuffelen, ghent university, history department, faculty member. Paulus orosius, seven books of history against the pagans iii. Orosius and the rhetoric of history hardcover peter. Orosius wrote a history of world events in latin in the 5th century and this was translated and improved upon possibly by king alfred. Taking their lead from orosius in the early fifth century, latin historians turned increasingly to geographical description, as well as historical narrative, to examine the world around them.
Van nuffelens project is subtly different, but equally important and challenging, for he uses the ubiquity of rhetoric in late antique literary culture as an opportunity to develop a more nuanced reading of orosius engagement with secular, as well as christian, historiography of the period. Peter van nuffelen, orosius and the rhetoric of history, oxford early christian studies, oxford university press, 2012, 252 p. Orosius and the rhetoric of history, paperback by van. Introduces a literary perspective in the study of christian historiography, providing a richer reading that can improve understanding of the theology of the work. Imperial authority and the providence of monotheism in orosiuss. Orosius and the rhetoric of history peter van nuffelen oxford early christian studies. Philosophical readings of religion in the posthellenistic period cambridge, 2011. Orosius and the rhetoric of history van nuffelen peter. The last chapter argues that augustine and orosius were much closer to one another, and that their theology of history differed less radically, than often assumed. The version of the part on the amazons given below is based on bately 1980. No doubt orosius saw the roman empire as a vessel of gods glory in his churchunmatched and successful, but merely a vessel all the same. Paulus orosius, seven books of history against the pagans. Discover book depositorys huge selection of peter van nuffelen books online. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our.
He supported pompey, reaching the office of praetor, after having been tribune of the people, quaestor and curule aedile. Paulus orosius less often paul orosius in englishwas a roman priest, historian and. His work focuses on grecoroman religion and the history and historiography of late antiquity. The apology of orosius, translated by irving woodworth raymond, new york, columbia university press, 1936, 436 p. Arguing for the closeness of rhetoric and historiography in antiquity, this book shows how orosius situates himself consciously in the. Orosius and the rhetoric of history book, 2012 worldcat. But the genres in which they frame their responses are different, the one writing history and the other apologetic. Studies history, ancient history, and ancient philosophy. He has recently published orosius and the rhetoric of history. Greatrex, robert phenix and cornelia horn, the chronicle of pseudozachariah rhetor. Orosius and the rhetoric of history paperback peter van nuffelen.
Van nuffelen, orosius and the rhetoric of history oxford, 2012. Orosius and the rhetoric of history, by peter van nuffelen, journal of religion 94, no. Seven books of history against the pagans liverpool, 2010. Lieve van hoof, peter van nuffelen late antiquity is often assumed to have witnessed the demise of literature as a social force and its retreat into the school and the private reading room. His main research interests are the religious history of the ancient world and late antiquity.
Orosius wikipedia bahasa indonesia, ensiklopedia bebas. This book studies the complex attitude of late ancient christians towards classical education. Historiography and space in late antiquity peter van nuffelen on. Van nuffelen argues that for orosius, it is god and the church only who can claim agency in history. Although paulus orosiuss most important book was the historiae adversus paganos, his other two. Orosius and the rhetoric of history oxford early christian studies.
Van nuffelen provides not only a reevaluation of the nature and purpose of orosius sevenbook historiae adversus paganos, but also sets a productive new direction for future work in the christian authors of late antiquity. Subtlety and literary skill are qualities rarely ascribed to orosius, whose intelligence and culture have generally been derided in scholarship for the past half century. Often read as a theology of history, it has rarely been set against the background of ancient historiography and rhetorical practice in the fourth and fifth centuries ad. Varro was born in or near reate now rieti to a family thought to be of equestrian rank, and always remained close to his roots in the area, owning a large farm in the reatine plain, reported as near lago di ripa sottile, until his old age. In recent years, the different theoretical positions that can be found among the church fathers have received particular attention. Fainck, says that orosius undertook the work before he travelled to palestine. Drawing on textual and rhetorical analysis, peter van nuffelen proposes a major revaluation of the histories against the pagans of orosius, arguing that it is a much more subtle and complex text than van nuffelen uses orosius as a lens to consider fourth and fifthcentury historiography. Orosius and the rhetoric of history peter van nuffelen. The first monograph on orosius for several decades.
Van nuffelen has emphasized the rhetorical quality of orosius historiae and. The difference is that orosius attributes this explicitly to christ, rather than augustus. Peter van nuffelen, orosius and the rhetoric of history oxford, 2012. Orosius and the rhetoric of history oxford scholarship. Peter van nuffelen is professor of ancient history at ghent university, belgium. Arguing for the closeness of rhetoric and historiography in antiquity, this. As van nuffelen 58 says regarding orosius treatment of the inevitable fall of rome in book 2, not only does orosius question the pagan master narrative sc. The spanish christian presbyter paulus orosius 385420 ce was a student of augustine, and is best known for his seven books of history against the pagans. Although orosius presents himself as a collaborator of augustine. This is the third modern english translation of orosius seven books of history against the pagans, 1 testifying to a renewed interest in the most influential of late antique historians.
Often read as a theology of history, it has been rarely been set against the background of ancient historiography and rhetorical practice in the time of orosius. Van nuffelens monograph, orosius and the rhetoric of history. Religion and competition in antiquity brussels, latomus j. Leuven, is professor of ancient history at ghent university, belgium. This judgment contrasts with the views of his late antique readers who emphasized his. This book explores the interdependence of geographical and historical modes of expression in four of the most important writers of the period.
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