Book contents
- Religious Violence in the Ancient World
- Religious Violence in the Ancient World
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- List of Contributors
- A Note on Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- Part I Methodology
- Part II Religious Violence in the Graeco-Roman World
- Part III Religious Violence in Late Antiquity
- Index of Sources
- General Index
General Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 September 2020
- Religious Violence in the Ancient World
- Religious Violence in the Ancient World
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- List of Contributors
- A Note on Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- Part I Methodology
- Part II Religious Violence in the Graeco-Roman World
- Part III Religious Violence in Late Antiquity
- Index of Sources
- General Index
Summary
Having described the rapid triumph of Christianity under Constantine in chapter 20, and the short revival of traditional religion by Julian in chapter 23, according to Gibbon the final reckoning with the Graeco-Roman religious tradition took place by the removal of the altar of Victory from the Senate house under Gratian and the subsequent imperial legislation under Theodosius I. The latter incited an empire-wide attack by Christian fanatics on temples, statues and other objects of worship, resulting, for example, in the famous destruction of the Serapeum at Alexandria in 391/92 ce. The success of this systematic campaign aimed at the ‘fall of Paganism’ was so complete, says Gibbon, that by 423 Theodosius’ grandson (Theodosius II) hardly noticed that there were any traces of the old religion left.2
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- Religious Violence in the Ancient WorldFrom Classical Athens to Late Antiquity, pp. 1 - 14Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020