Hellenic Religion and Christianization c. 370-529, Volume 2

447 Pages·2014·43.65 MB·English

by  Frank R. Trombley

FRANK R. T R O MB L E Y
Hellenic Religion
and Christianization
c. 370-529
V O L U M E 2
Hellenic Religion and Christianization c. 370-529
Volume 2

Hellenic Religion and
Christianization c. 370-529
VOLUME 2
By
Frank R. Trombley
✓ S
' / 6 8 * '
BRILL
LEIDEN | BOSTON
First published as a hardback (set) edition as volume 115 in the Religions in the Graeco-Roman World
series in 1993.
First paperback edition published as a set in 2001.
This paperback (set) edition published in 2014.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Trombley, Frank R.
Hellenic religion and Christianization, c. 370-529 / by Frank R. Trombley.
p. cm.—(Religions in the Gracco-Roman world, ISSN 0927-7633; v. 115)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 9004096922 (set: alk. paper). — ISBN 9004096248 (pt. 1: alk. paper)
1. Christianity and other religions—Roman. 2. Christianity and other religions—Greek. 3. Church
history—Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600. 4. Rome—Religion. I. Title. II. Series.
BR128.R7T76 1993
261.2’2’09015—dc20 92-28631
CIP
ISBN 978-90-04-27481-5 (volume 2 paperback)
ISBN 978-90-04-27824-0 (set paperback)
ISBN 978-90-04-27678-9 (volume 2 e-book)
Copyright 1993 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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This book is printed on acid-free paper.
There is one god, greatest among gods and men,
who is like mortals neither in bodily shape nur in thought.
Xenophanes of Colophon, Fr. 23
(6th c. B.C.)
The abode of daimones has become the house of God.
The light of salvation shines where darkness caused concealmcnt.
Where sacrifices to idols occurred, now there are choirs of angels.
Where God was provoked, now he is propitiated.
Inscription on the martyrion
of St. George, Zorava
(515 A.D.)
For
Elizabeth
my daughter
with
love
CONTENTS
Preface.................................................................................................. xi
Abbreviations....................................................................................... xiv
V. The Philoponoi of Alexandria and Hellenic Religion............ 1
1. The Social Background of Zachariah of Mytilene’s
Friends..................................................................................... 2
2. Relations among the Pagan and Christian
Professors and Students: Paralios of Aphrodisias.......... 4
3. Some Conversions in Alexandria.................................... 15
4. Some Alexandrian Connections with Aphrodisias
in the Reign of Zeno (c. 488-491)................................... 20
5. The Philoponoi in Berytus and the Eradication of
Magic....................................................................................... 29
6. Conclusions........................................................................... 45
VI. Aphrodisias.................................................................................. 52
1. Hellenic Religion in Society and Culture..................... 52
2. Class Status and Christianization.................................. 58
3. Christian Aphrodisias........................................................ 69
4. Conclusions...................................................................... 71
VII. Asia Minor................................................................................. 74
1. Hypatius of Rufinianac and the Christianization
of Rural Bithynia c. 443-446............................................ 76
2. The Christianization of Phrygia c. 350-450................ 96
3. The Territorium of Hierapolis c. 400 in Light of the
Aberkios Legend................................................................... 114
4. The Territorium of Pessinus in Galatia Salutaris......... 118
5. Eastern Anatolia: Cappadocia and Isauria................. 120
6. Conclusions........................................................................... 129
VIII. Arabs and Aramaeans in the Syrian Countryside.......... 134
1. Libanius on Polytheism in the Territorium of
Antioch in 386 ..................................................................... 134
2. Monks and Christianization in Syria............................ 143
3. Arab Polytheism in Light of the Safaitic
viii CONTENTS
Inscriptions............................................................................ 173
4. Symeon Stylites the Elder: A Semitic View................. 184
5. The Syrian Countryside, Christianization, and the
World Beyond....................................................................... 200
6. Conclusions.......................................................................... 204
IX. The Nile Valley from Canopus to Philae........................ 205
1. Shenute of Atripe and the Cults of the Middle
Nile Valley.............................................................................. 207
2. The Closure of the Isis Temple at Canopus c. 487-89 219
3. The Cults of Philae in the Mid-Fifth Century........... 225
4. Christian Philae and the Synoikism of Cults................ 235
5. Conclusions............................................................................ 239
Appendix IV: Sacrifice in Fourth-Century Oxyrhynchus...... 241
X. The Antiochene and the Apamene........................................ 247
1. The Antiochene: Djebel Simlân..................................... 257
2. The Antiochene: Djebel Halaqah................................... 263
3. The Antiochene: Djebel Barisha..................................... 268
4. The Antiochene: The Orontes Basin............................. 274
5. The Antiochene: The North Slope of Djebel Riha
(Djebel Zâwiyeh)................................................................. 279
6. The Apamene: Southern Djebel Riha........................... 283
7. The Apamene: Tarutia Emporön and Its Environs..... 295
8. The Apamene: Central and Southern Djebel il-‘Alâ.... 301
9. Conclusions............................................................................ 311
Appendix V: The “One God” Inscriptions............................... 313
XI. The Bostrene, Djebel Ilauran and the Ledjä..................... 317
1. The Bostrene.......................................................................... 320
2. Djebel Hauran...................................................................... 339
3. The Tedjä................................................................................ 358
4. Conclusions............................................................................ 372
Appendix VI: The God of Aumos at Deir el-Leben................ 375
Appendix VII: Temple Conversions and the Survival of
Cult in the Early Sixth Century...................... 377
Epilogue................................................................................................. 380
CONTENTS ix
Bibliography........................................................................................... 387
Errata & Additamenta to Part I ........................................................ 403
General Index........................................................................................ 405