The use of the Biblical texts in ancient Christian inscriptions is a very rare phenomenon (around 800 documents in all the so-called orbis christianus antiquus) and only a few of these inscriptions are in a funerary context: a little less than 200 units. Among these documents, expressions connected with the idea of hope are the most common ones, but we must keep in mind that they are effectively only 70 inscriptions, in five hundred years, both in the East and in the West. This is a very limited documentary base but nonetheless very interesting. It has to remark that these expressions of Christian faith coexist with a relevant and complex range of other needs, themes and formulas, deriving from the ancient classical tradition.
Expressions of hope quoted from Biblical texts in Christian funerary inscriptions (3rd-7th cent. C.E.)
FELLE, Antonio
2014-01-01
Abstract
The use of the Biblical texts in ancient Christian inscriptions is a very rare phenomenon (around 800 documents in all the so-called orbis christianus antiquus) and only a few of these inscriptions are in a funerary context: a little less than 200 units. Among these documents, expressions connected with the idea of hope are the most common ones, but we must keep in mind that they are effectively only 70 inscriptions, in five hundred years, both in the East and in the West. This is a very limited documentary base but nonetheless very interesting. It has to remark that these expressions of Christian faith coexist with a relevant and complex range of other needs, themes and formulas, deriving from the ancient classical tradition.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
