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- Title
A Byzantine Argument for the Equivalence of All Religions: Michael Attaleiates on Ancient and Modern Romans*.
- Authors
Kaldellis, Anthony
- Abstract
This paper examines a comparison made by the eleventh-century Byzantine historian Michael Attaleiates between the ancient Romans of the Republic and their descendants, the Byzantines of Attaleiates’ own time. In an effort to explain, during the course of a theological argument, why the ancients were victorious despite being pagans while the Byzantines were losing despite being Christians, Attaleiates draws surprising conclusions. Arguing “between the lines,” he suggests that all religions are equivalent in certain fundamental respects. It is in human virtue that one must trust for victory, and God does not care about our exact theological beliefs. The paper also considers one aspect of the reception of the Roman tradition in Byzantium (a civilization usually cast in terms of its Greek and Christian legacy), arguing that the Republic remained an important source of inspiration.
- Subjects
ROME; ATTALEIATES, Michael; PAGANISM; HISTORIANS; ROMAN history, 265-30 B.C.; BYZANTINE Empire
- Publication
International Journal of the Classical Tradition, 2007, Vol 14, Issue 1/2, p1
- ISSN
1073-0508
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12138-008-0005-2