Herakles, âChrist-Curiousâ Greeks and Revelation 5

Arlene Allan

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Chapter 1 Herakles, âChrist-Curiousâ Greeks and Revelation 5

äºHerakles Inside and Outside the Church

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Arlene Allan

Arlene Allan
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Page Range:: 21â44

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004421530_003

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Abstract

Primarily (but not exclusively) in the first half of the twentieth century, scholarly interest was focused on the possible influence of the mythology of Herakles and allegorizing of his trials amongst philosophers, (especially the Stoics) on the shaping of the Gospel narratives of Jesus. This paper reverses that focus to demonstrate how familiarity with Heraklesâ story, in several of its various forms, might have served to aid a âChrist-curiousâ Greek-speaker in his or her apprehension and acceptance of Jesus.

After delineating the most obvious similarities between these two salvific figures, Allan looks specifically at how a âChrist-curiousâ attendee at a house-church meeting might have responded to a reading of Revelation 4-6 with its description of the âOne upon the Throneâ and the âLamb who was slainâ, particularly in relation to Heraklesâ depiction on and around the throne of Pheidasâ Zeus at Olympia, arguing that once an association between these two has been made in the new convertâs mind, it would be most difficult to dislodge. Thus, despite the hostility to âpaganismâ amongst the well-educated Apologists and the early Church Fathers, it may be the case that, post-Constantine, the Church built upon a pre-existing affinity between Christ and Herakles already recognized among some of the laity, thereby mirroring Paulâs example by âcapturing every conception of mind to the submission of Christâ (2 Cor. 10:5).

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Herakles Inside and Outside the Church

From the first Apologists to the end of the Quattrocento

ä¸ç¼ï¼ Metaforms, å·ï¼ 18

Cover Herakles Inside and Outside the Church

ISBN:: 9789004421530

åºçç¤¾:: Brill

å°å·åºçæ¥æ:: 29 Jan 2020

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African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

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Chapter 1 Herakles, âChrist-Curiousâ Greeks and Revelation 5

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