ABSTRACT

Holy men, both pagan and Christian are persistent and puzzling figures in the religious life of the Roman Empire. In this first historical study of Holy Men for more than half a century, Dr Anderson applies techniques of literary analysis to throw light on the lifestyles and behaviour of these figures, from Jesus Christ to Peregrinus Proteus to dio Chrysostom, stressing their individuality as much as their common features.
Sage, Saint and Sophist examines the variety of services, real or imaginary, that these colouful figures had to offer and how they maintained their credibility to become the objects of successful religious cults.

chapter |15 pages

Concepts

The holy man and his milieux

chapter |18 pages

Viewpoints

Perceptions and perspectives

chapter |20 pages

Patterns

Lives and lifestyles

chapter |19 pages

Wisdom

Crafts, cunning, credulity

chapter |13 pages

Acclamation

The rhetoric of revelation

chapter |27 pages

Action

Display and intervention

chapter |18 pages

Alliance

Disciples, clients, patrons

chapter |20 pages

Opposition

False prophets, cheats and charlatans

chapter |16 pages

Authority

Caesars, principalities and powers

chapter |11 pages

Travel

Holy men on the move

chapter |10 pages

Representation

The holy man in fiction

chapter |10 pages

Prestige

The enhancement of holiness

chapter |20 pages

Progress

Continuities and comparisons

chapter |4 pages

Epilogue

Varieties of ambiguity