The Myth of Paganism Nonnus, Dionysus and the World of Late Antiquity

With the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman world in the 4th century AD, the role of the poet underwent a radical transformation. A new figure, claiming inspiration from Christ, soon eclipsed the poet of the Muses, establishing a framework that still drives modern approaches to the period: Christian poetry is taken 'seriously' as making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the late antique world; 'pagan' or 'secular' poetry is largely ignored. The Myth of Paganism re-evaluates the role of 'pagan' poetry in late antiquity. Attention focuses on Nonnus' Dionysiaca ' traditionally regarded as a 'pagan' epic in terms of theme and content, yet in all probability the work of a 'Christian' poet responsible for a Homeric-style retelling of St John's Gospel.

Robert Shorrock teaches Classics at Eton College, Windsor, and is co-editor of the journal Greece Rome.