Latin Epics of the New Testament Juvencus, Sedulius, Arator

"This pioneering study explores the phenomenon of Christian Latin epic in Late Antiquity. Roger Green carefully examines the poems of the three writers Juvencus, Sedulius, and Arator, who were among the leaders in a tradition of Bible epic that went on to include such poets as Milton and Klopstock. The importance of these early Christian epics lies in the fact that they attempted to present books of the New Testament in terms of the epic tradition, and so bridge the gap between the time-honoured works of the Graeco-Roman literary heritage, with their gods, heroes, and glorification of war, and the sacred texts of Christianity, available then to Latin readers only in a style that seemed the antithesis of all that Romans valued. Green reveals in detail the depth and variety of epic language, epic themes, and epic design, developed from Vergil, Lucan, and others, in these new but generally faithful presentations of the biblical books; but he also gives due weight to the fact that these authors are committed to particular agendas of the developing and expanding Christian Church."--BOOK JACKET.

Roger P. H. Green is Professor of Humanity, University of Glasgow.