Three Types of Coexistence of Pagan and Christian Elements in the Late Roman Intellectuals’ Mentality

Elena V Litovchenko,Viktoriya Yu Sapenko,Marina M Sinitsa,Sof'Ya V Shilina,Anna I Dudka

doi:10.7596/taksad.v7i2.1599

Abstract

The paper considers three types of coexistence of pagan and Christian elements in the consciousness of Late antique intellectuals who were Latin writers in the period from of the 4th to 6th centuries, representatives of the upper stratum, Christians such as Ausonius, Paulinus of Nola, Sidonius Apollinaris, and others. The authors come to the conclusion that the attitude to the pagan heritage combined in the minds of Late Latin intellectuals with Christian ideas in three versions: passive-eclectic, contrast-nihilistic and respectful-condescending, which was conditioned both by life circumstances and chronologically.

Highlights

After the official permission of Christianity till 6th AD paganism was still alive as a cultural guideline in the consciousness of Roman elite
The attitude of Christian Church to the ancient cultural tradition was defined in the fourth century AD by the education of its leaders and their personal attitude to the pagan past
As long as the pagan education was kept and while the church leaders were people educated within the framework of the ancient cultural traditions, the tolerant attitude to these traditions remained in whole

Summary

Introduction

After the official permission of Christianity (after 313 AD) till 6th AD paganism was still alive as a cultural guideline in the consciousness of Roman elite. The attitude of Christian Church to the ancient cultural tradition was defined in the fourth century AD by the education of its leaders and their personal attitude to the pagan past. They were Christians, they were bearers of classical traditions (Ausonius, Paulinus of Nola, Sidonius Apollinaris, Prudentius, Paulinus of Pella, Fulgentius the Mythographer).

Results

Conclusion