History 494 Senior Thesis Seminar

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Orosius' use of Vergil in The Seven Books of History Against the Pagans
(2024-04-19) Kastens, Marlee; Blackburn, Lee
In 418 C.E., Orosius published his Seven Books of History Against the Pagans: one of the first universal Christian histories. Previous scholarship regarding Orosius has centered on his contributions to historiography, but not as much on the historical influences affecting him. Vergil is one such influence, whom Orosius uses to attempt a synthesis of his Christian history with the legacy of Roman imperial history. His presence within the work points to Vergil's lingering influence in Roman society long after the coming of Christianity and provides context for Vergil's role within late antiquity Rome. He was not seen as simply a valued historian, but also as an unmatched rhetorician and a testament to the ideals of Roman society. Vergil’s appearance within Orosius' history speaks to these ideals, providing a way to synthesize the influences of the pagan past with the present Christian reality. Orosius’ use of Vergil also points towards the impact which Roman civilization had on its subjects, one which seeped into almost every part of their lives. Ultimately, Orosius' use of Vergil reveals him to be walking a thin line between respect and reverence for Vergil and the Roman Empire he represents.