There's one more that you had best learn about, too.
Tacitus. Xtians get all hot and bothered by the supposed reference in Annales but the simple fact is that not a single ancient writer, xtian or pagan, referred to this passage. There may have been no reason for pagan writers to mention it.... although Nero was not popular among the Roman upper classes who did all the writing...but certainly xtian writers should have been trumpeting it to anyone who would listen.
But, instead we get this. Sulpicius Severus, a 5th century writer wrote in Book Two of Chronica. Note that Severus does not credit Tacitus as his source.
Here is the passage from Annales.
Also note that the Pilate reference and the Christus reference do not appear in Chronica.
So it begins to look that the Tacitus reference is a much later interpolation by xtian scribes looking to beef up the martyrdom bullshit story which they started spreading after they came to power in the 4th century. Note where Severus claims that "Afterwards, too, their religion was prohibited by laws which were enacted; and by edicts openly set forth it was proclaimed unlawful to be a Christian." This is false. The earliest offical proclamations by the emperor date from the mid-3d century under Decius.
Tacitus. Xtians get all hot and bothered by the supposed reference in Annales but the simple fact is that not a single ancient writer, xtian or pagan, referred to this passage. There may have been no reason for pagan writers to mention it.... although Nero was not popular among the Roman upper classes who did all the writing...but certainly xtian writers should have been trumpeting it to anyone who would listen.
But, instead we get this. Sulpicius Severus, a 5th century writer wrote in Book Two of Chronica. Note that Severus does not credit Tacitus as his source.
Quote:Chronica Book II CHAPTER XXIX.
Is the meantime, the number of the Christians being now very large, it happened that Rome was destroyed by fire, while Nero was stationed at Antium. But the opinion of all cast the odium of causing the fire upon the emperor, and he was believed in this way to have sought for the glory of building a new city. And in fact, Nero could not by any means he tried escape from the charge that the fire had been caused by his orders. He therefore turned the accusation against the Christians, and the most cruel tortures were accordingly inflicted upon the innocent. Nay, even new kinds of death were invented, so that, being covered in the skins of wild beasts, they perished by being devoured by dogs, while many were crucified or slain by fire, and not a few were set apart for this purpose, that, when the day came to a close, they should be consumed to serve for light during the night. In this way, cruelty tint began to be manifested against the Christians. Afterwards, too, their religion was prohibited by laws which were enacted; and by edicts openly set forth it was proclaimed unlawful to
be a Christian.
Here is the passage from Annales.
Quote:Annales Book XV Ch. 44
Such indeed were the precautions of human wisdom. The next thing was to seek means of propitiating the gods, and recourse was had to the Sibylline books, by the direction of which prayers were offered to Vulcanus, Ceres, and Proserpina. Juno, too, was entreated by the matrons, first, in the Capitol, then on the nearest part of the coast, whence water was procured to sprinkle the fane and image of the goddess. And there were sacred banquets and nightly vigils celebrated by married women. But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed.
Also note that the Pilate reference and the Christus reference do not appear in Chronica.
So it begins to look that the Tacitus reference is a much later interpolation by xtian scribes looking to beef up the martyrdom bullshit story which they started spreading after they came to power in the 4th century. Note where Severus claims that "Afterwards, too, their religion was prohibited by laws which were enacted; and by edicts openly set forth it was proclaimed unlawful to be a Christian." This is false. The earliest offical proclamations by the emperor date from the mid-3d century under Decius.
