Biblical and Pastoral Poetry

Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus was a bishop of Vienne and a defender of Christian orthodoxy. He wrote the Spiritual History, a poem that tells the story of Christian salvation with dramatic dialogue and rich description. He also wrote Consolatory Praise of Chastity, a verse treatise addressed to his sister, a consecrated virgin, that illuminates the demands of the ascetic life from the perspective of a close family member. This volume presents new English translations of Avitus's two extant poetic writings alongside the Latin texts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Alcimus Ecdicius Avitus, a bishop of Vienne and a steadfast champion of Christian orthodoxy, hailed from the senatorial aristocracy in southern Gaul during the mid-fifth century. He graced the world until 518. The verse in Biblical and Pastoral Poetry was penned in the late fifth or early sixth century. Avitus' most renowned masterpiece, the Spiritual History, weaves a captivating narrative of biblical events, encompassing the creation, the Fall and expulsion from paradise, the Flood, and the Israelites' escape from Egypt. Through his revitalization of Christian epic poetry, Avitus highlights the themes of original sin and redemption, employing dramatic dialogue and vivid description to recount the history of Christian salvation. In Consolatory Praise of Chastity, a verse treatise addressed to his sister, a consecrated virgin, Avitus sheds light on the ascetic life from the perspective of a close family member. He endeavors to strengthen his sister's resolve by drawing upon biblical examples of mental fortitude, crafting a formidable model of female heroism. This volume presents fresh English translations of Avitus' two extant poetic writings, alongside the Latin originals.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 142 x 210 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674271265