Jesus the Epic Hero: The Theology of Empress Eudocia's Homeric Gospel

Empress Eudocia composed the story of Jesus using lines lifted almost verbatim from Homers epics, presenting Jesus and his relevance to her audience within the confines of the Iliad and Odyssey. She clustered her theology around key Homeric motifs or type scenes, such as warfare, homecoming, feast, reconciliation, and hospitality. The story starts in the Old Testament and follows the biographic lines of the canonical gospels, with Johns Gospel holding pride of place. Eudocia preached the story she told and emerged as one of the most prolific female theologians and preachers in the first Christian centuries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

The ancient cento-genre was a versatile form that was applied to a wide range of subjects. New literary works were derived from classical epics, and Empress Eudocia was a notable practitioner of this practice. She composed the story of Jesus using lines that were largely lifted directly from Homer's epics. By incorporating the stylistic and vocabulary of the Iliad and Odyssey, Eudocia presented Jesus and his significance to her audience within the confines of these ancient literary works. The lines she chose to convey her theological ideas often clustered around key Homeric motifs or types of scenes, such as warfare, homecoming, feasts, reconciliation, and hospitality. Throughout this Homeric and simultaneously biblical epic, Jesus is depicted as waging war against all evil, particularly Hades. The narrative begins in the Old Testament, which is conceived as divine counsel on Mt. Olympus. There, a plan is presented to save sinful humanity. The story then follows the biographic lines of the canonical gospels, with John's Gospel taking a prominent place in Eudocia's rendering and interpretation of the Jesus-story. What sets Eudocia's narrative apart is its ability to suspend both the geography and time of Jesus. She weaves a tale that transcends earthly boundaries and spans centuries. Eudocia's role as a theologian and preacher is significant, and she emerges as one of the most prolific female figures in the first Christian centuries. Her poem serves as a testament to her intellectual prowess and her commitment to spreading the teachings of Christianity.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 237 x 157 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666908626