Search

The present paper attempts to discuss the image of women in the Acts of Thomas against the wider theoretical background of temporality as it was perceived and construed through the text. More specifically, I will focus on how notions of time that emerged in the early centuries of the Christian era proved to be a key factor in shaping women's agency as this is reflected in the apocryphal Acts. The nexus between time and the construction of the feminine in the Acts of Thomas emerges as being particularly interesting because it sheds light on many relevant questions in early Christianity, such as chastity, asceticism, reconfiguration of family ties, social norms, and roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article attempts to discuss the relationship between time and gender in the Acta Pauli et Theclae and the Passio Perpetuae et Felicitatis. By analyzing both the temporal perception in the narrative and the construction of time through a series of narratological devices, I will focus on how specific notions of time that emerged in the early centuries of the Christian era proved to be a key factor in shaping women's agency. Building on this evidence, I aim to identify a set of key features that may define the relationship between eschatology and the role of women in early Christianity. The figures of Thecla, Perpetua and Felicitas will be analyzed as highly representative case studies of gendered temporality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni is the property of Editrice Morcelliana S.p.A. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present article attempts to discuss the relationship between words and images in early Christian literature against the wider background of the notion of 'visual construction'. More specifically, I will focus on the construction -- and perception -- of women's agency through a literary representation. Tertullian's works represent a significative case in this regard. He condemns the excessive attention paid to outward appearance. However, the opposite tendency to reject a traditional female appearance is similarly condemned at various levels. This is due to the fact that the abovementioned tendency is perceived as a symbolic act which visually constructs a disruption of the established social order. This means that a visual representation has a direct impact on society. Starting from Tertullian's works, I will therefore attempt to describe the definition of women's agency in early Christianity by stressing that the textual creation of well-defined female images influenced women's roles within society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article tries to analyse the description of the Montanist movement offered by Epiphanius of Salamis in Pan. 48, on the basis of the language used by the heresiologist in order to depict Montanus as an example of the traditional category of the heretic. Focusing on lexicon and style of Pan. 48, this analysis will show that the image of the heretic is normally outlined by using specific and well-defined linguistic choices, that correspond to the traditional way used to describe the adversary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]