Assignment for Monday, 03-02-2015

Dear Readers of Rome

On Monday, we will discuss saintliness and martyrdom, which are very closely linked concepts in Christianity.

Please do the following:

(1) Download, print, and read the fact sheet about hagiography and The Golden Legend. I have also made a timeline laying out some major religious persecutions, which you can download here.

(2) Download, print, and read the essay by Carole Straw, "A Very Special Death,"which instructively sets Christian martyrdom into a Classical context.

(3) Download, print, and read the two versions of the martyrdom of R. Akiva; the notes should help you better understand these rabbinic stories.

(4) Download, print, and read the selections about Agnes, Clement, and Lawrence from The Golden Legend.

gs