This collection of essays deals with the rise and development of early Christian poetry, discussing its techniques and its theoretical foundation. The individual papers concern specimina of Hebrew, Syriac, Greek and Latin poetry and study the various and partly conflicting traditions from which it originated. The biblical examples, e.g. of the Psalms, held great authority, but on the other hand it was impossible to break away from the models of classical Greco-Roman poetry, although these were deemed dangerous because of the pagan content and excessive cult of literary art. The book shows how the problems involved were solved in different ways, which justified the use of pagan literary accomplishments for singing the praises of the Lord.

Contents

Introduction

Abbreviations

Jewish Metrical Epitaphs

The Poetic Character of Revelation 4 and 5

Die Oracula Sibyllina in den fruhchristlichen griechischen Schriften von Justin bis Origenes (150-250 nach Chr.)

The Place of Poetry in Latin Christianity

The Cleansing of the Temple (John 2,13-25) in Juvencus and Nonnus

Ambrosius Lyricus

The Function of Biblical Material in the Hymns of St. Ambrose

Prudentius in Recent Literary Criticism

Imitation creative dans le Carmen Paschale de Sedulius

The Merchant of Nisibis: Saint Ephrem and His Faithful Quest for Union in Numbers

The Attitude towards Greek Poetry in the Verse of Gregory Nazianzen

The Vision of Dorotheus

Synesius of Cyrene, Hymn 8: A Perspective on His Poetic Art

The Poetical Writings of the Empress Eudocia: An Evaluation

Romanos le Melode: Un poete syrien a Constantinople

Anti-Christian Polemics in Hebrew Liturgical Poetry (Piyyut) of the Sixth and Seventh Centuries

Index of Biblical Passages

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Subjects: Selection