Martyrdom As Spectacle
"Crudelitas vestra gloria est nostra."
According to G. W. Bowersock, in Martyrdom and Rome,[1] Martyrdom as a form of spectacle took hold towards the end of the first century CE. It quickly began to proliferate in various parts of the Roman Empire due to the ever increasing number of Christians being persuaded to die a martyrs death. This idea of martyrdom was supported by a few church leaders, including Montanus. According to Montanus' philosophy, it was better to become a martyr than to die of natural causes. Many embraced this philosophy, causing major concerns first for churches situated in main urban centres and eventually for churches throughout the Roman Empire.
Leopard attacking a prisoner in an amphitheater spectacle in a Roman mosaic (late 2nd century AD)
Image courtesy of Dennis Jarvis
Image courtesy of Dennis Jarvis
Examples of martyrdom can be attested from the very beginnings of Christianity.
Martyrdoms took place in urban centers, as crowds were necessary. The necessary element for martyrdom (other than the martyr him/herself) is the audience.
There may have been an ideological connection between Montanist philosophy and martyrdom. What is more, it is interesting that the 'birthplace' of martyrdom and of the Montanist movement is the same place where the gladiatorial games in the Greek east have their origin, namely Asia Minor.
The first example of martyrdom comes from Polycarp, ca. 150 AD. Other notable examples are Ignatius and Perpetua.
Spectacle: Martyr Cult
Without a crowd there was no martyrdom because martyrdom required an audience. The only exception to martyrdoms taking place in the amphitheatre in the literary record from antiquity happened in Numidia – in a river valley, where not only there was a natural area appropriate for sitting an audience, but also there was a river nearby which could potentially be used for baptisms.
Martyrdoms took place in urban centers, as crowds were necessary. The necessary element for martyrdom (other than the martyr him/herself) is the audience.
There may have been an ideological connection between Montanist philosophy and martyrdom. What is more, it is interesting that the 'birthplace' of martyrdom and of the Montanist movement is the same place where the gladiatorial games in the Greek east have their origin, namely Asia Minor.
The first example of martyrdom comes from Polycarp, ca. 150 AD. Other notable examples are Ignatius and Perpetua.
Spectacle: Martyr Cult
Without a crowd there was no martyrdom because martyrdom required an audience. The only exception to martyrdoms taking place in the amphitheatre in the literary record from antiquity happened in Numidia – in a river valley, where not only there was a natural area appropriate for sitting an audience, but also there was a river nearby which could potentially be used for baptisms.
[1] Glen Bowersock, Matyrdom and Rome, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1995. Most of the ideas presented in this section reflect Bowersock's arguments as outlined in his book.