The demonogony of Tatian's Oratio ad Graecos: Jewish and Greek influences

Lossl, Josef ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5829-6500 2022. The demonogony of Tatian's Oratio ad Graecos: Jewish and Greek influences. Patmore, Hector and Lossl, Josef, eds. Demons in Early Judaism and Christianity, Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, vol. 113. Leiden: Brill, pp. 155-181. (10.1163/9789004518148_009)

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Abstract

In his "Oratio ad Graecos" (7.4-5) Tatian explains the existence of demons from “the transgression and folly” of “the firstborn”, whom human beings followed and declared a god because of his status as firstborn. Tatian's account leaves much room for interpretation. However, considering the important role Tatian attaches to the “Barbarian” (i. e. biblical) Scriptures, it is probable that behind his account is an early Jewish tradition of the fall of the angels (cf. 2Enoch 29). Yet Tatian blends this tradition with Middle-Platonist explanations to such a degree that his demonology has been branded “one of the most complex” in early Christianity (Timotin). This chapter aims to focus on particular aspects which show how Tatian puts together the Jewish (biblical) and Greek (mythological and philosophical) traditions in a (not always successful) attempt to produce a demonology that is consistent with his theology, cosmology and anthropology.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	History, Archaeology and Religion
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BM Judaism B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity D History General and Old World > DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World P Language and Literature > PA Classical philology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Demons, Demonology, Judaism, Christianity
Publisher:	Brill
ISBN:	9789004517141
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2022 14:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/154332

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