Freethought & Rationalism Archive

vid · 07-05-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by http://www.sullivan-county.com/id2/marcion.htm

The two titles "Chrestus" or "Chrestian" are referred to in the following written sources: Tertullian (AD 210), The Eighth Sibyl (AD 200), Theophilos of Antioch (AD 170), Marcus (AD 145), Apocalypse of Elijah (AD 100), Suetonius (AD 124) and Tacitus (AD 116). There is even a disputed inscription (now lost) from Pompei (AD 79) that is believed to have contained a reference to this lost title of Jesus.

Tacitus reference was a bit intriguing for me at first, because i clearly remember seeing latin version with Christianos, but following thread clears this out: http://iidb.infidels.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=114548

However, I didn't find anything about the disputed Pompei inscription. Google turns out some articles on supposedly Christian inscritpion, like this, but so far nothing about Chrestus.

Could someone shed more light on this?

youngalexander · 07-05-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

However, I didn't find anything about the disputed Pompei inscription. Google turns out some articles on supposedly Christian inscritpion, like this, but so far nothing about Chrestus.

Could someone shed more light on this?

If this has any validity it ought to be included in Ante Pacem: Archaeological Evidence of Church Life Before Constantine
Neither the index nor ch2 Early Christian Symbols, nor ch6 Inscriptions & Graffiti have any mention of such a Pompei inscription. However, p63 does deal with the Rotas-Sator Square and dismisses it. I suspect that is the (confused) reference.

Toto · 07-05-2008, 07:40 PM

Would this be it? Graffiti from Pompei

Quote:

VIII (corridor in the theater); 2457: Methe, slave of Cominia, from Atella, loves Chrestus. May Pompeian Venus be dear to both of them and may they always live in harmony.

Minimalist · 07-05-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

May Pompeian Venus be dear to both of them

Perhaps "Jesus" was branching out?

SLD · 07-06-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Would this be it? Graffiti from Pompei

Quote:

VIII (corridor in the theater); 2457: Methe, slave of Cominia, from Atella, loves Chrestus. May Pompeian Venus be dear to both of them and may they always live in harmony.

Chrestus does not necessarily mean Jesus Christ. Chrestus was a popular greek name - could be anyone.

Sounds like a simple love letter.

SLD

credoconsolans · 07-06-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Would this be it? Graffiti from Pompei
VIII (corridor in the theater); 2457: Methe, slave of Cominia, from Atella, loves Chrestus. May Pompeian Venus be dear to both of them and may they always live in harmony.

Chrestus does not necessarily mean Jesus Christ. Chrestus was a popular greek name - could be anyone.

Sounds like a simple love letter.

SLD

Quick OT: Is Methe a man or woman's name?

vid · 07-06-2008, 04:04 PM

Toto: so far, seems most plausible. However, I'd like to see which faithful "historian" asserted it is christain reference

mountainman · 07-06-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngalexander

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

However, I didn't find anything about the disputed Pompei inscription. Google turns out some articles on supposedly Christian inscritpion, like this, but so far nothing about Chrestus.

Could someone shed more light on this?

If this has any validity it ought to be included in Ante Pacem: Archaeological Evidence of Church Life Before Constantine
Neither the index nor ch2 Early Christian Symbols, nor ch6 Inscriptions & Graffiti have any mention of such a Pompei inscription. However, p63 does deal with the Rotas-Sator Square and dismisses it. I suspect that is the (confused) reference.

Ante Pacem and a host of other resource books defer to Elsa Gibson's publications The Christians for Christians Inscriptions of Phrygia

There are plenty of instances of greek E and I chrestian and christian epitaphs, and the author freely admits that is is known that at least two were added by a later hand. BC&H scholars might like to view this as a form of epigraphic interpolation.

Many christian inscriptions suffer from this defect of integrity. The Prosenes Inscription, often bandied amidst the colourfully conjectural discussion of the (ahem) evidence, falls into this class, since the critical evidence includes a later hand.
Best wishes,

Pete

Who is Lithargoel?

Minimalist · 07-06-2008, 08:05 PM

[QUOTE=credoconsolans;5432232]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLD

Quick OT: Is Methe a man or woman's name?

http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheMethe.html

Quote:

METHE was the Bakkhe nymph of drunkeness, one of the companions of the god Dionysos. She was the wife of Staphylos ("Bunch of Grapes") and the mother of Botrys ("Grapes").

I'd guess feminine.

andrewcriddle · 07-07-2008, 11:59 AM

This may be relevant
http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpre...okid=4288&pc=9

Andrew Criddle

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07-06-2008, 04:04 PM	#7
vid Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Myjava, Slovakia Posts: 384	Toto: so far, seems most plausible. However, I'd like to see which faithful "historian" asserted it is christain reference

07-07-2008, 11:59 AM	#10
andrewcriddle Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 4,876	This may be relevant http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpre...okid=4288&pc=9 Andrew Criddle

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