Memories of Utopia The Revision of Histories and Landscapes in Late Antiquity

• Other Authors: Neil, Bronwen (Editor), Simic, Kosta (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2020
• Series: Routledge Studies in the Early Christian World
• Subjects: Ancient history: to c 500 CE; Social & political philosophy; Marxism & Communism; Conference of Carthage; christianity and paganism in late antiquity; christianity and polytheism in late antiquity; christians and pagans in late antiquity; christians and polytheists in late antiquity; christian identity and sacred sites; christian tombs under julian; creation of christian identity; early christianity middle east; early christianity north africa; early christians and diaspora jews; early christians and greco roman art; early christians and pagan art; early christian environment; early christian landscapes; early christian middle east; early christian north africa; Formation of Early Christian Identity; Gregory of Tours' Lives of the Saints; greco-roman religion and christianity; idols and early christianity; jerome and christian identity; julian and cynicism; julian and the cynics; julian the apostate; late antique eusebia; late antique ritual space; Manipulation of Memory under Julian; mediterranean ritual space; memories of utopia
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

These essays examine how various communities remembered and commemorated their shared past through the lens of utopia and its corollary, dystopia, providing a framework for the reinterpretation of rapidly changing religious, cultural, and political realities of the turbulent period from 300 to 750 CE. The common theme of the chapters is the utopian ideals of religious groups, whether these are inscribed on the body, on the landscape, in texts, or on other cultural objects. The volume is the first to apply this conceptual framework to Late Antiquity, when historically significant conflicts arose between the adherents of four major religious identities: Greaco-Roman 'pagans', newly dominant Christians; diaspora Jews, who were more or less persecuted, depending on the current regime; and the emerging religion and power of Islam. Late Antiquity was thus a period when dystopian realities competed with memories of a mythical Golden Age, variously conceived according to the religious identity of the group. The contributors come from a range of disciplines, including cultural studies, religious studies, ancient history, and art history, and employ both theoretical and empirical approaches. This volume is unique in the range of evidence it draws upon, both visual and textual, to support the basic argument that utopia in Late Antiquity, whether conceived spiritually, artistically, or politically, was a place of the past but also of the future, even of the afterlife. Memories of Utopia will be of interest to historians, archaeologists, and art historians of the later Roman Empire, and those working on religion in Late Antiquity and Byzantium.