The Early Modern Invention of Late Antique Rome

by Nicola Denzey Lewis

In The Early Modern Invention of Late Antique Rome, Nicola Denzey Lewis challenges the common understanding of late antique Christianity as dominated by the Cult of Saints. Popularized by historian Peter Brown, the Cult of the Saints presupposes that a 'corporeal turn' in the 4th century CE initiated a new sense of the body (even the corpse or bone) as holy. Denzey Lewis argues that although present elsewhere in the late Roman Empire, no such 'corporeal turn' happened in Rome until the early modern period. The prevailing assumption that it did was fostered by the apologetic concerns of early modern Catholic scholars, as well as contemporary attitudes towards death, antiquity, and the survival of the Church against secularism. Denzey Lewis delves deeply into the world of Roman late antique Christianity, exploring how and why it differed from the set of practices and beliefs we have come to think flourished in this crucial age of Christianization.

440 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2020

Reviews

[Eric Vanden Eykel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book, and a must-read for scholars of early Christianity and ancient Rome. In each chapter the author walks readers through various sites in Rome, and makes a compelling case that many of these have been misunderstood by scholars. Her case is meticulously researched and well argued. Highly recommended.