The Cult of Peter and the Development of Martyr Cult in Rome. The Origins of the Presentation of Peter and Paul as Martyrs

Abstract

This paper will examine the early development of the cult of St Peter as martyr in Rome and its relationship to martyr cult in general as it was elaborated in the city before the seventh century. In so doing it will review the ways in which the earliest texts relating to the cult illustrate how this evolving tradition was anchored in Rome through the attachment of various episodes in the life of Peter to specific sites within the city, sites often of long-standing and exceptional importance in Roman public life.In its early phases, the Petrine cult is often intertwined with that of Paul, so where necessary they will be considered together. The biblical account of the two apostles focuses upon their pastoral and preaching activities, their missionary work and their teaching. Peter and Paul derive their status not from their deaths but from their commissioning as messengers, the one by Christ in his earthly life, the other after Christ's crucifixion on the road to Damascus. The earliest indications that both were thought to have died for their beliefs date from the late first century but give no details of the circumstances in which they met their end.1 By the late second century, however, Tertullian could claim that both had been martyred in Rome, Peter crucified like Christ and Paul beheaded like John the Baptist. Early acta were presumably in existence by then and indeed seem to have been expressly mentioned by Tertullian.2