The Making of a Christian Aristocracy

How Do We Explain the Quiet Demise of Graeco-Roman Religion? An Essay

“…2 One of the most important consequences of Constantine's victory is the fact that by ending the persecutions he enabled the male aristocrats of Roman society, who until that moment had refrained from openly joining the Church, to become Christian, not only without any risk for their lives but even with better chances for their political careers. They would do so, not immediately, but their conversion would accelerate in the later 4th century (Eck 1989;Barnes 1995;Salzman 2002;Cameron 2011: 173-187). This development was aided by the fact that, of all the emperors after Augustus, Constantine had the longest rule, even if over the whole of the Roman Empire only from 324 ce.…”

Gender, Conversion, and the End of Empire in the Teaching of Jacob, Newly Baptized

“…55 Salzman in particular expresses skepticism at the historical role of aristocratic women in converting their husbands and households, but notes the tenacity of this trope in ancient literature and modern historical studies. 56 Kate Cooper, in the 1990s, interpreted the presence of women in so many conversionary tales as a rhetorical strategy on the part of male, Christian authors. "Narrative treatment," she wrote in a 1992 essay, "of the actions or intentions of women did not straightforwardly represent flesh-and-blood women themselves, but rather served to symbolize aspects of the tension to be found among men."…”

The Christian sarcophagus population of Rome

“…21 and 26]). 2002, 748-49;Salzman 2002. the balance of opinion seems to have tilted towards relatively early adoption. Also: Stark 1996, 29-33;Wischmeyer 1982, 171.…”