The Religious World of the Roman Empire; Christianity Before Constantine

Traditional Roman Religion

The Emperor Augustus as pontifex maximus

Altar to Mars and Venus

Emperor Diocletian and colleagues offering sacrifice to the gods

The Jewish Context

AD 70:  Romans destroy Jerusalem and the Temple

Judaism: A representation of the Temple (from the third-century synagogue at Dura-Europus)

Jerusalem: The Temple Mount Today

Roman Responses to Christianity

Anti-Christian Graffiti:  "Alexmenos is worshipping his God"

Persecution and Martyrdom:
 

Gladiators and Beast Fighers

Damnatio ad Bestias!

"To the Lion!"

 

The Christian as Soldier of Christ and Athlete of God

Certificate of Having Sacrificed to the Gods (from persecution under Emperor Decius, c.250)
 

The Christian Martryr