Sage, saint, and sophist : holy men and their associates in the early Roman Empire

Holy men, both pagan & Christian are persistent & puzzling figures in the religious life of the Roman Empire. In this first historical study of Holy Men for more than half a century, Dr Anderson applies techniques of literary analysis to throw light on the lifestyles & behavior of these figures, from Jesus Christ to Peregrinus Proteus to dio Chrysostom, stressing their individuality as much as their common features. Sage, Saint & Sophist examines the variety of services, real or imaginary, that these colorful figures had to offer & how they maintained their credibility to become the objects of successful religious cults. Sage, Saint and Sophist explores the experience of holy men, both pagan and Christian, and the extent of their participation in the Roman Empire's religious climate which often wavered between faith and superstition. Graham Anderson discusses the atmosphere of belief in these centuries, grounding this issue in the context of Roman social history.

There has not been a general historical study of early imperial holy men of any kind since Bieler's portrait Theios Aner over half a century ago. Anderson applies techniques of literary and prosopographical analysis to bear on a varied cross-section of these figures from Jesus Christ to Peregrinus Proteus to Dio Chrysostom, and stresses their individuality as much as their common features. He examines the variety of services, real or imaginary, that holy men had to offer and the techniques they used to maintain their credibility. He discusses their career patterns, their techniques of revelation and persuasion, their relations with patrons, populace and one another; and the growth of cults of individuals.

Holy men, both pagan and Christian are persistent and puzzling figures in the religious life of the Roman Empire. In this first historical study of Holy Men for more than half a century, Dr Anderson applies techniques of literary analysis to throw light on the lifestyles and behaviour of these figures, from Jesus Christ to Peregrinus Proteus to dio Chrysostom, stressing their individuality as much as their common features.Sage, Saint and Sophist examines the variety of services, real or imaginary, that these colouful figures had to offer and how they maintained their credibility to become the objects of successful religious cults. Examines the lifestyle and behaviour of the `holy-men' of the early Roman Empire, asking how and why they acquired the prestige they did, and how they turned into objects of successful religious cults.