Christopher B. Zeichmann - Böcker

'Unearthing the ancient world’s anarchist cultures, Zeichmann presents a compelling argument that authority may itself have always been the real aberration. Highly recommended' - Alan Moore, writer, activist, performerWhen you think of Ancient Greece and Rome, what do you see? The Acropolis and the Colosseum? Perhaps the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, and the rule of the Caesars? Or the birth of democracy and the vast reach of an empire? This well-trodden history of great thinkers, military leaders, and early state formation in the classical world enthralls us still, but it tells only half the story… How democratic was Athenian democracy? How much power did states actually wield beyond their city walls? And who looked upon the systems of domination that prevailed and sought to create something different?Radical Antiquity takes you on a unique journey in search of anarchy, statelessness, and social experimentation in the Graeco-Roman world. Sweeping across the Mediterranean from the time of the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE until the emergence of Islam in 610 CE, Christopher B. Zeichmann introduces the reader to communities of escaped slaves, pirates, and religious sects—all of whom sought a more egalitarian way of life that avoided the coercion, hierarchy, and exploitation of the state. This history from below brings the experiences of common and marginal people out of obscurity, and radically expands our understanding of social and political life in the classical world.

This book presents the first-ever English-language book on the history of the Panthera legend– the idea that Jesus was conceived not by the Holy Spirit or even Joseph, but by a man named Panthera. This book examines how the legend of Panthera is deeply implicated in both rape culture and anti-Judaism, examining examples from the ancient Levant to medieval Europe, Nazi Germany, and contemporary North America. It explores the history and original sources of the legend, tracing the question of Mary’s consent (or lack thereof) with respect to Panthera’s sexual advances, and arguing this has become inextricable from Jewish-Christian polemics. Although the Panthera legend has been long associated with Jewish polemic against Christianity, this legend is better understood as the product of Christian doubt – such that Christians were placing their own apprehensions in the mouths of ancient Jews. Adding to the literature on the continued importance of Mary’s sexual history within religious traditions, the book will be of interest to academics and postgraduate students of early Christianity, Biblical studies, Jewish-Christian relations, and gender studies in antiquity.

Though New Testament scholars have written extensively on the Roman Empire, the topic of the military has been conspicuously neglected, leading many academics to defer to popular wisdom. Against this trend, The Roman Army and the New Testament provides a clear discussion of issues that are often taken for granted: Who served in the military of early Roman Palestine? Why did men join the Roman army, seemingly at odds with their own interests as subject peoples? What roles did soldiers serve beyond combat? How did civilians interact with and perceive soldiers? These questions are answered through careful analysis of ancient literature, inscriptions, papyri, and archaeological findings to paint a detailed portrait of soldier-civilian interactions in early Roman Palestine. Contrary to common assumption, Judaea and Galilee were not crawling with Roman legionaries with a penchant for cruelty. Rather, a diverse mix of men from Palestine and nearby regions served as soldiers in a variety of social roles: infrastructure construction, dispute mediation, bodyguarding officials like tax-collectors, etc. Readers will discover a variety of complex attitudes civilians held toward men of Roman violence throughout the Roman East. The importance of these historical issues for biblical scholarship is demonstrated through a verse-by-verse commentary on relevant passages that stretches across the entire New Testament, from the Slaughter of the Innocents in Matthew’s nativity to the climactic battle with the Great Beast in Revelation. Biblical scholars, seminarians, and military enthusiasts will find much to learn about the Roman army in both the New Testament and early Roman Palestine.