Preface

Summary

On four luminous days in May of 1993 I had the honour and the joy of delivering the Wiles Lectures at the Queen's University in Belfast. Before an audience of broad interests and deep intelligence I touched upon the historical context of a phenomenon that had, even as I spoke, a powerful resonance in the political life of Northern Ireland. Martyrdom, I argued, first came into being in the Roman empire and was inextricably rooted in a society and culture peculiar to that world. The later transformation of the concept and the practice of martyrdom lay outside my theme (and my competence), but I know that it was never far from the minds of my listeners.

It is a tradition of the Wiles Lectures that the lecturer meet each evening with university colleagues and invited guests for discussion of the afternoon's lecture. I am immensely indebted to all who contributed to the discussions for their insight, criticism, and benevolence. The late Professor Lewis Warren led each meeting with wisdom and skill. For this and for hospitality of many kinds I remain permanently in his debt. I thank as well those distinguished friends and colleagues who came to Belfast to hear the lectures and participate in the nightly colloquies: David Braund, Averil Cameron, Werner Eck, Edmond Frézouls, Keith Hopkins, Christopher Jones, François Paschoud, David Potter, and Lellia Cracco Ruggini.