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The Date of Eunapius’ Vitae Sophistarum and the Establishment of the Martyr Cult in Menouthis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2022

Mikhail A. Vedeshkin*
Affiliation:
Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute for Social Sciences (RANEPA)

Abstract

The paper is a contribution to a discussion on the dating of Eunapius’ Vitae Sophistarum. Arguments are put forward that Eunapius’ remark on the necrolatry of the monks of Canopus reflects the establishment of a cult of Saints Cyrus and John. Since this event took place when the Church of Alexandria was headed by Cyril, we may consider the beginning of his archbishopric (October 18, 412 CE) as a reliable terminus post quem for the publication of this text.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies

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