RT Article
T1 Manichaean Women in a Pseudo-Augustinian Testimony: An Analysis of the North African Testimonium de Manichaeis sectatoribus
JF Vigiliae Christianae
VO 71
IS 1
SP 85
OP 94
A1 Oort, Johannes van 1949-
LA English
PB Brill
YR 2017
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/156197000X
AB The article analyses the rather unknown and understudied Testimonium de Manichaeis sectatoribus. This Pseudo-Augustinian text has come down to us in two Latin manuscripts (one from Saint Gervais, Paris; the other from a Vatican codex) and interestingly elucidates the place and role of women among the Manichaeans of Roman Africa. Differences between the mss lead to the conclusion that, in all likelihood, the text underwent some ‘masculinisation’ in the course of its tradition. In its (in all probability) most original form, i.e., in the ms from Saint Gervais, Manichaean women appear to have played a major role. On the basis of the Testimonium, furthermore, it may be suggested that—at least in Roman Africa—female Manichaeans were (re)named with names that were highly symbolic to the ‘Religion of Light’.
K1 Testimonium de Manichaeis sectatoribus : women : Manichaeism : Augustine of Hippo : persecution : Early Christianity : Roman North Africa : religious (re)naming
DO 10.1163/15700720-12341258