Creative Chronography in Early Christianity: John Malalas on the Deaths of King Cyrus of Persia
In this article, I use John Malalas’ account of Cyrus’ two deaths – which he claimed was based on Pythagoras of Samos and Julius Africanus – as a case study for historiographical creativity in early Christian chronography. First, I detect that one of Cyrus’ deaths is calqued on Xerxes’ death in the...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Vigiliae Christianae
Year: 2025, Volume: 79, Issue: 1, Pages: 84-101 |
| Further subjects: | B
Pythagoras of Samos
B Herodotus B imperial Greek culture B Greek History B Daniel B Julius Africanus |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In this article, I use John Malalas’ account of Cyrus’ two deaths – which he claimed was based on Pythagoras of Samos and Julius Africanus – as a case study for historiographical creativity in early Christian chronography. First, I detect that one of Cyrus’ deaths is calqued on Xerxes’ death in the Greek historian, Ctesias of Cnidus, and thus an original interpretation of the event. Second, I place this death story in the greater context of Malalas’ account, showing the great extent to which Malalas, or his source, has rewritten the story of Cyrus. Third, I test the death story’s attribution to Julius Africanus, which I argue is false, based on the high level of chronographic accuracy required for Africanus’ Chronographiae. Fourth and finally, I examine how Malalas was using Africanus’ authority to authenticate the dubious death story of Cyrus. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0720 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Vigiliae Christianae
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700720-bja10099 |
