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Vibia Perpetua was a Christian martyr who lived in the Roman Empire during the third century. Perpetua’s life was brief, and at the age of twenty-two she was executed soon after the proclamation of her religious beliefs. Perpetua influenced later generations of Christians and was widely regarded as an important figure in the establishment of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Understanding Perpetua’s identity development requires a comprehensive account of the events and environment of the third century, which can be accomplished by examining the history of the Roman Empire and Christianity.
Perpetua was born in the African province of the Roman Empire. After the Romans conquered Carthage in the Third Punic War, they established it as the capital of the province (Rea 96). Additionally, they introduced their own religious ceremonies and integrated a system of election of authorities and religious representatives (Rea 97). Colonists of the newly established province could freely elect officials to be responsible for public duties (Rea 97). For example, officials’ responsibilities could include organizing events that celebrated the gods or the Emperor, such as public games or competitions (Rea 97). Perpetua did not support the celebration of the Emperor but still respected the order and Roman laws (Rea 109). The presence of the Romans could influence Perpetua’s views on government and obedience, as well as advance her exploration of religious practices that were an integral part of the Roman communities. Successes in the military operations facilitated the development of the African province and fortified the influence of the Roman Empire’s culture and religion.
The Romans’ religious system was a complex set of beliefs and ceremonies. The Romans believed in the existence of many deities that represented various parts of Roman life. Gods were worshipped according to the situation, and this process was maintained by the government (Rea 102). In addition, the connection between authority and religious practices was more complicated because politicians strengthened their positions by attributing their beliefs and ideas to the gods (Rea 102). Perpetua’s opinions on Roman religion were not publicly summarized, but Roman religious traditions had the potential to increase her piety and dedication to spiritual development. The Roman government was increasing its influence by using religious practices and ceremonies.
The first mentions of Christianity in the African province were connected with Judaism. Later, Christian beliefs and ideas developed into an independent form of religious doctrine (Rea 107). However, the first Christian communities did not have an order or established rules (Rea 108). Despite the small numbers of people who supported Christianity, they could not continue their practices unnoticed by the authorities (Rea 109). Perpetua and other members of the Christian groups were not identifiable by their clothing or other external characteristics (Rea 109). Nonetheless, Christians had special practices that could identify their religious beliefs. Such communal activities were described by Rea as “visiting the poor or martyrs in prison” (109). In addition, Christians gathered in places, such as the house churches of prosperous individuals, to worship and discuss their ideas (Rea 109). It was not documented whether Perpetua attended all of the meetings or not, since most of them occurred privately on a daily basis during the mornings (Rea 110). Perpetua and other Christians avoided public exposure and discussed their views on special gatherings.
The first document that described the life of Perpetua was the Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis. According to the Passio, Perpetua belonged to the group of catechumens who were practicing Christianity in the early stages of its development (Rea 108). The group consisted of a leader whose name was Saturus, catechumens, and other Perpetua family members (Rea 108). The document also includes a description of Perpetua’s relationship with her father and an account of the events and encounters that happened after she was moved to prison. Thus, Perpetua’s father and the authorities that penalized her Christian beliefs played an important role in the development of Perpetua’s resistance and the tragic outcome.
Perpetua’s beliefs and activities attracted the attention of Roman authorities. By showing disobedience, Perpetua consequently challenged the order, power, and laws of the Roman Empire (Rea 145). According to the Roman laws, the Emperor’s election, apart from being a public matter, was also a result of the gods’ approval and blessings (Rea 145). Therefore, Perpetua’s hostile actions and position against the Emperor threatened the very essence of Roman culture. Despite the small size of Perpetua’s community, Roman officials recognized the potential threat to the regime and attempted to prevent the spread of disobedience (Rea 146). As a result, Perpetua was arrested and tried by Hilarianus, who was an appointed official and had the power to punish any disobedient citizens (Rea 146). In addition, Hilarianus persecuted other Christians and members of Perpetua’s catechumen group. Perpetua’s refusal to venerate the Emperor resulted in her incarceration since the Emperor represented a fundamental component of Roman civilization.
Perpetua’s father tried to persuade her to abandon her convictions and reject Christianity. Perpetua’s acceptance of Roman authority and religious practices was important for her father because he represented the family as a paterfamilias (Rea 146). Thus, any rejection of Roman traditions inside a family was directly attributed to the father and could change his status in the hierarchy (Rea 146). Perpetua’s father visited her during her preliminary home detention and tried to coerce her into submission. However, Perpetua refused to acknowledge his authority and highlighted her resolve to pursue Christian ideas despite the possibility of severe punishment (Rea 148). The father’s attempts to convince Perpetua eventually failed and ended in his absence from the trial.
Perpetua’s refusal to accept her father’s authority resulted in further trials and punishment. In addition, Perpetua appeared at the forum and chose to publicly admit her Christian views (Rea 149). Later, Hilarianus, the prosecutor of the case, attempted to force Perpetua to abandon her Christian position by forcing physical punishment on both her and her father (Rea 149). However, Perpetua still refused and was subjected to gladiator fights, which concluded in her death. Perpetua’s resolve and intention to defend Christian views shaped her image as a martyr.
Perpetua’s life and actions revolved around Roman traditions and religious beliefs. At the end of the second century, the Romans conquered Carthage and established an African province. Thus, many citizens of Carthage were forced to adopt a new system and moral framework. At the same time, Christian views began to spread throughout the province, and the first groups of Christians refused to abandon their convictions. One of such Christians was Perpetua, who defended the religious movement by sacrificing herself. Perpetua’s life and religious identity were shaped by the spread of Roman influence and Christianity and by strict laws that demanded acceptance of the Roman religion. Perpetua’s decision to support Christianity, in spite of the death penalty, led to the establishment of her martyr image and further inspired the next generations of Christians.
Work Cited
Rea, Jennifer. Perpetua’s Journey: Faith, Gender, and Power in the Roman Empire. Illustrated by Liz Clarke. Oxford University Press, 2018.
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