Ancient Roman and Christian Morals

Ammon Kou

Insalaco

CL CV 201

Similarities between Christians and the ancient Romans in the works "Samuel the Lamanite on the Wall" and "The Rape of the Sabine Women"

Ancient Roman and Christian Morals

Despite small differences in similar morals, the ancient Romans would have found Christianity appealing. Christians and the ancient Romans valued honor. Both societies also valued chastity. Both societies also valued war, specifically the victory of it. Though these morals have slightly different connotations and levels of importance, the differences are not significant, and the ancient Romans could have easily accepted Christianity.

Creusa and Aeneas

The value and moral of honor is highly sought after in ancient Roman and Christian societies. This is evidenced in Christian societies by the line in the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers, in which victory yields honor “On, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory” (Baring-Gould 2). And in The Aeneid, when Aeneas goes into the underworld and sees those who died with honor (also as the result of a conflict) “here too are those wounded fighting in their country’s defense” (Vergil 96). However, for the Christian, honor and glory is given to God or Christ “Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ, the King” (Baring-Gould 4). Alternatively, for the Roman, you receive the glory and honor unto yourself. “Also, those who enriched life with inventions or earned remembrance for service rendered” (Vergil 96). From this passage, we see the honor is emphasized on the works of the individual, rather than the gods. Nevertheless, the ancient Romans would have accepted Christian honor, as the gods were very important to them. This is evidenced as Creusa’s ghost comforts Aeneas by telling him that her death is the will of the gods “what good does it do, my sweet husband, to indulge in such mad grief? These things do not happen without the will of the gods. You may not take your Creusa with you” (Vergil 50).

Lucretia's suicide

The moral of keeping chastity is important to the ancient Romans as well as the Christians.  For the Romans, Chastity is so important that Lucretia kills herself, even though she was raped. “although I acquit myself of the sin, I do not free myself from the penalty; no unchaste woman shall henceforth live and plead Lucretia’s example” (Livy 1). For the Christian, even the thought of being unchaste is a sin “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Corinth 6:18). However, for the ancient Roman, importance of being chaste is of lesser importance to other values, such as following the will of the gods. "I never hoped to steal away from your land in secret, and you should never imagine I did. Nor have I ever proposed marriage to you or entered into any nuptial agreement. If the Fates would allow me to lead my own life and to order my priorities as I see fit” (Vergil 62). After sleeping with Dido, Aeneas leaves her because he needs to follow his destiny. However, for the Christians, Chastity is of utmost importance. Christians would have believed that Aeneas must marry Dido. “But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn” (1 Corinthians 7:9). Because the ancients Romans revered gods, they would have kept the commandments to a high degree because they were a “pious race” (Vergil 17).

Pyrrhus and Priam

Valiant ancient Romans and Christians know that war is critical, especially the victory of it (whether that war is literal or metaphorical). For the Christians, this is evidenced with “Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, see his banners go!” (Baring-Gould 1). For the ancient Romans, this is evidenced with “Here was an enormous battle, so intense it was as if there was no fighting anywhere else, and men were not dying throughout the city. Here we saw the War God unchained” (Vergil 39). These two aforementioned passages show that war (whether literal or metaphorical) is inevitable and must be responded with an offensive measure. However, for the Christians, they know going into “battle” they will win the war. “On, then, Christian soldiers, On to victory” (Baring-Gould 2). And “Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song” (Baring-Gould 4). These verses are coming from the perspective that the Christians have already won the conflict, therefore, they do not need to fear loss. For the ancient Roman, going into battle knowing that you will be victorious is not always the case. “The old man slung his long-unused armor over his trembling shoulders, strapped on his useless sword, and bound to die, charged the enemy” (Vergil 41). This passage talks about Priam, and despite knowing he is too old and frail to win any conflict, he still puts on his battle gear and heads into the thick of the fight. The ancient Romans would have accepted Christian war, that is to say, knowing you will be victorious before going into battle. This is evidenced by the uncertainty of victory when Aeneas cries to Hector’s ghost “From what shores have you come to answer our prayers? We have suffered many losses since you left us, Hector. Yet we have labored on, and now we see you at the end of our strength” (Vergil 34).

Although the ancient Romans and Christians hold a few subtle differences in similar morals, Christianity would have still appealed to the ancient Romans. Though Christian honor is given to God and ancient Roman honor is given to yourself, the Romans could have accepted Christian honor as they also believed heavily in their gods. Although Christians hold chastity to a higher regard than the ancient Romans, the ancient Romans could have accepted Christian chastity, as it is a commandment given by God. Despite the fact that Christian war is a certain victory, while ancient Roman war is not always certain, the Romans could have accepted Christian war, as victory is held to a high regard in ancient Roman society. The ancient Romans would have easily accepted Christianity.

 Sources

1 Baring-Gould, Sabine. “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1800s, www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/library/hymns/onward-christian-soldiers?lang=eng&_r=1.

2 Vergil, and Stanley Lombardo. Aeneid. Hackett Pub. Co., 2005.

3 Livius, Titus. Ab Urbe Condita. Ancient Rome, 1973.

4 The Bible. Authorized King James Version, Oxford UP, 1998.