A Nicandrian Nero?: The Symbolic Significance of the Viper in Acts 28.1–6
While surviving the shipwreck and the viper bite in Acts 28.1-6 have often been recognised as symbolic assertions of Paul's innocence, the viper may hold further symbolic significance. Following his act of matricide in 59 ce, Nero was linked to Aeschylus’ portrayal of Orestes, who, in turn, was...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2023
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| In: |
New Testament studies
Year: 2023, Volume: 69, Issue: 4, Pages: 422-428 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Paul Apostle
/ Nero, Römisches Reich, Kaiser 37-68
/ Nicander, Colophonius ca. 2 BC. Jh.
/ Dioskuren
/ Bible. Apostelgeschichte 28,1-6
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| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Nero
B Nicander B Dioscuri B viper B Paul B Acts |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | While surviving the shipwreck and the viper bite in Acts 28.1-6 have often been recognised as symbolic assertions of Paul's innocence, the viper may hold further symbolic significance. Following his act of matricide in 59 ce, Nero was linked to Aeschylus’ portrayal of Orestes, who, in turn, was linked to a tradition that understood a viper's birth as matricidal. Thus, through his encounter with the viper, Paul symbolically ‘appears before’ the emperor Nero—something that is anticipated yet never happens overtly in the narrative of Acts itself. |
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| ISSN: | 1469-8145 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: New Testament studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0028688523000115 |