Ancient World Seminar: Eric Moormann (Nijmegen), ‘Jews and Christians in Pompeii: fact or fiction?’

In prose fiction inspired by the cities destroyed by Vesuvius, the reason why Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed was a puzzling question. Especially during the 19th century authors suggested various specific reasons, especially that of God’s punishment of the Romans for their decadence and debauchery. In this presentation some of these works will be presented, whereas the question whether there were Christians in Pompeii will be discussed as well.

The presentation brings to the fore a chapter of Pompeii’s Ashes, a book to be published shortly, which focuses amongst others on literary evocations of the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii.

Eric Moormann studied Classics, Italian and Classical Archaeology in Nijmegen. In 1986, he received his doctorate for his dissertation on the relationship between ancient sculpture and Roman painting. After this, he filled positions at the University of Amsterdam, as well as in Napels, Rome and Athens, returning to Nijmegen in 2002. Dr. Moormann has a broad interest in the ancient world, especially concerning the interactions between material and literary culture, as well as the reception of ancient culture in the early modern and modern periods. His interest in the daily environment of life in the ancient world has inspired research into domestic, religious as well as funerary architecture and sculpture.