Auctor nominis eius Christus. Tacitus’ Knowledge of the Origins of Christianity

Tacitus’ information about the beginnings of Christianity contains details, which may be historically precise. He learnt them, perhaps, from Christian followers of some other than the received tradition, whom he could have tried during his proconsulship of Asia. Dio’s account of the trial of Flavius Clemens and others is probably taken from Tacitus, who in his capacity of quindecemvir sacris faciundis could have participated or been interested in the trial. Dio’s actual formulation of this account omitting Christianity should thus be believed. The implication is that, when treating this affair in his Histories, prior to his sojourn to Asia, Tacitus need not have known anything yet about Christianity, and its beginnings in particular. His information would thus come exclusively from Asia and could be treated as such by modern scholarship.

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