The so-called 'Gospel of Thamus' and the death of the "Great Pan" - Evidence of an anti-Roman Apocalyptic oracle during the time of the emperor Tiberius?
G. Baudy, The so-called 'Gospel of Thamus' and the death of the "Great Pan" - Evidence of an anti-Roman Apocalyptic oracle during the time of the emperor Tiberius?, Z ANTIKES C, 4(1), 2000, pp. 13-48
Citations number
215
Categorie Soggetti
Religion & Tehology
Journal title
ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ANTIKES CHRISTENTUM-JOURNAL OF ANCIENT CHRISTIANITY
The article interprets the legend of the Great Pan's death as an oracle in
narrative guise, prophesying the death of the emperor Tiberius and the fall
of the Roman empire. Its apocalyptic source evoked two mythical motifs: Th
e epiphany of Phoenix and the resurrection of Tammuz celebrated in his cult
. This combination rooting in Westsemitic and Egyptian traditions is most p
robably due to an oppositional Jewish group, who invented the navigator Tha
mus as a symbol for the Messiah. To our opinion the legend belongs to the J
ewish-Christian tradition: In the person of Thamus the resurrected Christ c
onfronted his antagonist Tiberius bringing him an apocalyptic message. Thus
the legend is reflecting the oldest form transmitted of the gospel.